David James Pope, Sr. of Chattanooga died in his home on Monday, October 28, after a very brief illness.
Born in Minnesota in 1939, he was the son of Francis Pope and Lillian Palya Pope. His musical talent was evident from an early age. He studied piano with the renowned pedagogue Arnold Schultz in Chicago, where he appeared with several orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony.
When at Valparaiso University he studied organ with Heinrich Fleischer. David received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Florida State University where he was a pupil of the famous composer, pianist and conductor Ernst von Dohnanyi and concert pianist Edward Kilenyi.
In 1963 David took a position on the faculty of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he remained for 33 years, concertizing in the U.S., Western Europe, Central America and Asia in the ’60s and ’70s. In addition to teaching, his contributions to the university included establishing and maintaining Recording Services, and creating the Festival Series. Upon his retirement from the university he was named Professor Emeritus.
David took the Master of Business Administration degree at BGSU, and earned a Commercial Pilot license and a flight instructor’s certificate. He subsequently served as long term consultant to the Calderon Energy Company and other Toledo area businesses.
He was married to his wife Ann Almond Pope for 57 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Lillian Pope and by his brother Sgt. F.H. Pope, Jr. He is survived by his wife Ann, his brother, John Palya Pope and wife, Terri, and his sons, David Jr. and wife Melissa Mathews; Peter and wife Sylvia Rogal; Michael and wife Lydia Courtney, as well as six grandchildren: Chelsea Pope, Anthony Pope, Evan Pope, Liam Pope, Elizabeth (Ellie) Pope and Madeline (Maddy) Pope.
David was a man of myriad interests and abilities, loyal to his friends, and adored by his family, for whom he was a stalwart advocate and wise counselor.
At his request, David’s body was donated to The University of Tennessee Health Science Center-College of Medicine.
A Memorial Service was be held on Saturday, November 2 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hixson where as a lifelong Lutheran David was a member. Presiding ministers were The Rev. Stan Combs and The Rev. Chris Hansen.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations on behalf of David Pope be made to the University of California San Francisco- Charles Limb Music Cognition Fund, c/o Darrell.Young @ucsf.edu or to the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.
