Our beloved John Danke passed away very suddenly on Wednesday night, December 30. He was at St. Patrick's Church practicing late that evening, and collapsed. He was discovered the next morning by the church staff. We all share a profound sense of loss. John was the kindest, most generous person imaginable, and the hole his passing leaves in our lives will be impossible to fill. I don't know what we will do without the music that he brought into our lives.
A funeral mass for John will be held on Saturday, January 23, at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside. There will be a musical prelude, featuring some of John's favorite music, at 9:30 a.m., and the Mass will begin at 10:00. He will be interred at the Mission at the conclusion of the Mass. Following the burial, there will be a short reception in the Parish Center, where John's friends can gather for refreshments and fellowship.
This memorial page was created as a place for all of John's friends to share their thoughts, tributes and stories. Please contribute whatever you would like. Photos of our notoriously shy friend are most welcome!
Tributes
Leave a tributeAlthough I knew John for only a few months, I came to count on him and very much value his musical suggestions. I am certain that John is at peace, enhancing the Higher Realms with his inspired music.
John Danke's memory lives on.
I always enjoyed John's lively spontaneity as a gifted pianist. Thank you, God, for John.
There is a whole in our hearts and music world. It feels like an entire Orchestra was taken from us. Who can play like John; read the most difficult music, play by ear, fills for chords, transpose on the fly and accompany at the same time.
John brought me out of vocal hibernation with the help of our dearest loved ones, Georgetta and Uncle Steve. He filed my soul with the most beautiful classical vocal music that I had never accessed before.
John touched so many lives with his musical talent and generous soul.
John and I met back in Junior High School, at that time we were pubescent antagonists as often happens for no apparent reason…we just were.
Then in 1964 the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and within weeks a couple of friends and I were getting a band together. I found out that John played an amplified accordion (of all things) and that he had a really large amplifier. I convinced my friends that we should let him into the band and then we would get to use his amp! Lo and behold we found out that this guy was a genuine musician!! Someone in one of the posts here mentioned that he played the accordion but, as the saying goes, you ain’t heard nothin’ until you heard John playing the lead guitar riff of The Birds’ 8 Miles High on the accordion!! He was truly a wizard!! He had perfect pitch and could listen to a song 2 or 3 times and then give us our parts. I was there when his mom (Ida…God bless her) bought him his first rock and roll organ taking him from vertical keyboards to horizontal. After that any popular song that had an organ part in it we played! We were truly blessed to have John in our band and, once we got to know him, we embraced him as a beloved and respected friend.
I won’t regale you with stories of adolescent tomfoolery because those are best shared with the other of our school friends who “knew him when.” I will say that we never got into any trouble and the times he borrowed his mom’s Olds 98 (woohoo what a nice ride for high schoolers) and cruised up to Hollywood (John always like to go looking at the houses in Beverly Hills) were among the best times of my youth.
He played in another band after ours broke up and played weekends in clubs aboard the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton during the dark days of the Vietnam War.
After high school John went off to Chapman College where he started his serious musical studies (although we did learn early on that if we heard the piano when we went over to his house we would have to wait until it stopped because he wouldn’t answer the door until he was done practicing) and matured into the wonderful musician that you who have posted here already know and love.
We lost touch in later years and, except for one or two times after college, we haven’t spoken. I have looked him up on the internet several times but didn’t really see any scheduled events that I could have attended just to say Hi! I never knew of any family outside of his mother and I am so grateful for all of you who posted here that he was so well thought of, respected, and loved.
John is the first of our…well…you couldn’t really say Band of Brothers in the strictest Shakespearean sense but surely our Band of Teenagers to have gone home to the Lord. Thank you John for all the good times and for the person that you were to all of us. We really appreciate you!!
P.S. Thank you to whoever posted all those wonderful pictures. You can see how he was an absolute blast to have had as a friend when we were young.
What more can be said....
"Well done, good and faithful servant."
May you continue to bless and be blessed always.
Rest now in the arms of divine Love, dear one.
Our Christian Science branch church in Poway/RB will miss your wonderful music at our Wednesday night services. You always played with great joy and helped us on the hymns we didn't know very well by playing the melody really loud. Our church members will miss your smiles and hugs. You are a great musician and will be missed by many.
Your gift was your great compassion for giving and you gave to everyone. The world will be a sadder place because of your absence. God bless you my dear friend.
One of my fondest memories was when you came to our house for Christmas dinner and then played Christmas Carols so we could all sing. You made that day special for us all.
I am so grateful I hugged you and wished you a Happy New Year after our Wednesday night service Dec 30th. You have not died my friend but have merely passed into the next experience and have awakened to know a world more bright.
John was kind, thoughtful, humble, and always smiling.
Oh yeah, he could play the piano pretty good too!
I would tell him how great he played and he would brush it off as no big deal.
Last time we spoke was at Christmas morning Mass, and he was a little late, which was very unusual. I teased him about it, and he smiled and said he was recovering from the 9 day Missa de Gallo masses which began at 4:30am, leading up to Christmas.
