Richard A Enright

After ninety-three years of touching the lives of those who knew him, Richard Gordon Enright, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2016, at Lenbrook Square in Atlanta, GA. Richard will be remembered for his warmth, humility and quick wit; and for being the consummate professional and mentor. Born on November 29, 1923, in Freeport IL, he was the son and only child of the late Harold and Grace Enright. He had completed two years of undergraduate studies at the University of Dubuque, in Iowa, when World War II broke out. He served in Patton’s Third Army of the 26th Infantry Division in the European Theatre from 1943 until the war ended in 1946. A gifted musician, Dick received his Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, in 1948, followed by a Master of Music a year later, and a Doctor of Music in 1961. While at Northwestern, he met Clara Mae Sandy Sandehn, an equally gifted organist who was also blessed with a beautiful soprano voice. They were married in 1949 and embarked on a musical journey, highlighted by numerous recitals and choral performances together. A demanding, yet beloved professor, Richard served on the faculty of the School of Music at Northwestern for 35 years, becoming Chairman of the Department of Church Music and Organ in 1969 and serving until his retirement in 1989. At that time, he was granted the title of Professor Emeritus of Church Music and Organ. In addition to his work at Northwestern, he pursued additional study at the Royal School of Music in England and at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Frankfort, Germany. He is the author of a still widely used text on organ instruction, Fundamentals of Organ Playing, published by Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis. He had lectured at Chicago Theological Seminary and the Music Teachers National Convention, and served as a panelist at the National Organ Pedagogy Conference in Berkeley, CA. His recitals included those at the Cleveland Museum of Art, the National Cathedral, the Riverside Church in NYC, and Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago. Early on in his career, Richard served as Associate Organist and Choirmaster at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, followed by a 22-year tenure as Organist and Choirmaster at First Presbyterian Church in Evanston, IL. Thinking he had retired from his “church job” in Evanston, he was lured to the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Forest, IL to “help them out for a month” and ended up serving as their organist for 23 years; finally retiring at age 70. Despite a seven-day workweek that spanned fifty years, Dick found great joy and passion in gardening, gourmet baking and telling a clever joke. In 2005, Dick and Sandy escaped the harsh Chicago climate and relocated to Lenbrook in Atlanta, GA, to be closer to their daughter and her family. He is survived by his devoted wife of 67 years, Sandy, daughter, Catharine Walton Reeves and son, Steven Krista of Fort Worth, TX; and grandsons, Harrison Reeves, and Kevin and Scott Enright. He is also survived by his nephew, William Miner Pam, and their children; and niece, Nancy Nilsen David of Rockford, IL. The family would like to thank all of his wonderful caregivers at Lenbrook and Crossroads Hospice for their kindness and good care. A memorial service honoring Richard Enright will be held on Friday, January 6th at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church 3003 Howell Mill Rd, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327, immediately followed by a reception in Williams Hall inside the church, In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Adele McKee Music Fund of Trinity Presbyterian Church.