Dick Lakey Moving On

Long time organist's last day is October 3

Dick Lakey has been the organist at St. Mark's as long as most of us can remember.  Thirty-three years of music and memories.

He is now moving on to a part-time position at St. Luke Lutheran in Williamsport.  He will play his last chord at St. Mark's on October 3, 2010.  Hospitality after both services will be in his honor.

When she learned of Dick's plans, St. Mark's member Joyce S. Hershberger was moved to write:

Dick’s resignation is especially poignant to me because I was one of those on the search committee who helped to bring him to St. Mark’s thirty-three years ago. I met him at the airport and sat with the other committee members to listen to him play the organ – we were convinced from the start that he was the one.

Fred Snell had been a mainstay in our church for decades and we weren’t sure he could be replaced. But it was clear from the beginning Dick had his own special style which very quickly captivated all of us. My daughter remembers that all the young ladies were smitten with him and with his warm personality he endeared himself to us very quickly. I couldn’t begin to list the youth productions he directed running the gamut from Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat to Noah’s Ark to the Wizard of Oz. Some of the productions were composed by Dick.

He is a brilliant composer and has given us many anthems which have been performed by the Senior Choir and also the Lycoming College Choir. In addition, each week of the church year we use verses which have been composed by Dick.

Beyond all of these special talents, he has a warmth which is contagious to everyone he meets.

His lunch and fellowship events, the multitude of meat loaves and spaghetti, have provided great fellowship opportunities.

So many years, so many memories – we have laughed with Dick, we have cried with him in his struggles with his health issues but most of all we have loved him as a member of our family. He will take a part of all of our hearts as he goes into a new congregation. We wish him well but I know I speak for all of us when I quote these lines:

“And yet I’m glad our lives have touched,
That we have come to meet.
I’ m glad for every dream we shared
The bitter and the sweet.
And years cannot erase the joy
The gladnesses sublime;
Dear friend, please know within my heart
I’m glad your life touched mine."

Godspeed, dear friend.