DAVID GROVER KLOCKO

OLD TOWN – David Grover Klocko died unexpectedly Father’s Day, June 21, 2009, in Bangor. He was born May 27, 1937, in Dunkirk, N.Y., the son of Marion D. and Dorothy (Champlain) Klocko. Dave graduated from Dunkirk High School in 1955 as salutatorian. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science in building construction. Very quickly he discovered construction was not his forte, and chose to study music instead. Before he could, he was drafted in the U.S. Army and played clarinet for two years in the 2nd Armored Division Band at Fort Hood, Texas. After completing his army service in 1963, he attended the State University of New York at Potsdam and received a Bachelor of Science in music education/voice in 1966. After that, in 1967, he earned a Master of Arts in music history and literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he met and married his wife, Helen Tunison. In 1978, he completed his doctorate in musicology from the University of Michigan, writing a dissertation on Jeremiah Ingalls, a Vermont tunebook composer. In 1970, Dave became music history instructor at Greater Hartford Community College. After one year there, he was invited to start a music department at Bangor Community College – BCC. He taught music history and literature at BCC, now the University College of Bangor, for 31 years and developed many different courses, as well as founding and directing its chorus. Students loved his enthusiastic and “aerobic” teaching styles, and wherever he went he met people who fondly remembered taking his courses. In 2002, he received the Meritorious Achievement Award from the University of Maine at Augusta – UMA, and in 2003 he was named a professor emeritus of UMA. After his retirement, he continued to teach for Senior College on the Bangor campus. Dave was perhaps best known for his years of service to Bangor Symphony Orchestra – BSO, having given pre-concert lectures for 25 years. He served a term on the BSO Board of Directors and also on their conductor search committee. Last month at their May concert, the BSO honored him for his long service. He was also well known for his entertaining talks to many local organizations about “Music, Who Needs It” and other musical topics. He sang in two Maine productions of “The Music Man,” played a small role in the Acadia Theatre production of “Anastasia,” and for many years lectured before selected chamber concerts at the Maine Center for the Arts. Dave’s alter ego was Johann Sebastian Bach, and in the persona, with wig and costume, he emceed several performances of the Bangor Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In 2008, he was honored as the Dean of Ingallsology by the Jeremiah Ingalls Society. Dave’s first love was barbershop singing. He was a charter member of Mainely Music Chorus and sang tenor in The Maine Arrangement, one of the longest lasting barbershop quartets in Maine. For 10 years he was the director of the chorus and was honored as Barbershopper of the Year in 1993. Dave was also a hockey enthusiast and enjoyed University of Maine Hockey games for many years. Dave is survived by his wife, Helen; daughter, Kathleen and her husband, Bryan Terne, of East Norriton, Pa.; son, Eric of San Jose, Calif.; as well as by his sister, Anne Klocko and her husband and children; and brothers, William and James and their wives and children. A celebration of Dave’s life will be held Sunday, July 19, at a place to be announced. Donations in his memory may be made to Harmony Foundation, 110 Seventh Ave. North, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37203. A service of Brookings-Smith, LaBeau Chapel, 72 Main St., Orono. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.