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.
