Ned B. Crislip

Ned Bennett Crislip, born June 11, 1938 in Rock Creek, Ohio; died November 1, 2018, at home in Pennington, New Jersey. Ned was the youngest of six children born of James C. Crislip and Vada B. Bennett. Preceding him in death was a daughter, Noel Crislip, in 1963 and son, Steven Vint Crislip in 1996, as well as siblings, James B. Crislip, Jack D. Crislip, and Marilyn Irene (Crislip) Petersen-Mullett, and Gene D. Crislip, all of Northeastern Ohio. Survivors are wife, Joyce Carole née Vint, daughter, Julia Carole Crislip, grandchildren, Amelia Claire Crislip and Yoko Anna Crislip, all of Pennington, New Jersey. Also Beverly B. (Crislip) Speer, Chardon, Ohio.

Ned and his wife, Joyce Carole Vint were married in Orange, New Jersey, November 10, 1962. Throughout their nearly 56 years of married life, Ned and Joyce were very much involved with rearing their children and providing them with a comfortable homes. They restored/remodeled four historic houses, the third being their home in Queensbury, New York, which they operated as a Bed & Breakfast for 20 years. Other hobbies that he shared with Joyce, were gardening and the appreciation of antique furnishings.

In 1983, Ned was a co-founder of The Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association. For 30 years, he was the editor of the family association’s award-winning newsletter, Jacob’s Ladder. An avid genealogist, he published privately, three in-depth studies relating to his maternal and fraternal forbears. He was especially proud of the numerous Jewish lines that that contributed to his lineage.

After graduating from High School, he entered Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music, Berea, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree with a major in Organ. He graduated with a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University in 1961, with organ as his principal instrument. Further graduate studies were at the University of Miami in Florida, where he studied voice and was a member of the voice faculty.

A vocal music teacher for 37 years, Ned was musical director for 22 musical productions, which, in addition to all aspects of vocal preparation, he prepared and conducted the orchestras. Some of the shows were South Pacific, Hello Dolly, Once Upon a Mattress, Dames at Sea, Damn Yankees, Mame, Li’l Abner, Anything Goes, and Oliver. The last musical at Queensbury High School was The Sound of Music, accompanied by a 35 piece orchestra of professional and student musicians.

In addition to the usual spring concerts, he presented public performances of extended choral works accompanied by orchestra and/or organ - works such as Faure’s Requiem, Britton’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Duruflé’s Requiem, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Magnificat and Charpentier’s Misse de Minuit pour Noel, plus various Mozart Misse Brevi and Bach cantatas. Distinguished organists for these occasions were Marilyn S. Dean, Glens Falls, New York and Dr. John A. Davis, organist and choirmaster, West Point Academy.

The Queensbury High School Madrigal Singers, which he established in 1979, presented concerts in the British Isles and in Germany. In 1998, which was his final and 36th year in Music Education, the extended choral works that year were John Rutter’s Requiem and Benjamin Britton’s Rejoice in the Lamb. Additionally, Queensbury High School Madrigal Singers performed, by invitation, Johann Sebastian Bach’s five-part a cappella motet, Jesu Meine Freude in the original German, on the chancel steps of the Washington National Cathedral. Also in that last year, Queensbury High School’s highest-ranking choristers formed the second chorus of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, which was presented by Glens Falls Symphony, under the direction of Hugh Allen Wilson, in Glens Falls, New York.

Throughout his career, in addition to his work as a music educator, Ned was involved in church music, as organist and choir director. For a time, he was organist at Pennington United Methodist Church. In 1996, he was awarded an Alumni Achievement Award from Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music for his outstanding contribution to the field of Music Education. In 2006, Ned was recognized as one of twelve “Distinguished Alumni” from Baldwin Wallace’s Class of 1960.

Calling hours and a private service will held at Blackwell Memorial Home, 21 North Main Street, Pennington, New Jersey. On Saturday November 3rd from 4-6pm. Interment will be at a later date in Pineview Cemetery, Queensbury, New York. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pennington First Aid Squad110 Broemel Place, Pennington, NJ 08534 http://www.penningtonfirstaid.org