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When did you join the Trinity Choir? 

It was 1933. I was singing in high school, and my music teacher was coaching the Peterson brothers, who sang in the choir. She said to them, “I’d love if you could take him to sing in the choir.”

So I asked my mother. I said, “You know, it’s an Episcopal Church, but don’t worry about it.”

I came over and was reviewed by [Trinity choirmaster] Channing Lefebvre. I could read music pretty good. He said, “Ok, you’re hired.”

I was making $10 a month.

I take it you weren’t an Episcopalian?
I’m Catholic. I learned everything I say in Mass today in my church in Trinity Church. If we have a song that we’re going to sing in church, my wife just tells me the first word. I don’t use the book. I learned so many hymns at Trinity that they are indelibly printed in my mind.

What do you like best about singing?
I love singing. I sing anything, I don’t care what it is. I love how it sounds in my ear, how it makes me feel.

What did you enjoy singing the most?
Easter was amazing. The “Hallelujah Chorus” would bring you to your feet. I could sing it backwards. Ah, but it’s a wonderful piece.

On Ascension Day we sang with the Philharmonic Orchestra across the front of the altar. We rehearsed from June to the following year to put those Masses on. It was beautiful.

You were in the Trinity Choir until 1956 — you must have liked it here.
I just loved everything about it. I loved the people, I loved the way they treated me, and I liked the way they conducted their Masses — first class. They were such great people. I loved them all.

We lost a few in the War. Some came back wounded. My best friend, he sang with us in the choir. He came home, I met him at the station, he took his uniform and put it in the furnace. Never talked about being a Marine because his memories were so bad.

What’s it like visiting Trinity again?
I feel so young here. I feel so thrilled that I sang in this place. I can’t say how much
I love this church. I just adored everything we did here. One of the best things in my whole life, except when I got married.