Tuesday, January 29, 2019
I am broken-hearted to read of the passing of Chuck Neel, my friend and voice student. Chuck came to my studio for many years, and we taught each other about songs, movies, theater, and life. After I moved to NJ, I came to his home from time to time, and the last time I heard from him, he seemed genuinely sad that our regular song sessions had come to an end. He was in my mother's graduating class from East Fairmont High, but he insisted that he was much younger than she - he had many exotic stories to support this claim. I deeply regret that I had not connected with him in this last year or so - it is more my loss than his. He and I had many discussions about religion ( never angry or desperate - always open and searching ). He said he thought the Baptists and Catholics were the most beluevable, because he felt they were the most honest expressions of Christian faith. Although he called himself agnostic, he said he hoped that he would find out that there was a God when it was all over. I pray that this amazing, witty, charming soul will live on into Eternity.
