One Former Camper's Memories Become a Legacy: - Reading ...

Gregory Piszczek’s young organ music career
blossomed last year with his acceptance into
the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division for the
2009-2010 school year. Primarily an organist,
Gregory has studied privately with American Guild
of Organists member Marjorie Fitz for two years
with merit and need-sensitive awards through the
Reading Musical Foundation.
Gregory, the son of two Polish immigrants and a
junior at Central Catholic, was hoping for significant
scholarship funds through Juilliard to help cover
the $8,400 tuition for the fall and spring semesters.
Unfortunately, the award from Juilliard Parent
Association covered just over 10% of the cost.
It was at this time his music teacher developed a
new goal for her student. Trading her educator hat
for a development hat, Marjorie’s new charge was
to ensure Gregory’s attendance in the prestigious
Juilliard program. It was a selfless task, as Juilliard
stipulates students in the Pre-College Division must
stop taking lessons from their current music teacher.
Eve Kimball’s childhood flute - now a member of the Operation Replay family!
KIMBALL, continued from page 1
of music. She exchanges holiday cards with a fellow
camper to this day.
Dan and Eve were lab partners at the University of
Virginia Medical School and were married one week
after their graduation. Opportunities available to
both of them at The Reading Hospital and Medical
Center lured the couple to Reading. Dan served as
the Reading Hospital’s Director of Medicine and the
director of its residency program for 15 years. Trained
in internal medicine with specialties in hematology and
oncology, Dan has “retired” into hospice service and
• NEWS OF NOTE • CAMPAIGN 2009
With a Little Help from My Friends
One of Marjorie’s
first stops was the
Reading Musical
Foundation, which
provided significant
funding through
the Colonial Oaks
Parochial School
Program and the
Lee G. & Marian
Kachel Organ Marjorie Fitz & Gregory Piszczek
Scholarship Program.
She and Michael Baal, Dean of the Reading
Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, shared
Greg’s story with neighbors, family, other local
AGO members and anyone else who would listen!
Marjorie received firsthand advice from Valerie
Strunk, the mother of Orin Strunk, another RMF
scholarship winner and Pre-College Division vocal
student in 2008. Thanks to her tenacity and her
PISZCZEK, continued on page 9
advocacy at the national level for improvements in the
delivery of health care. Humbly claiming that he “can’t
carry a tune,” Dan carries and listens to hundreds of
classical, bluegrass and jazz “tunes” on his iPod.
By establishing their music camp Fellowships
at RMF, Dan and Eve hope to nurture children’s
excitement in music and provide them with an outlet
for their emotions throughout their lifetimes, through
the appreciation of music. It is also a means for them
to say “Thank you!” for the opportunities greater
Reading has given them and their three children
Written by C. Thomas Work