Barbershop Quartetting bringing back the music, fellowship and fun.

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In Memoriam

Keith Lindsay Eckhardt - September 9, 1941 - January 19, 2021

Keith, of Placerville, California, passed away on January 19th after a fight with the COVID-19 virus. Born in Portland, Oregon, he moved with his family to California when he was a youngster. Keith worked for IBM as a systems engineer for 30+ years and began his career when computers filled the entire room. He enjoyed singing but didn't learn about Barbershop harmony and the organization until in his late 30's. But once he experienced the joys of Barbershop style singing, he was hooked.

Keith was a member of the Bellingham Toppers and the Twin Falls, ID chapters and currently the Placerville CA Gold Rush Chrus. He was selected as the Far Western District Barbershopper of the Year in 2015. Keith was the webmaster for both the Evergreen and Far Western Districts. Keith was really into cooking and always brought treats to the chapter meetings. He had just finished designing a data management system for all barbershop chapters to use. Keith designed and managed the program for the 23K Project - its goal was to interview all 23,000 BHS members at the time, charting their likes and dis-likes about the Society, and seeking their suggestions for improvement. Some of his other involvements were EVG District Secretary, Chief Volunteer Information Officer Barbershop Harmony Society, BHS Volunteer Webmaster, Operation Harold Hill, 23K Project as well as for the Evergreen and Far Western Districts, Secretary for Bud Leabo Memorial Fund, Pacific Barbershop Summit Member. He was an AHSOW 4 part qualifier, BQPA Member, and 'Keeping the P&Q in BHS' .

Keith will certainly be missed.

Born in Detroit Michigan, he proudly served in the United States Navy. He later worked as a machinist in the automobile industry prior to retirement in Ft Meyers, Florida. Jack was active in the Barbershop Harmony Society, Lions Club and AMVETS. He was a member of the 2003 International Quartet Power Play.

John 'Jack' Slamka - October 15, 1947 - November 28, 2020

Power Play Quartet

2003 International Quartet Champions

Ronald Gillies - July 19, 1930 - November 8, 2020

Ron lived in Grand Blanc, Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. Ron spent over 70 years in Barbershop music beginning with the Bean Town Four. He was a member of the Flint Arrowhead Barbershop Chorus and a Barbershop Chorus in Macomb County.

Bob Wachter - 6 MAR 1925 – 16 AUG 2020

ROBERT JAMES WACHTER of Alexandria VA passed on Aug 16th felled by the coronavirus.

Bob was a retired Air Force pilot flying B-50 bombers. He joined SPEBSQSA in 1953. For over 46 years he directed Washington D.C. choruses Arlingtion, Fairfax Jubil-Aires, Alexandria Harmonizers and the famed daytime Harmony Heritage Singers., plus choruses from Roswell, NM, Little Rock AR, Ponca City OK, Middletown OH, to the Pleiku Highlands of Vietnam. And for more than 35 years he coached quartets at Harmony College East, as qualified by virtue of Harmony College Directors School. He taught voice production there for 11 years and was as a Certified Judge in Sound and Singing for 25 years. Since joining BHS 68 years ago Bob gladly coached and sang countlessly.

“I am a very fortunate man.”

Joseph M. Monahan - August 3, 1946 - March 26, 2020

Hillsborough, New Jersey

Personification of the Ideal Barbershopper and Friend

Joe did it all, and did it well: Quartet – Chorus – Chapter President – Organizer – Motivator

A giving person who had so much more to do.

A guy you just wanted to be with.

He will be sorely missed.

John Grant - March 4, 2020

The solid rock of British Barbershop

Renowned, great and revered throughout the entire Barbershop world

Coach , Judge, Director, Instructor at Harmony College

Founder of two BABS chapters

BABS Category Specialist in Sound and Singing

Chairman of BABS Executive Committee

Chairman of BABS Guild of Judges

7 time BABS Champion Chorus Director

Gone from us too soon---having left a lasting legacy behind

Don Clause - January 11, 1930 - January 27, 2020

Matlacha Isles, Florida

Mentor, Counselor, Quartet Competitor, Chorus Director, Arranger, International Champion Quartet & Chorus Coach, Author of the C & J Sound Category

The following Championship Quartets and Choruses acknowledge Don’s contribution to their success:

QUARTETS: Dealers Choice; Side Street Ramblers; Regents; Rapscallions; Happiness Emporium; Second Edition; Innsiders; Acoustix; Bluegrass Student Union; The Ritz

CHORUSES: Dallas Vocal Majority; Dukes of Harmony; Alexandria Harmonizers; Masters of Harmony; New Tradition; Chorus of the Chesapeake.

A BARBERSHOP ICON WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS WILL LIVE ON

“Who’ll take my place when I’m gone”

George "Fritz" Grunewald - November 3, 1934 - January 8, 2020

Burkburnett, Texas
United States Air Force from 1954 until 1961
Enthusiastic member and promoter of SPPBSQSUS

"You can bet your last buck that, had his health been better, he'd have been a major contributor."
Long time member of the Whittier Choralaires, won every chapter award, some twice.
The reputed "king" of convention chairmen.