Obituary for Francis J Pacocha Jr.
Frank Pacocha, former Music Educator, died peacefully Saturday, July 24, 2021 in Cedar Park, TX surrounded by his loving family. He was 82. Frank is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Mary Ann and his children; Michael (Susan), Mark (Karen), Matthew and his beloved “granddaughter,” Radar. Frank will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren Colleen (Matthew) Scott, Shannon (Andrew) Gullett, by his brother Richard (Connie), by his niece Michele Stevens (beloved late husband Robert), and her daughter Olivia, and by his nephew Brian (Sharon) and their daughter Katie.
Frank was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut where he lived with his family until he retired. As a young boy, he worked in the Tobacco fields of Connecticut, and as an adult, preferred smoking Cigars with Connecticut wrappers. He graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1957. He earned a Master’s Degree from the Hartt College of Music in The University of Hartford for music performance. It was there that he met his wife.
A bass trombone player, he attended the prestigious Hartt School of Music. He began his career in Suffield, CT teaching private trombone lessons. When a music teacher's job opened, he began teaching vocal, instrumental, and general music education to students from kindergarten through High School teaching in nearly every public school in town — and even some that no longer exist.
During 40 years teaching in the Suffield schools, this ebullient impresario oversaw 25 musical theater and countless student choral performances. He developed his beloved Suffield Camerata consisting of a madrigal chorus singing 12th- to 16th-century vocal pieces, a recorder ensemble, and a brass ensemble. Taking them on tour in France, Germany, England and Scotland -- where they performed in the grand ballroom of Edinburgh Castle. He was given the name “Mr P”, by his beloved students. On one trip, he brought his youngest son, Matthew, to assist with the tour. Matthew was referred to as “Mini P”, which Frank took great pride in hearing.
In 1998, Frank was named the Connecticut high school music educator of the year.
“Frankie”, a gregarious man with black hair and a beard, not only taught thousands of students his love of music at school but throughout his community, directing numerous summer musicals and community theatre performances. In one summer, program he indoctrinated many of his friends and neighbors that had never been on stage, to the joy of performing in a musical. His wife, Mary Ann, accompanied him as his pianist in many of these endeavors. Frank directed the St. Augustine's Boys Brigade Band where he began playing the trombone around age 10, teaching on Saturdays at the school and evenings at home. When not working, Frank spent his time with his family at White Sands Beach on the Connecticut shore, where he accepted the position as the initial Beach Manager for the Association. Frank never lost his interest in his bass trombone and planned to take it up and rejoin the Connecticut First Company Governor's Foot Guard when he retired. Instead, he took up the bass trombone and moved to Cedar Park, TX. He devoted his talent in this regard to several bands in the area, including The Lone Star Swing Syndicate, The Williamson Counter Wind Ensemble, and Brass Octet, which put a big smile on his face.
Calling hours be held Sunday, August 1, 2021, at Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home. 34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Calling hours are from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, August 2, 2021, at Christ the King Parish (Corpus Christi Church). 601 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with burial service at Rose Hill Memorial Park, 580 Elm Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.
His family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Suffield High School Chorus.
Mail to:
Suffield High School
c/o Joseph Migliore
1060 Sheldon Street
West Suffield, CT 06093
Please remember Frank as fun loving, happy, and lounging with a glass of cognac with a Coke chaser, and his Connecticut cigar.
Frank was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut where he lived with his family until he retired. As a young boy, he worked in the Tobacco fields of Connecticut, and as an adult, preferred smoking Cigars with Connecticut wrappers. He graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1957. He earned a Master’s Degree from the Hartt College of Music in The University of Hartford for music performance. It was there that he met his wife.
A bass trombone player, he attended the prestigious Hartt School of Music. He began his career in Suffield, CT teaching private trombone lessons. When a music teacher's job opened, he began teaching vocal, instrumental, and general music education to students from kindergarten through High School teaching in nearly every public school in town — and even some that no longer exist.
During 40 years teaching in the Suffield schools, this ebullient impresario oversaw 25 musical theater and countless student choral performances. He developed his beloved Suffield Camerata consisting of a madrigal chorus singing 12th- to 16th-century vocal pieces, a recorder ensemble, and a brass ensemble. Taking them on tour in France, Germany, England and Scotland -- where they performed in the grand ballroom of Edinburgh Castle. He was given the name “Mr P”, by his beloved students. On one trip, he brought his youngest son, Matthew, to assist with the tour. Matthew was referred to as “Mini P”, which Frank took great pride in hearing.
In 1998, Frank was named the Connecticut high school music educator of the year.
“Frankie”, a gregarious man with black hair and a beard, not only taught thousands of students his love of music at school but throughout his community, directing numerous summer musicals and community theatre performances. In one summer, program he indoctrinated many of his friends and neighbors that had never been on stage, to the joy of performing in a musical. His wife, Mary Ann, accompanied him as his pianist in many of these endeavors. Frank directed the St. Augustine's Boys Brigade Band where he began playing the trombone around age 10, teaching on Saturdays at the school and evenings at home. When not working, Frank spent his time with his family at White Sands Beach on the Connecticut shore, where he accepted the position as the initial Beach Manager for the Association. Frank never lost his interest in his bass trombone and planned to take it up and rejoin the Connecticut First Company Governor's Foot Guard when he retired. Instead, he took up the bass trombone and moved to Cedar Park, TX. He devoted his talent in this regard to several bands in the area, including The Lone Star Swing Syndicate, The Williamson Counter Wind Ensemble, and Brass Octet, which put a big smile on his face.
Calling hours be held Sunday, August 1, 2021, at Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home. 34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Calling hours are from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, August 2, 2021, at Christ the King Parish (Corpus Christi Church). 601 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with burial service at Rose Hill Memorial Park, 580 Elm Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.
His family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Suffield High School Chorus.
Mail to:
Suffield High School
c/o Joseph Migliore
1060 Sheldon Street
West Suffield, CT 06093
Please remember Frank as fun loving, happy, and lounging with a glass of cognac with a Coke chaser, and his Connecticut cigar.