From Chorister Ray Lombardi:
In response to a couple of requests, I’m sending the gist of what I said at Mark’s farewell, recreating as best I remember, the ad-lib part
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In the Fall of 1986, I had just retired and was looking around for someplace to sing – having had a brief time with a small chorus in Paris.
Having no training and not knowing enough music to audition with anyone,, I stumbled upon a NOVA catalog which listed “MUSIC 137 Chorus”.
Said to myself – this course could teach me something about being in a chorus and maybe help me find one.
On the appointed night I turned up at the Tyler building (late) and knocked on the door. after a while the director (Cathy Price) answered – a little irritated.
I asked if this was the chorus room and she replied “are you a tenor or a bass?” I said I thought I was a bass and she said “Stand over there!”
and I’ve been standing over there for thirty-one years.
The next year, when Mark took over the group I observed that he was just a patient as Cathy had been, especially with neophytes.
From careful watching, I began to see the signs in Mark’s behavior which showed plainly when we in the chorus had gone too far and backing off was essential.
YOUR PATIENCE WAS USUALLY AMPLE
WHEN IT WASN’T, THE SIGNS THEY WERE SIMPLE.
OUR BEHAVIOR ABYSMAL, WOULD MAKE YOU LOOK DISMAL
AND THAT VEIN WOULD THROB IN YOUR TEMPLE.
FOR NOW, IT’S FAREWELL, DR. MARKIE
WITH A HO -A- DINKUM -LARKEE
YOU GAVE US ALL SUCH WONDERFUL STUFF
AND WE CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH.