Young at Heart Chorus

Patricia Booth (1932)

Born in Springfield MA in 1932. I have a son and 2 daughters, five grandchildren and two great grand sons. In 1979, I moved to NYC, attended NY School of Interior Design, started an
interior design business and lived in Manhattan until 1992.  I retired from real estate in 2003, won the Ms Senior Massachusetts Pageant in 2004 and sing with the Cameo Girls. I live in Springfield and enjoy powerwalking, tap dancing and ballroom dance and singing.
Chorus member since 2008

Helen Boston (1930)

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Helen went to junior high and high school in West Philadelphia. She married and had nine children, six girls and three boys. She worked for many years with the state and school district of Coatesville, PA then retired and relocated to Florence, MA.  She loves performing with the Young@Heart Chorus, making quilts, arts and crafts, and decorating with balloons. Helen has even performed as a background performer in The Great Debators directed by Denzel Washington.
Chorus member since 2002

Patricia Cady (1935)

Pat was born in Hatfield, MA and was horseback riding at 3 at the Little Red Riding School her parents owned. She competed in gymnastics and also took tap and ballet. Pat's husband was a MA State Trooper and Pat was a Hatfield Police Officer. They had 3 children and now Pat enjoys 3 grandchildren. An avid crossword puzzle solver, she also enjoys dancing, knitting, casinos, traveling and of course, singing.
Chorus member since 2006

Louise Canady (1929)

Louise retired from retail in 1995, but works part time for the Springfield Public School System and wants to help the incapacitated. Her late husband, who inspired and loved Louise, sang for Lyndon B Johnson. Louise has performed in Canada, Atlantic City, Rhode Island and in Springfield, MA and hopes to dedicate her love for singing, vibrant voice and time to the Young@Heart Chorus.
Chorus member since 2006

Patricia McTee Ervin (1925)

Pat grew up in Austin Texas, Graduated from the University of Texas in 1945 with a degree in Drama. She lived for 50 years in Boston MA, where she directed children's theatre and raised 5 children of her own.She is an avid worker for peace, loves opera and coffee ice cream.
Chorus member since August 2007

Jean Florio (1922)

Jean is a Northampton resident and a veteran of the Hampshire Choral Society and St. Mary's Choir. A former baby-sitter, waitress, and Smith College Residence and Dining Services staff member as well as a parent and homemaker, Jean lists her current interests as cooking, sewing and hot air ballooning. Loves people and music.
Chorus member since 1993

Len Fontaine (1920)

A retired technical illustrator, Len has also performed with the Golden Age Harmonicats, the Chicopee Singing Swinging Seniors, and the Springfield Chordsmen. A Y@H harmonica soloist, Lenny is also avid hiker and bicyclist. Len served as president of the Springfield Cyclonauts for more than a decade. He was also a Scoutmaster for nearly 20 years.
Chorus member since 1998

Stan Goldman (1930)

Stan is a proud native New Yorker, Brooklyn specifically. Stan earned a master-of-arts degree form New York University and taught English for many years in Brooklyn, and later at a medium security prison in Connecticut. Stan has done a lot of theater, and in 1982 won a best supporting actor award from a regional Community Theater Association. Being a devout lover of the arts, Stan takes great advantage of the wonderful treasure trove of culture that is to be found on the Island of Manhattan.
Chorus member since 2004

Jeanne Hatch (1926)

A Missouri native, Jeanne began her singing and acting career at four years old. Jeanne sang with a swing band in the 1940s, acted off Broadway in the 1950s and taught Theater and Speech at Holyoke Community College from 1969 to 1999.
Chorus member since 1998

Arthur Klein (1924)

During World War II I was in the Navy for 3 years. I was on a destroyer escort and was in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. My ship was in Tokyo Bay next to the Missouri Battleship where they signed the peace. When I came home I went to beauty school and for 65 years and became a hairdresser. I retired in 2007 and came to Massachusetts to live near my daughter. My wife passed away in 2005. When I came here I was lost. After working all my life, I had nothing to do until I found Young @ Heart. Now I'm ready for my next adventure with my new group of friends.

