“Multifaceted” only begins to describe the life and impact of Richard Proulx. He was a widely published composer of more than 300 works, including congregational music in every form, sacred and secular choral works, song cycles, two operas, and instrumental and organ music. He served as a consultant for such denominational church hymnals as The Hymnal 1982 (Episcopal Church), New Yale Hymnal, the Methodist Hymnal, Worship II & III, (Roman Catholic Church), and has contributions in the Mennonite Hymnal and the Presbyterian Hymnal. He conducted choral festivals and workshops across the country as well as in Canada, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand, and served as a mentor and inspiration to church musicians of all denominations.

Dear AGO Colleagues

I am very sorry to be writing to inform you that our beloved Austin Lovelace passed away last evening, Sunday, 25 April 2010. Many of you know that he was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer in mid-March and was immediately placed in hospice care at home. However, the prognosis then was that it was likely to take several months for the illness to run its course.

At the AGO board meeting last Monday (a week ago today), the board voted to send flowers to let Austin know he was in our thoughts and prayers, and Billie Busby graciously ordered a flowering plant on our behalf. Austin called and left a message on our answering machine at home on Friday afternoon not only to thank the AGO for the plant but also, in characteristic fashion, to scold us "for wasting chapter funds" in that manner. When I returned the call that evening, Austin had already retired for the night, but Polly thanked me three times for the fact that we had sent a "living plant" that she could tend for a long time. I asked her to share with Austin that the board felt it was money well spent to let him know we were thinking of him and that I hoped he could feel each leaf and bloom represented the thoughts and prayers of every member of the Denver chapter. She was most appreciative and said she would tell him.

When I spoke with her this morning, she indicated that Austin's condition had then worsened quickly on Saturday, and he was transferred to a hospice facility where he died on Sunday evening. She and the family are presently preparing an obituary, and there will be two memorial services, one at Montview and one at Wellshire, though arrangements for both are still pending.

I will inform you about those as soon as I hear more.

Sadly,

Mark Alan Filbert, MM, MSM, Cantor
Saint Paul Lutheran Church