May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace, Amen.
(St Mark's parishioner)
you.
I will always treasure our friendship, John. I am grateful to God for having known you. May the angels carry you into Paradise, accompanied by beautiful music. Rest in peace, dear friend.
John was like my fairy godmother, waving a wand and saying “You can sing beautiful music--all those songs you dreamed of performing and more.” He was so enthusiastic, and continually presented me with repertoire that he knew we would work on and achieve. What a gift to me that John the great piano maestro would believe in me like that! The Opera Soirees at the Pacific Beach Women’s Club were such a great opportunity for me to try out singing music that I loved. I had planned on many years of work with John, re-launching myself as a singer. However, I am now trying to re-frame this as I know he would wish for me to do, to continue singing beautiful music even though John is no longer Earthside.
Now I often imagine John over my shoulder, reminding me to: continue learning repertoire, read the music correctly, make the songs better, and believe in myself and my ability to do it, even if I have to find another pianist.
I also hear John laughing uproariously at the irony and the crazy dance of life in which we find ourselves. I hear his commentaries on politics and the news. I sense his wisdom and subtle insights. I appreciate his common sense and down to earth way of figuring out how to deal with challenges.
Let us pray to honor the beautiful soul that he was and to soothe the grief that so many, including me, are feeling now. Shout praises into the universe that such a beautiful man has touched us all, and that the Love that so many felt towards him may be transformed into doing Good, having a good laugh, and making beautiful music with the time that we have left on this Earth. I am reminded of Charlie Brown saying, “We’re all going to die.” Snoopy counters with “Yes, but there are a lot of days when we’re not going to die.” With the days that we’re not going to die, let us make more and greater beautiful music, as John did.
How long before we overcome our grief, and accept your Glorious passing?
My late husband and I went to hear Georgetta and another lady singing somewhere north of San Diego. John accompanied them and even though my husband was very hard of hearing, he was able to discern what a fine pianist John was. It was amazing to me that Dunham actually could appreciate John's fine playing, as I did not think he would be able to hear him well. What a marvelous evening that was.
I left the U.S. to return to my native land of England just over two years ago and was deeply saddened by the news of John's passing. He enriched my life; as he did for countless others. May he be with the angels in Heaven, accompanying all on the most exquisite piano. I count myself most privileged to have known this enormously kind and generous man.
John, thank you for your dedication to MUSIC and the ARTS! See you in heaven my sweet friend.
You are one of a kind and the world owes you so much!
Love,
Don
John was a gentle human being who gave inspiration and music to all. He was always excited to be given the lemons from my tree and the root vegetables that reminded him of his childhood. He would offer to play for any plan that I had for myself or the soiree. He never spoke unkindly about anyone.
What John did for my singing was no less or more than he did for all who were seriously learning to sing. I know that he is irreplaceable and I think that he was taken from us too soon. He is definitely an unforgettable human being and my heart hurts that I will not see him again playing piano in my house.
He became part of the family... ❤️ We were given the opportunity to perform as a family in the Saturday Spanish choir and
John was kind enough to help us out.❤️
I am glad my son and I got to see him on
Christmas Day and gave him a hug and he asked when I was going to return to the church choir and I said very soon John...
The Verdin Rivas Family
Thanks you John Danke for everything you did for us..❤️
God bless you John.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
What a joy to have worked alongside him for over 20 years as he played for funerals and weddings that I sang almost every week during that time. When John was playing a funeral at noon, he probably had given three lessons beforehand and was going on to another funeral at 2 p.m. but you could count on him to slide onto the organ bench right in time for the prelude. Sometimes John would tell me that he was driving right through Vista and he'd come up and run a couple pieces at the house. Always making sure that you were prepared for next weekend's concerts.
Remembering many wonderful rehearsals, weddings, funerals, fabulous concerts and recitals, cabarets, opera scenes, intimate soirees at Tracey's and others in Carlsbad & San Diego, classes and concerts at Small Opera Company with Pandeli years ago, John and I sitting down together as we planned the very first concert of our North County Opera Soiree company with "Three Tenors and A Baritone" then the first (albeit rather "long") Liederabend that North County had ever seen or heard!
Thank you John for wonderful memories, for your patience and great teaching, for encouraging me to return to opera, for introducing me to so many incredible people whom I now call my friends. God called you early. Please watch over us as we continue to make music here on earth. You are loved and remain forever in our hearts.
John is the most patient,self sacrificing,encouraging, giving and kind man we have ever met. As his doctor, he would not spend a penny more on himself unless it was necessary. He would rather save it to help someone else. That's the kind of man he is and we are so blessed to have known him and shared many years of making wonderful music with him. It feels so surreal at the moment and we still have difficulty accepting that he is no longer with us. However, we claim the promise of the Lord, that we will meet John again !
We love you, John! Thank you for your life and for sharing it with us!