Chorus member since 2008 

Fred Knittle (1925)

Fred Knittle, 83, died Thursday, January 1, 2009 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Fred was born in Utica, New York, where he attended grammar and high school.  In World War II, he served with the U.S. Army Infantry in North Africa ad Italy and then, after the War ended in Europe, with the Combat Engineers in the Philippine Islands with the U.S. Army Occupation Forces in Japan.  He attended Utica College, then a satellite campus of Syracuse University, on the GI Bill. It was during his senior year, 1949, when he met his future bride, Barbara Essel. They married in 1951 and moved to Staten Island, New York where Fred was Program Director for the Staten Island YMCA.  Within three years, they moved into Manhattan when Fred became Executive Director of the Uptown YMCA.

In 1958, Fred accepted a position as Director of Development for George Williams College, a YMCA training facility in Chicago.  They were there for only a year and a half, before Fred was asked to become Vice President for Development at the Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton.  Fred and Barbara moved to Florence in the fall of 1959, and he was with the school for nearly thirty years, raising over 22 million dollars during that time. He retired in 1987. Fred believed strongly in the school and its mission: that all people could communicate in this world – that everyone could have a voice. According to him, he wasn’t a fund-raiser, he was a “friend-raiser”, his job was to make people believe in the school, and the donations would take care of themselves. For Fred, rich wasn’t just a monetary idea.  It was about whom you surrounded yourself with, who believed in you, and whom you believed in. He worked this way, but he also lived this way. In addition to his work for Clarke School, he also served his community in the Kiwanis Club, The Lions Club, was active in the Soap Box Derby, and volunteered his time for local youth sports, from football and soccer to basketball and his favorite game to play, baseball.

He was King Winter in Northampton’s Winter Carnival, played “Gramps” in the Volunteers In Northampton Schools fundraising shows, and participated in the Hospital Follies. Never a trained singer, but always a lover of music, he dabbled in performing for most of his life, but never made it a regular thing.

After Fred retired from Clarke School, Barbara felt it would be good for her sanity to get him out from underfoot.  She suggested he audition for the Young@Heart Chorus, and he spent most of the time in retirement singing with the group, a collection of seniors ranging in age from 68 to 95 years.  With the group, he returned to Europe, singing in Holland, Belgium and Germany. After retiring from the chorus due to health restrictions in 2002, he returned for an occasional show, including the show that became the basis for the Young@Heart movie. His version of “Fix You” from the movie became a Youtube sensation, with almost 1 million viewings around the world.

Please send a personal message to the knittle family at knittlesknest@gmail.com or sign the guest book.

Memorial Contributions:

Clarke School for the Deaf:
www.plan.gs/Home.do?orgId=5382 

VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson:
http://www.vnaandhospice.org/pages/ways_to_help.php

Young@Heart:
www.youngatheartchorus.com/support.php

Norma Landry (1927)

Norma, a native of Webster Massachusetts and Easthampton Massachusetts resident, tuned her pipes in glee clubs, choirs, and the Hampshire Choral Society. A retired secretary to the Easthampton Superintendent of Schools, Norma is an avid gardener and traveler.
Chorus member since 1993

John Larareo (1932)

John is familiar to local audiences as a 30-year veteran of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Follies. The Hatfield resident is a former member of the Amherst College Department of Building and Grounds. John loves people, travel and music.
Chorus member since1994

Patricia Larese (1930)

Pat, whose credentials include serving as secretary to the President of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Connecticut State Armory Inspector, the Indiana Steel Corporation Purchasing Manager, and the Stanley Home Products Purchasing Agent is also the Young @ Heart President.
Chorus member since 1993

Miriam Leader (1919)

Miriam belies her age as she hikes and bikes through the streets of Northampton. The Y@H's longtime violinist, Miriam also plays the mandolin and sings in Panharmonium (an international folk dance band) and Hot Kishkes, a klezmer band. Miriam's résumé includes multiple careers (poet, freelance journalist, photographer, agriculturist, and now grandmother of 5) as well as addresses (Cincinnati, Providence, New Rochelle, Vermont, Israel, France, and, for three decades, Northampton)
Chorus member since 1985

Pat Linderme (1930)

Pat began singing at 3, imitating her father. At ages 15, she was a contestant in a regional talent contest. The winner would go to NYC and appear in a nationwide radio program. She lost of a young man who sang a comedy song. She sang Gounod’s Ave Maria and came in second. Later, she sang with her husband Charles, a gifted pianist and bandleader.
Chorus member since 2002

