John R. McCormick

John R. McCormick, age 85, passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 30, 2017. He was born on May 14, l931 in Columbus, OH. He received his Master of Music in voice from Capital University. After his military service, he founded an early incarnation of a guitar society in Columbus, operated a music store for some years, worked as a classical-music DJ on WCBE and was a guitar instructor at Denison University in Granville. He was devoted to teaching and continued it all his life. After teaching at Denison, he began a long career at Alvis House, a half-way house for ex-offenders in Columbus. Besides teaching, this became one of the most fulfilling things for him as he loved to help and encourage others. In recent years, he remained a tireless researcher and collector of Italian art song for voice and guitar, occasionally receiving grant funding to support related travel. He had also been recently typesetting several publications of guitar and lute music that he had collected. He and his wife recorded and performed music for voice and classic guitar for all of their married life. This was their specialty which made a rich life for them both. He is survived by his loving wife, Jane, children, Michael McCormick, Natalie Trees Dearnaley (Steve), Bruce McCormick, Elizabeth Trees, Jane McCormick Sherburne, Lindsay McCormick and John P. McCormick, grandchildren, Tabitha Sherburne (Mike), Alex Pyle, and Ava Duncan, great-grandson Ronin Koopman. We all knew him as a generous, caring man, devoutly dedicated to family and friends. John, we miss you. A memorial service for John will be held at 2pm Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the SCHOEDINGER WORTHINGTON CHAPEL, 6699 North High Street. The family will receive friends from 1pm until the service begins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alvis House, 2100 Stella Court, Columbus, OH 43215.