Scarsdale Congregational Church

Phil Washburn introduced Fran with these words: "As a part of our 75th anniversary celebration, on one Sunday every month for the entire year we have been and will be hearing from various members who, out of their experience, can share with us their special perspective on our life as a congregation. Today, for the month of October, Fran Keeffe will share her observations with us. Fran is a long time member of this congregation, and stalwart of Chancel Players. Been in many of its productions over the years. And she was a primary mover some years ago in the fund raising for our present pipe organ. And she currently accompanies the Church School choir program for the younger ones, under the direction of her daughter Cindy Dunne. So, fortunately for us, she's still making music happen here. Fran, welcome."

(Fran is pictured here as she paused in one of her many activities - helping customers at the November 6, 1999 Family Fair.)

In trying to choose a nostalgic or historic moment in our association with this Church, I found that my "moment" spans nearly thirty-eight continuous years. I've had a terrible time trying to distill it. Our family moved to Scarsdale in June of 1962. Gigi (now Gigi Schwartzman) was starting fourth grade, Cindy (now Cindy Dunne) was starting first grade, and Amy (now Amy Peckham) was not quite old enough for kindergarten.

As we settled in, we were looking around for a Church. We found one in September of that year when Gigi, who had made friends with a neighboring child, Lorene Lohman, came home and said, "Mom, Lorene sings with that little kids' choir at that church down the street. Do you think I could go with her and sing there, too?"

Thereby hangs our tale. You may have heard Sherry Lewis' song, "The Music Made Me Do It". Well, in our case, THE MUSIC MADE US DO IT! Gigi was followed into the choirs and church school by Cindy and Amy, and John and I came along as camp followers. There were two Children's Choirs, and they sang regularly once a month and on special occasions, coming down the aisle in the red and blue robes we had for them then, to distinguish the two choirs.

Our kids got very involved in the Youth Fellowship group with its volunteer work, theater productions, etc. and I wound up with the distinction of being the first female tenor in a church choir in Scarsdale. John's big interest was in outreach, and before long he was on the Board as Chairman of the Outreach Committee. The Board decided to combine the Music Committee and the Worship and Parish Life Committee into one, Music and Worship, and Dave Kimble and I were made more-or less Co-Chairmen.

About that time, a young organist by the name of John Schuder was engaged to replace our departing Choir Director and organist, Claire Thomas, and John came on board just as the pipe organ heaved a huge sigh and all but expired. What to do???? Our minister, then Roger Johnson, marshaled some of the heavy thinkers and money managers on the Board and in the congregation, and the consensus was that we desperately needed a new organ, but there was just one problem: THE MONEY. What could we do to get the money?? (Sound familiar???!!!)

In any event, an organ committee was duly appointed, and Rudy Berle and I found ourselves named Co-Chairmen, charged with figuring out how to raise the money. John Schuder jumped in with both feet and launched the investigation into what we needed and which organ builder to contract with; and ultimately John designed our wonderful new organ. Bob Chamberlin, in charge of architectural changes, came in with great plans. And finally, they announced that it could all be done for only $100,000.00. Now that was in the early 1970's, mind you.

WELL! The shrieks went up - no way could we raise $100,000.00. The "Big They" said it couldn't be done. And furthermore, "They" said that if it COULD be done, we had other places for extra money - we needed a new boiler, the steeple needed painting, church buildings needed repairs, grounds needed replanting - on and on. The budget crunch was already on, and the Board was divided on funding church programs. A proposal was made and seriously entertained to cut the music and church school budgets, eliminating funding for the children's choirs and for the professional section leaders in our wonderful adult choir. Those items became the subject of a heated Corporate Budget Meeting, and I was so proud of John Keeffe at that meeting. Following one strong pitch for the budget cut, John stood up and made a very impassioned speech against the budget cut. The point he made was that music was an integral part of worship, and the church school and children's choirs brought in people. He pointed out that it wouldn't matter how much paint was put on the steeple, or how many new plantings were added to our landscape, or how many new curtains were hung in classrooms if there were no people in the congregation. He got a round of applause; and subsequently, the budget passed.

Music and Worship issued a call to arms, and the whole congregation went to work to prove the "Big They" WRONG. We came up with the idea of putting on a full scale theatrical production as a fund raiser for the music program. We figured that there were enough would-be singers and dancers and raw talent in the population of the church to do a great musical production, which we proceeded to do. The first of what became a succession of "Best Of" Dinner Theaters was the result. "The Best of Broadway" was a smashing success and we even had to add an extra performance because the demand for seats was so great. All the costumes, all the sets, all the acting, directing, singing, dancing, accompanists and ushers, as well as the cooks, waiters and waitresses came from 150 "kids" of all ages in this congregation, from kindergartners to octogenerians. It was a heartwarming thing to see a little kid come in to a rehearsal and say, "Hi, Uncle Bob," to seventy-odd year old Bob Chamberlin, for instance, and hear Bob respond, "Well, hello there, Amy," (or Cindy, or Gigi, or Jonathan, or Tony or Robert, whomever, by name) - all in the same production, all of us in it together. The goal was "Save the music program! Build an organ! GO, TEAM!!" It was an incredibly unifying thing.

