City Choir Valentines

"My dear husband Sam was always such a wonderful support of my involvement with City Choir and of City
Choir itself from the year we began and even before during the years with TWC. He came to every City
Choir concert and he even served as City Choir usher for several years. It often seemed to fall upon him to seat
the Washington Post critic (when they still came to review our concerts) and he always tried to make sure that
person was comfortable with the seat to which he escorted them. He would always come to all the special
activities of the Choir, such as fundraisers and picnics, etc., and if there was ever any help needed when he was
there, he would offer to assist. He always seemed to make any event more fun by his playful presence. The
memory I recall most of Sam’s continuing willingness to support me and City Choir was bittersweet. This was
when he insisted on accompanying me on the Choir’s fundraising Potomac River cruise in May 2015, despite
the fact that he was really feeling much weaker due to his cancer. He knew how much I enjoyed being with
my choir friends and participating in these events and he simply wanted to do his best to support my desire to
be with the choir, knowing that I would not go without him. Sadly, he passed away less than 2 months later.
He was one supportive and selflessly generous guy and I miss him everyday.
He also was very supportive of City Singers and my managerial involvement with it. He was present at so
many City Singers performances through the years and would offer to help if anything was needed. He often
volunteered to be the “ladies’ handbag watcher”, as we ladies all dropped off our purses with him, wherever he
sat, before we began the concerts. I truly could not have continued all those years as City Singers manager
without his moral support and willingness to help me whenever needed and in whatever capacity.
In the last few months before his passing, he came with me to many rehearsals, just so we could spend time
together. I think some might have wondered if I could still drive myself. But on some of those evenings he
was sometimes very tired, so he would occasionally fall asleep on the
bench near the refreshment area. So when the choir came out for our
break I had to rush out ahead to make sure he would be awake and not
be embarrassed to be found sleeping there next to the food before the
singers got there. Both City Choir and I were so fortunate to have such a
loyal supporter as my husband Sam. Sam was my true Valentine."
†
Sam & S1 Lani
Kanakry
† in memoriam