M. Eileen Litke (1939)

A Fitchburg, MA native, Eileen also lived in Ohio but has lived in Western MA for the past 55 years. A retired dental assistant with a husband, two children and three grandchildren plus two step- children and two step-grandchildren. Began taking tap lessons in 2004. Loves gardening, sewing and crafting. Fan of old movies and British mystery movies. Eileen has sung with church choirs and on- stage choral groups. Was a member and Sponsorship Director of the former Swinging Singing Seniors of Chicopee.
Chorus member-in-waiting (not old enough)

Brock Lynch (1924)

Brock is the Young @ Heart's only M.D. Brock moved here from his native Boston to join the staff of the Northampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Brock. A Yale medical graduate, points out that he performed his first appendectomy when he was only 20 (and was taught to drive an automobile by his younger sister the following year!) After being inspired by seeing the late Chorus diva Anna Main in her 100th birthday parade Brock joined the group.
Chorus member since 1996

Steve Martin (1928)

Steve joined the Young@Heart Chorus after a chance meeting between two friends, who met, while grocery shopping. From weekend family jams in Detroit, to several amateur theater productions in Chicago, a century ago, Steve has maintained a love for music.
Chorus member since 2000

Grant Milner (1932)

Grant has been singing in church choirs since grade school, starting in Bradford, NH in the 1940's. Grant is a veteran of the Korean War and and Engineering graduate of the Wentworth Institute, where he did some choral singing. He enjoyed a 40 year career in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering before retiring in 1998. He enjoys cooking, travel and camping. He is a widower following a 49 year marriage, a proud father or four and grandfather of six. Chorus member since 2007

Joseph Mitchell (1932)

Born the second child of a family of six in Palmer Massachusetts, Joe attended public schools and presently resides in Springfield. Joe is a retired Facilities Management Supervisor of MassMutual Financial Group after 43 years of service. Joe is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and a local member of the Carl L Talbot Post 6189. Joe enjoys fishing and volunteer work at the Springfield Chapter of the American Red Cross. Joe is married and is a proud father and grandfather.
Chorus member since 2006

Dora B. (Parker) Morrow (1922)

Dora is the fourth child of a family of thirteen and was born in Hennings, Tennessee. Dora is widowed and is the mother of Eight Sons and Seven Daughters. She is the grandmother of twenty-three grandchildren, and the mother-in-law of our drummer, Billy Arnold. A 56-year resident of South Bend, Indiana, Dora currently resides in Springfield, Massachusetts. She enjoys traveling, singing, flower gardening, and arts/crafts.
Chorus member since 2002

Gloria Parker (1929)

Gloria is the mother of four and a retired school cafeteria cook and Smith College Residence and Dining Services staff member. Gloria-a veteran of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Follies and Volunteers in Northampton Schools variety shows also worked at the Walter Salvo House meal site, which is where she first encountered a performance by the Young at Heart.
Chorus member since 1995

Liria Petrides (1926)

Liria began her musical career singing Albanian songs with her kinfolk at weddings and celebrations. For 11 years, the retired school secretary and law library clerk commuted to Young @ Heart gigs from Fitchburg before settling in Amherst in 1997.
Chorus member since 1986

Glenda Philips (1930)

I fell in love with music at the age of 5 when an upright piano was hoisted through the window of our fourth floor apartment in New York City! What magic there was in playing Sunday school hymns with two fingers! I've enjoyed music participation as a child and young adult and after graduating from College, I went on to become a grade school music teacher. I've been taking piano lessons since I've retired and hope to give a recital on an upcoming birthday. My three daughters and two precious grandchildren are also music lovers! Since joining the Young@ Heart Chorus , I've been pleasantly stretched beyond my sacred and classical music experience! What a joyride this has been!
Chorus member since 2007

Ed Rehor (1923)

A good man has died. We will miss Ed Rehor, his gentle manner, his ready smile and his uncanny ability to find the closest Irish pub in whatever city we landed.

1923-2009
Edwin J. Rehor, Sr. died Sunday, January 11, 2009 while staying at his daughter’s home in Port St. Lucie, FL. Ed was born in Springfield, MA on August 3, 1923. He was a longtime communicant of St. Mary's Church of Thorndike, Mass.  

