John Green
marching with
his band in a
Long Beach CA
parade. (Los Angeles
Times picture.)
The Lewisville
Lake Symphony
thinks of John
Green as the Dr.
John Green who,
for a decade,
was the erudite
writer of our
program notes.
But he was also
Sgt. Johnny
Green of the
Greatest
Generation and
Mr. Green the
high school band
director who
rose to become
Professor Green,
dean of a
university fine
arts department.
Some know none
of this and
think of him as
a dedicated
caregiver at a
hospice, an
elder at their
Presbyterian
church, or an
ombudsman who
obtained some
justice for the
aged. He lived
all these lives
with zest and
concern for
those in his
reach.
John was born in
Cleveland, Ohio
in 1922 and
died in Denton
County, Texas in
2010.
He was married
to his wife Jo
for fifty-three
years. She
passed away in
2001.
Those who knew
him have spoken
of his ability
to listen to
people and his
skill in giving
wise,
non-judgmental
council. They
also recounted
some of the
cheerfully told
tales about the
unexpected in
his life. Some
of the best
recount his
unlikely
military
service. The
U.S. Army, not
always known for
matching skills
to assignments,
posted him to
the Armed
Services Music
Office in New
York where he
worked with
musicians like
Harry James and
Tommy Dorsey.
The Symphony
misses John and
gives its
condolences to
his daughter
Nancy Wright and
his son David
Green of
Angleton, Texas
and his family.
Those who knew
him have spoken
of his ability
to listen to
people and his
skill in giving
wise,
non-judgmental
council. They
also recounted
some of the
cheerfully told
tales about the
unexpected in
his life. Some
of the best
recount his
unlikely
military
service. The
U.S. Army, not
always known for
matching skills
to assignments,
posted him to
the Armed
Services Music
Office in New
York where he
worked with
musicians like
Harry James and
Tommy Dorsey.