Published in the February 17 – March 1, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mark Fenichel
Photo courtesy www.westcoastragtime.com
Jack and Chris Bradshaw will play at this year’s Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert.
This year marks 20 years since my father Jack passed away at age 68 after suffering with Alzheimer’s disease. Most of his life he was a brilliant mathematics professor, chairman of a high school mathematics department, advanced math tutor, chess champion, weekly master of the New York Times crossword puzzles, writer of questions for the New York Board of Regents State Exams, graduated high school at age 14 and graduated college with a master’s degree by age 17. He was a dancer, a singer, played piano by ear, and was simply the “go-to guy” for anybody that needed help with advanced math problems.
By the time he was 67 he didn’t even know my name. It was really my mother who suffered as she took excellent care of him until she absolutely could no longer handle it. It is with all this in mind that I tell you about an upcoming event here in Morgan Hill.
Organist T. Paul Rosas began giving Alzheimer’s Benefit Concerts in 2008. In 2011, he invited other organists and musicians to participate in his concerts and has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the musicians as well as the enthusiasm of the audiences who have come to the events.
All the musicians who appear in his successful shows volunteer 100 percent of their time. They include singers, brass players, string ensembles and even handbell ringers. A donation of choice is taken during the concert and all the money goes for research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.
Carolyn Lamcke began helping coordinate and expanding the reach of the Alzheimer’s Benefit Concerts in 2014 and has helped spread the musical experience throughout California, Nevada and Oregon. These events also open people to the discussion of the disease in our midst and helps them identify the families that need help. They take the gift of generosity a bit further by asking the churches to donate the use of their facilities as an outreach for the entire community. They have so far raised more than $25,000.
The next concert will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at Advent Lutheran Church, 16870 Murphy Ave., in Morgan Hill.
I asked Lamcke a few questions about her involvement:
Why is this an important cause for you personally to support?
My best friend has Alzheimer’s. She was a very talented musician with a music degree in bassoon and taught music in Colorado. She sang in the church choir, played in the recorder choir, and was choir director at a church. She was depressed for a year knowing she had the disease. She can’t talk now but smiles every time she sees me. My mother also has dementia. She doesn’t know me when I come to visit. She wears a diaper and they need to feed her. I’m doing this so that future generations will get a cure.
What might you say to encourage people to attend the concert and support this important cause?
First, I’d ask them if they know someone who has been affected with Alzheimer’s. Then I tell them it’s free to get in and all the money donated goes directly to the Alzheimer’s Association for research. And then I say “I hope your come because it is for a great cause.”
Describe your annual concert and what acts will be performing at the benefit this year?
The concert is classical and rag time. People performing are David Johansan, organ; Silicon Valley Orchestra String, trio; the Santa Anna Woodwind Quintet; and The Rag Time Duo (Jack and Chris Bradshaw).
If you know someone with this disease or just want to see a great free musical event, I encourage you to attend this show.
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On another note:
Guglielmo Winery will be hosting a public concert March 12 featuring The Joe Sharino Band and special guest Joe’s daughter Allison Sharino. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door but you can get them by email for $28 each by going to http://march12.bpt.me and use the discount code 12MAR or call 1 (800) 838-3006 and provide the code verbally.
Got a music tip? Email Mark “Fenny” Fenichel at [email protected].