He spent his youth in the boy scouts becoming a Boy Scout Leader for many years. He received the highest award you can be awarded in scouting, the “Silver Beaver Award".   He spent 6 years in the Navy and Navy reserves during Word War II and the Korean War. He then came home to raise 5 children, Edwin J. Rehor Jr. of Newbury, NH, Terri Romanik of Walla Walla, WA, Donna Medlock of Palmer MA, Cheryl Woods of Port St. Lucie,  FL, and Ronnie Rehor of Goshen, MA. His family included 10 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 53 years L. Edna (Devlin)  Rehor.  He and his wife were the inspiration for their son to start an Environmental Education Camp which is in its 25th year. He was still participating at the camp with his son and grandson this fall sleeping over and helping to chaperone over 80 5th graders and teaching orienteering.

During his life he was active in all outdoor activities such as fishing, sailing, and hunting.   For many years while visiting his daughter and son in-law he packed into the back country of Washington and Oregon by horse to stalk/hunt Elk.  He was often seen supervising work being done around the Hammond Acres Club in
Goshen, MA.

His sense of humor and ability to talk with just about anyone was an outstanding characteristic.  Ed loved to talk to total strangers to constantly make new friends.  He always had pictures and stories of his adventures to share.  When faced with a decision he always asked himself what is the right thing to do.

Ed's passion though was music. He was an active member of the Port St.  Lucie Community Band, The Stuart Band and the Florence Community Band playing his Tuba. He was always ready to be the first one on the dance floor.

He was able to have an amazing journey during the last 8 years becoming an active member of the "Young at Heart Chorus", traveling throughout the world singing Rock and Roll songs senior style and appearing on the Jay Leno show with the group.   He felt truly blessed with what he could do in his last years.
He often said he could hardly believe how lucky he was to have been able to travel around the world performing with the group.   His favorite song while with the group was "Forever Young" which is the way he lived his life.

Though Ed lived his life to the absolute fullest, nothing could replace
his unending love for his wife, Edna. "True Love"

He always said his wife and children were the best anyone could have.
He will be sadly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

Evelyn Robb (1924)

Born and raised in Newark, NJ, Evely moved to Long Island, NY with her husband after WW2. She taught every grade from 1-12 then served as high school guidance counselor and family therapist. As a child, Evelyn performed with a Yiddish Theater Group and as an adult with the Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Co of Long Island. Evelyn became a resident of Northampton in 2008 and was thrilled to discover the Young @ Heart which gives her much pleasure. Member since 2008 

Fran Saed (1929)

Born in Brooklyn-grew up at the ocean in the Rockaways, NY.Husband and two children lived in Baldwin, LI. Settled in Amherst, MA in 1997. Docent for 12 years at the National Yiddish Book Center. Fran loves travel, Big Band Music and Holidays. Chorus Member since 2008

Jack Schnepp (1930)

Jack, a Wilbraham MA, resident has sung with the Springfield MA Chordsmen Barbershop Chorus, the Swingin Singin Seniors of Chicopee, MA, the Springfield MA Golden Age Club musicals, and other venues. Jack's business career began at Ford Div, Dearborn MI in Purchasing and later evolved into Materials Management during that career. Jack's ambition, tongue-in-cheek, is to cut a CD at some point. A widower, Jack has 6 children 17 grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Chorus member since 1999

Janice St Laurence (1928)

Jan studied both classical and modern music including theory. She played piano for tap and ballroom dancing starting at 12, and accompanied choral groups and played trombone  and Irish whistle in the High School and. In 1964 she accepted a position as accompanist for dance and composed music for dance at Smith College. After 13 years accompanying dance, she moved from performing arts to fine arts. She and her husband, a former B-29 pilot, had 4 children and 6 grandchildren. We enjoyed flying small planes, doing aerobatics, and cross country flying, and traveling together. Music continues to fill her life and she also enjoys painting, knitting and scrapbooking.

Chorus member since 2000

A.P. Stevens (1926)

Spent 35 years in education, primarily as an administrator. After retirement, established an engraving and calligraphy business. Has sung in church choirs, played tuba in several band. Has 3 children, twin stepsons-all great-8 grandchildren. Married to Shirley who is responsible for any of his accomplishments since 1972. Chorus member since 2008

Shirley Stevens (1935)

Spent most of her professional career in banking, became treasurer of a bank in Northampton. Has sung in church choirs, played piano and tap danced early on. Mother of twin sons. Bikes, bakes, knits and volunteers for several organizations.

