Mark and Lois Barton
6 Academy Lane
Bellport, NY
11713

    August 7, 2017

To Richard and Nancy:

Lois and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of your mother.  She was a life-long friend.  In fact, we felt we knew her even before we ever saw her!  At Illinois, we played in a community orchestra.  In our last year there, the group was directed by a Dr. Bjorner Bergethon who had previously been on the staff at DePauw where he conducted a student orchestra in which both of your parents played.  When Bergethon learned that I was taking a job at Brookhaven, he insisted that we should make the acquaintance of Vance and Marguerite Sailor and gave us a lecture on what nice people they were!  So, indeed, when we arrived at Brookhaven, we quickly met them.

Lois and I found our way into a community orchestra the very same week we arrived on Long Island.  A violist in that orchestra was an optometrist from Patchogue named Kurt Roeloff. Kurt invited us to play chamber music in his home which we did once a week for some time.  We realized that most of Kurt’s library was for string instruments and he really did not have enough string players so we called your mother.  We learned that she, being busy with very small children, had not been playing the violin for quite a while.  We persuaded her to get out the fiddle and join us at Kurt’s house.  She enjoyed those sessions and continued with Kurt for a long time even after Lois and I got busy with other activities and stopped going regularly.  Then the BAFFA orchestra got started and we persuaded her to join that as well.  She was one of the most dedicated players in that group and also served on the BAFFA board of directors.

It was largely because of our friendship with the Sailors that when we bought a house, it was in the South Country Shores development near your home.  Over the years, we joined the Sailors in numerous social events including enjoying your mother’s fabulous culinary art.  We also enjoyed a number of sailing adventures with Jan Maat.  Your mother’s work to make Jan Maat’s cruises was legendary!

Most of all, we remember those many musical activities which she approached with such dedication and ability.  Knowing her greatly enriched our lives.

Our sincere condolences to you; we share the grief of her passing.


Mark