John was always so kind and generous. He was ever supportive and complementary about my singing and always had suggestions for new rep for me to look at.
John never had anything but the kindest words about anyone he spoke of. He was just a sweetheart- a rare, gentle soul. I really have never known anyone quite like him. He will be greatly missed.
His sense of humor, Love of music, and most of all his Sharing of music were unmatched. He never stopped working, was too hard on himself, should have said No a thousand times when he didn't, and yet as we all know he Loved every minute of it... because Service was in his blood and drove him more than any other desire.
In a way it's just like John to leave us in the way that he did... without drawing attention to himself, without being a burden to anyone, and with that dramatic touch he'd pull out of a hat just when you thought you knew what was next.
I still have pages and pages of music he copied and gave to me, representing an entire world of music I'd have never known of. "This is beautiful, you'll love it." "Learn this part, and then we can play together with such-and-such a singer." "I found a transcription for cello of that piano piece you like".
Anyone who ever worked with John knows the scenario... "I'm busy for the next eight days, and then on that Tuesday I have a rehearsal in Point Loma at 10am, a funeral in Carlsbad at noon, a performance class in Cardiff at 2:30, can meet with you from 2:45 to 3:30, then have a church service at 4:00 in San Marcos, ..."
All from memory, weeks out.
As aptly said, John is irreplaceable. A one of a kind. He lifted and sustained the musical endeavors, professional or not, of everyone he touched.
This much I know for sure... It will take a long time for John to process the enormous amount of good energy he is due upon crossing to the other side, and he is glowing and will continue to glow for an eternity upon seeing from his new perspective the volumes of hope and joy and encouragement he brought to countless others.
John is a bright spark in the life of everyone lucky enough to have known him, and we can all just be grateful for the gifts which he so generously bestowed.
Leave a Tribute
Pamela Scott, do not blame yourself, John went home to be with the Lord because he had a blockage . If was bound to happen anytime , anywhere. The good Lord called him and it was time .
We love you John!
I am still missing you and so sad you did not do as I asked that Wednesday night. After you played our service at the Christian Science church in Poway I saw how tired you looked and asked you to go right home and get some rest. You insisted that you needed to practice at St Patrick's. I said no you didn't because you were good enough and needed to take care of yourself first. I made you promise that you would at least get something to eat because you had not eaten all day. You said you would, but I have a feeling you didn't. Your passing was needless and the rest of us miss you terribly. I wish I had followed you to St. Patrick's and made sure you had eaten something. I partly blame myself for your passing because I saw how weary you looked and didn't follow you to St. Patrick's.
You are such a marvelous musician I hope you are playing wherever you are. The world and especially San Diego County is missing you so much. My dear precious friend I love you and know that God loves you too and is caring for you. I still have the practice tape you made for me to practice my solos. I love listening to you play and never tire of it. I shall never forget you.
Oh, and this year you would love my Christmas tree it has many instruments on it along with my purple treble clef. It has my harps, my angels a beautiful cello I found along with a banjo and violin. When I decorated it, I thought of you every time I put an angel or instrument on the tree. You have blessed so many lives and we all love and miss you so much. God Bless you my dear friend.
Do you know that song?
John and I both shared a passion for performing different genres of music. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Musical Theater, Pop and Opera. And of course Burt Bacharach who we thought was in a league of his own.
He would bring me boxes of music and say "I just thought I'd introduce you to some of my favorite songs". As he'd start to say the title - I'd start singing it from the other side of the room. It got to the point that he'd go out of his way to find a song I didn't know. When I'd ask him about a song - he'd not only know it, he'd have the music on my porch within days. When I ventured into Opera, (such a novice) he introduced me to the most beautiful arias. Once he knew your voice he would bestow gifts of beautiful music to you. He'd say, "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop this off to you - thought of you when I ran accross it - can I play it for you, I've got a few extra minutes before my next Mass". He was so generous!
He loved my brownies, my dog and when my kids were young - he really loved their Hermit Crabs.
I praise God for knowing and loving John. He was my friend, kindred spirit and accompanist for most of my work on the west coast. There will never be another like John!
Be Still And Know that I'm with You
....
And when you go through the valley
And the shadow comes down from the hill
If morning never comes to be
Be still, be still, be still
If you forget the way to go
And lose where you came from
If no one is standing beside you
Be still and know I am.
....
Be Still by The Frey
This was the last song John and I presented at the PopOpera Soiree in November. We got together to rehearse something for the January PopOpera but time got away from us and I figured we'd get together one more time before the Soiree. Not to be. John was not only a wonderful musician but a dear friend to me and so many. I would come to the Pacific Beach Women's Club to rehearse something and would end up talking about life and people and dogs for over an hour. Finally, both of us to tired to work, we would just sing something for fun and I'd ger him to sometimes sing a part with me. It was a wonderful time rehearsal or no rehearsal. What a tragic loss to my life and everyone else. Belssings, Dear John.