John Boyle Pierpont

John B. Pierpont
December 11, 1932- January 26, 2017
“Music is the universal language of mankind”
John Pierpont, 84, passed away peacefully at Greenwood House, Ewing, NJ on January 26,
2017 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's.
Jack led a full life as a father, husband, teacher and musician, enriching the lives of others with
his great sense of humor, kind heart, strong moral compass and passion for Music. Jack is
survived by his wife, Anne, daughter Sarah Anne of Pennington, NJ, and three sons, John B
Pierpont Jr of Port Chester , New York, David Pierpont of Westport Connecticut and Matthew
Pierpont of Yonkers, New York.
He is also survived by his sisters, Eleanor Suydam of New Canaan, Connecticut and Joan
Carosielli of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, nieces Sharon Rife of Sewell , NJ
Jo-Ann Pierpont of Connecticut, nephews Richard Carosielli, of Palm City Florida and Richard
Pierpont of, Raymond, Maine.
He was a graduate of the Taft School in Connecticut, Hofstra University with a BS in Music
Education and New England Conservatory of Music where he received a Masters in Music with
a specialty in conducting. He prepared the Boston Symphony Chorus during graduate school
and at the Tanglewood Music Festival in Massachusetts.
Jack’s music career spanned 7 decades. His first concert was at age 5 when he conducted the
Kindergarten rhythm band. His passion for music was encouraged by family, with the exception
of his grandfather, also a musician who thought he’d never have a future in the Arts.
Jack’s teaching career began in 1963 at the Masters School aka Dobbs) in Dobbs Ferry, New
York. Mr P, as he was affectionately called by the Glee Clubs of 1963- 1981, always made sure
that the girls were working hard to learn their music; mostly a capella and often in a Foreign
Language. In rehearsals he would toss an eraser at the soprano section if he thought they were
not paying attention. He encouraged countless young women to pursue their love of music,
including Marin Alsop, currently conductor of the Baltimore Symphony. During his 20 year
tenure at Dobbs, he was inducted into the Cum Laude Society, a tribute to his professionalism
and academic record. In 2007, the Masters School Alumnae Association honored him with the
Anna Howe Teaching Award for the outstanding difference that he made in the lives of his
students.
Great works such as the Mozart Requiem and Carmina Burana were performed by the Dobbs
Glee Clubs and neighboring boys school Glee Club with full orchestra in beautiful places like
Grace Church in New York City. He took his Glee Club on tours of Europe with the
Ambassadors for Friendship organization with promoted the Arts around the World. After
Dobbs, Jack was Director of Music at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia and The
Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart in Princeton, NJ. His most recent position was Music
Minister at the St. James Church in Pennington, NJ. a position he held from 1996 until he retired
in 2011.
Jack followed the tradition of his father and brothers and served his country in the Air Force
from 1952 to 1957. He was honored with the National Defense Medal he was encouraged to
stay in and go to Officer's Candidate School. After his discharge in 1957, he continued his
passion for and career in Music. Each Memorial Day he took great pride in marching in the
Pennington and Titusville parades with other Veterans, often participating in the laying of the
wreath in the center of town and calling cadence with the company.
Those who knew him would likely not be aware that he was honored in so many ways during
his lifetime. He was modest about his own accomplishments but held steadfast to his standard
of preparing Music at the highest level. Any piece that he considered to be too easy, he
re-arranged for his Choir at St. James, Pennington; the notation is his own hand. Reading the
music could be as challenging as learning the parts. Anyone who saw him conduct knew that
he always took a backseat to his Chorus and the Music knowing that ‘he who sings, prays
twice.’
Donations in his memory can be made to Stuart Country Day School.