Chorus member since 2008

Bob Cilman (1953)

Besides directing the Young@Heart Chorus, Bob Cilman is also the Executive Director of the Northampton Arts Council where he presents a broad range of arts events at the historic Academy of Music Theatre. Cilman was born and raised in Rochester, New York. He spent a couple of years at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and eventually received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in American History, but has learned much more from the members of the Young@Heart Chorus. He is married to furniture maker, Polly Cassel and they have two daughters, Stella and Eva.
Chorus Director since 1982

William E. Arnold, Jr. (Mr. Clean) (1942)

A native of South Bend, Indiana, Bill was born on January 16, 1942 into a family of six. Bill attended the public school system in Indiana where he was an all around sportsman. At age 15, he started playing the bongo drums and became known as "Bongo Bill." At 16, Bill started playing the drums and became known as "Mr. Clean" when he started his career playing with the recording artist "Junior Walker and the Allstars." Mr. Clean has played with such Jazz greats as Teddy Wilson and Charlie Venture. Bill enjoys swimming and racket-ball. He would like very much to learn to play a new instrument, but is afraid of doing so because he fears another name change.

Billy's recent brush work on Echos of the Prophet: Songs Inspired by Kahlil Gibran has been called sublime byt Jazz Improv Magazine.

Band member since 2002

Frederick Alexander Johnson (1970)

F. Alex's career in performing started as an impromptu soft shoe accompaniment to a ragtime piano player at an outdoor market in Boston, MA in 1974. The vigorous applause and vocal encouragement from his mother, Judy, was like sugar to his pair of four year old ears, and so a fledgeling star was born. Violin lessons followed soon after, thanks to the Fall River, Massachusetts public school system where he was a student. The diminutive fingerboard of the violin would eventually fall away in favor of the expansive fretboard of an acoustic guitar at the age of ten (a gift from his grandfather) and the rest is history. Portuguese wedding bands would give F. Alex his first taste of life as a steadily gigging musician through high school and beyond. After moving to Western Massachusetts, in 1991, he would co-found Drunk Stuntmen, an original rock outfit currently with 5 albums (and a DVD with the Young at Heart) to their credit. Paying his dues in the arts and music scene of Northampton, Massachusetts would afford him an avenue to team up with the Young at Heart Chorus (both with The Stuntmen and in Young at Heart's pit band) in the hugely successful "Road to Nowhere" show (2004-2008). Multiple yearly trips to Europe became de rigueur, as well as taking part in Fox Searchlight's "Young at Heart" documentary in 2008. Over the past five years the Young at Heart has allowed him to play to an ever expanding cross-section of audiences from around the globe, as well as to grace some of the entertainment world's most coveted stages (including The Roma in Antwerp, Belgium, and The Tonight Show in Burbank, CA). F. Alex is thrilled to be a part of Young at Heart's new and ongoing production, "End of the Road," "Alive and Well," and anywhere else they'll let him strum his guitar. He resides in beautiful Florence, MA when he's not on the road, and thanks you all for your support of The Young at Heart Chorus and joyous celebrations of life, love, music and arts everywhere.

Photo: Jodi Nicholas

Paul Lieberman (1956)

After a degree in music from Yale and freelancing in New York, Paul toured the US for two years with Brazilian Jazz legends Airto & Flora Purim, then spent four years living in Rio de Janeiro as Brazil’s first-call sax and flutist.  He has performed or recorded with Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Mickey Hart, David Sanborn, and many other greats, and has a masters in jazz composition and arranging from UMass Amherst, where he is professor of jazz saxophone and improvisation and conducts a big band.  Recording and doing master class and guest soloist appearances, Paul divides his time between Boston, NY, and Northampton, leads his own groups, and is a regular member of the bands of three different Grammy winners, including founding Allman Brothers drummer Jaimoe.  Paul has also played for the Reverend Moon and Zippy the Chimp, and still cries at every performance of the Young@Heart Chorus.  www.paulliebermanmusic.com

Ken Maiuri (1971)

Under the influence of his mom's records and his Pépère's instrument collection, Ken became a musician before he could pronounce the word. Self-taught (for better or worse), he's performed internationally with Mark Mulcahy, The Mammals, Pedro the Lion and many others, and was musical director for the rock opera "The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island," created by Mulcahy and renowned cartoonist Ben Katchor. In his spare time he's a weekly newspaper columnist, radio DJ, snack aficionado, and lives in Florence.
Band member since 2007

Diane Porcella (1963)

administrator, is perfectly content to remain anonymous.