David Spicer died January 18 in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Since 1986, he was minister of music and arts for the First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, Connecticut. He was also adjunct professor of music for Tunxis Community College, Farmington, Connecticut, and host of the radio broadcast, “Glory, Praise & Song” on station WIHS, Middletown, Connecticut.
Prior to coming to Connecticut, Spicer was director of music for the First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska, and taught church music at Nebraska Wesleyan University. He had also served as organist and choir director for the Wayne Presbyterian Church, Wayne, Pennsylvania.
A native of Austin, Texas, he began organ studies at age eight. He was a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he studied organ with Alexander McCurdy, and completed graduate studies at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, also of Philadelphia. He also studied organ with Robert Elmore. Spicer was house organist for the Bushnell Auditorium of Hartford, Connecticut, and taught at Central Connecticut State University.
In 1997, Spicer co-founded the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford, a national competition for high school and young professional organists. A memorial service was held February 11 at the First Church of Christ, Wethersfield.
David Spicer is survived by his wife, Dana Spicer, seven children, sixteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Donations may be made to the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford, 31 Church Street, Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109.
www.firstchurch.org/ministries/music-and-arts/david-spicer-memorial
