James Metzler of Sylvania, Ohio, died May 19 at the age of 69. Born June 20, 1947, in Worcester, Massachusetts, Metzler was adopted at a young age and, after his adopted mother became ill, was raised as a foster child in various homes and orphanages until the age of 18. As a teenager, he sang in the men and boys choir of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Worcester, and took organ lessons from Henry Hokans. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College,
Princeton, New Jersey, and his Master of Music degree from the Hartt School of Hartford, Connecticut. He completed some doctoral work in organ and musicology studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Additional studies were at the Royal School of Church Music, Croydon, England. In addition to Hokans, his organ teachers included Robert Carwithen, Alec Wyton, John Holtz, Marilyn Mason, and Martin Neary. Metzler held a fellowship diploma from the Cambridge Society of Musicians (FCSM), a fellowship diploma from the Guild of Musicians and Singers (FGMS), a fellowship diploma from the Honourable Company of Organists (FHCO), Toronto, Canada, and an honorary fellowship diploma from the National College of Music and Arts (HonFNCM), London, for services to music.
In 1972, Metzler moved to Toledo, Ohio, to become organist and choirmaster for Trinity Episcopal Church, serving until 1996. From 2006 until 2013, he served as minister of music for First (Park) Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), Grand Rapids, Michigan. He taught music courses at the University of Toledo, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, and Mitchell College, New London, Connecticut. As a recitalist, he performed throughout the United States as well as in Europe.
James Metzler is survived by his wife Diane, whom he married in 1988, two sons, Jeff Metzler and Yurii Fought, brothers and sisters-in-law, Charlie and Julie Schwochow of Fremont, Ohio, and Dave and Nancy Lee of Alva, Florida, and nieces and nephews in Ohio, Florida, and Colorado. A funeral Mass was celebrated May 22 at Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary Cathedral, Toledo.
