The following is the Death Notice of the late Jay Becker. Jay’s wife is Sheila (nee O’Sullivan) formerly of Claraghatlea, Millstreet.
Sheila, Meg, Catherine & All the Family, we wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy to you all on the sad departure of Jay to his Eternal Reward, R.I.P.. Sheila has always been so wonderfully loyal to her native Irish hometown of Millstreet. As we say in Gaelic “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis” (His noble soul on the right hand of God). Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May the magnificently gifted Jay rest in peace. Kindest regards. Seán Radley….Now follows the official notice:
March 15, 1929 – June 06, 2014
Julius “Jay” Becker of Birmingham, who celebrated his birthday 365 days a year, was born on March 15, 1929 in Alton, Illinois to Professor René Louis Becker and Angela (nee Landzettel) and died June 6, 2014 at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. He was 85 years old.
As a young boy, the study of music was fostered by his parents. Performance skills were polished at every opportunity, particularly through the many evening or Sunday afternoon “musical soirees” which Rene and Angela hosted for area musicians in their home on Connecticut Avenue in Highland Park. When Jay would hear Brahm’s Ein Deutsches Requiem, his family’s treasured tradition of church music stirred in his heart. The tradition goes well back into the 19th century to the French province of Alsace where Jay’s great grandfather, Jean Baptiste Becker, grew up. The tradition includes a connection between Jay’s father, René L. Becker, and Brahms himself.
The connection with Johannes Brahms? Once a year, Maestro Brahms came to the Strasbourg Conservatory to perform a piano recital. In the spring of 1894, young Rene L. Becker was chosen to turn the pages for the Maestro during the performance because of his high scholastic standing. It was the supreme honor for a conservatory student.
Jay’s love of music continued through-out his life. He was very active with St. Eugene’s Church in Detroit, as both organist and choir director, and Holy Name Church in Birmingham. He was a member in the bass section of the Rackham Symphony Choir for over 29 years. Jay also maintained the Rackham Choral library. The Choir has been one of the Detroit area’s premier choral organizations.
Jay also loved traveling. When reminiscing about his boyhood, Jay recounted the train trips he would take with his mother to visit art museums and take in the sights. He had his mother’s sense of adventure and lived in the moment.
Jay proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1950-1954 during the Korean War. His first day was September 11, 1950. He was just 21 years old. He became a radio operator for the Air Force. He was based out of the Johnson Air Base which was just 45 miles North West of Tokyo, Japan. After 4 years in the Air Force, Jay came home and began his banking career. Although music was always his real passion, he went to night school and earned a degree in accounting from Detroit Business College.
On May 4th, 1957, Jay married the love of his life, Julia “Sheila” O’Sullivan. They had two daughters, Meg and Catherine (Thomas), and two grand-daughters, Julie Ann and Jennifer Reneé.
Jay retired from Manufacturer’s Bank in 1989 after 31 years of work. A testimonial resolution from the Detroit City Council began by saying Jay “labored diligently for many years in the world of finance. Recently he meticulously cleaned out his desk after more than 31 years at Manufacturers National Bank of Detroit to join the ranks of the retired”. It ended with, “The Detroit City Council hereby extends its congratulations to Julius A. Becker – banker, musician, singer, teacher, father, farmer, culinarian, philatelist, and joke collector – upon his retirement from Manufacturers National Bank of Detroit and wishes him a long and happy life of leisure.” And a long and happy life he lived, indeed.
Mr. Becker is survived by his loving wife, Sheila, and his children, Meg Becker and Catherine (Thomas) Washabaugh. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Julie Ann and Jennifer Reneé Washabaugh, his sister-in-law Helen Becker, niece Pamela Wilde (William) and nephew René Becker (Cynthia), his great-nephews, Mark and Alex Wilde and his great-niece, Lucie Becker, and many beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews. Jay is also survived by so many wonderful friends – you know who you are! Jay is preceded in death by his siblings, René Claude Becker, Catherine Angela Becker Smith, Francis Joseph Becker and his parents, René Louis & Angela Becker.
Visitation will be held at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Sunday 1-7pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Holy Name Church, 630 Harmon, Birmingham, Monday 10am. Friends may visit at church beginning at 9:30am. Jay requested that donations be made to the Rackham Symphony Choir, P.O. Box 36788 Grosse Pointe, Michigan 48236.
As Jay would say, TTFN.
(Ta Ta For Now)
The death notice is from Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, Michigan
See also:
The Becker Family: a Dynasty of Musicians
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