In the midst of this, Gary Brown joined us as Associate Minister, and one day in the middle of "Best Of" preparations, I walked into the Church office, and Gary was standing there. He looked at me impishly and said, "You know, Fran, this is the first Church I've ever interviewed at where you had go to auditions and try out for the part!" Much later, when the Browns moved away, Martha Brown referred to those years here as "Camelot", and I can hardly argue.

Lois Seulowitz took the ball and ran with the "Best Ofs", and she set about establishing Chancel Players that presented many other productions through the years. One of these, "Night Must Fall", emerged in the mid-80's, directed by Amy Keeffe, assisted by Fran Keeffe, and coached and held together by Lois Seulowitz, who kept referring to our show as, "The Curtain Must Fall!" We had a lot of trouble with that one, and it was a REAL historic moment when we pulled it off! Having seen, this year, the revival of "Night Must Fall" on Broadway, starring Matt Broderick, I am very proud to tell you that we all agreed that our David Culver did a much better job of portraying Danny, the evil, murdering psychopath, than Matt Broderick did on Broadway. David didn't get paid union scale, but he was better than Broderick!

As for the organ, private donations were solicited and received, numerous fund raisers were held - benefit dinners, large and small; organ concerts; vocal concerts (a la then-Barbara Wright - now-Barbara Lindow), more "Best Ofs", and we even had Jack Murdich at a fellowship dinner presenting the "Wurst of Murdich." The members of the Guild were simply incredible in every supportive measure. The Youth Fellowship pitched in at every turn. Various separate specific portions of the project were donated by members and former members. Two and a half years of feverish planning and building followed.

And then the magic day came. On a Sunday in November, 1975, the Dedication of the Organ took place. What a glorious day that was! The church was packed, and I can't remember before or since ever hearing such magnificent music, either from an organ or a choir. There was almost an ethereal glow all over everything. At the end of the service, I was so excited that I did something I still can't figure out. The Choir began its recessional and started filing out on each side of the organ, at the end of the service, as usual. I was, of course, on stage left, as we say, in the tenor section, along side Pat Lilly, who had by that time joined the choir as another lady tenor. We started out, but instead of turning left at the end of the choir pew, I kept going straight on over to the far side of the organ and chrged into the alto line - at which time I suddenly wondered where I was and what I was doing - so I turned left into the alto line and emerged on the far side of the organ just abreast of Pat Lilly. I'll never forget the look on her face. I've never been able to answer her amazed question when we got to the narthex, which was, "What in the world were you doing??"

Those were the good times. And then there were the bad times along the way for many of us, in our turn. What we learned early on in the midst of this Camelot, was that NOBODY ever leaned on people in this congregation unless they wanted leaning on. That counted for involvement, as well as non-involvement in church activities. No one intruded. However, if someone needed help, the call to arms was made there too, no matter who, no matter what their background, no matter what their age, no matter how little or how much. Many of you know those in this congregation, and this includes our family, who wouldn't be here today without the loving support of this entire congregation during darker days.

I started this "Historic Moment" by listing individuals, couples, families, all of whom have been so attentive, caring, and vital in so many ways and places. The list grew like "Topsy" and got so long, and then I became afraid of leaving out some key players, so I decided not to give those remarkable people the personal tribute they deserve at this moment. Many of them are still right here among us; and many have since moved, or passed away. But in my heart - our hearts - they are still here with us, and I have total recall of the tremendous impact each has made on all our lives in one way or another, and it's always of source of strength and comfort.

So now the beat goes on. The cast of characters has changed, but seeing the constant flow of wonderful new members through the past forty years - some of them not so new anymore - is like watching a mountain spring replenish itself. The spirit is strong, the church is again full of children - who are the future of the church, among them some of our grandchildren - learning to care and lifting up their voices in song, just as our children did. The congregation is chock-a-block full of talent and willing hands. The organ has been refurbished, the programs, projects and lessons are extensive and exhilarating, the cameraderie, the good deeds and the caring are still here - but - - -the boiler will need repairing again, the steeple will need re-painting, the choir will need new robes, and the church will still need money!! Lest we forget!!!

SO - the music still makes us do it; but through the years, I've learned that the music is coming from the love, the heart and soul of this magical church. So "ON WITH THE SHOW!!"

I apologize for undoubtedly going over my allotted time - but - THE MUSIC MADE ME DO IT!!