A Treasure Worth Supporting

by John Doucleff

Not long after we bought our first house in 1979, we, along with Sue’s parents, became Cincinnati Pops subscribers. We attended our first concert that fall and were introduced to what would become, for us, a lifetime of musical joy. Unfortunately, Sue’s parents had to relinquish their seats after one season due to health issues.

Now in our 38th season, we can’t imagine our lives without the Pops and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. What a journey it has been. Carol Channing, Mel Torme, Patti Page, Cab Calloway, Dave Brubeck, Henry Mancini, Doc Severinsen, Michael Feinstein, John Pizzarelli, James Galway, Rosemary Clooney, Blind Boys of Alabama, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Manhattan Transfer. The list goes on and on. The musical legends we have been privileged to see perform with our extraordinary Pops orchestra—and, in some cases, meet—leave us in awe as we look back. That big hug that Sue got from Al Jarreau after his performance remains one of her fondest memories. And the emotional interaction she had with “The Singing Cop” Daniel Rodriquez the day after she learned of her brother’s death brought both of them to tears. What a very special moment!

Why Music Matters to Us

Music has been a big part of both of our lives since childhood. Sue grew up in a family where music was a constant. Her grandfather played mandolin, violin and piano in a trio in Gallipolis in the 1920s. Her father was quite the harmonica player, a skill honed in the Navy during WWII. She studied piano and played clarinet in the Indian Hill High School Band under the baton of noted local director R. Earl Snapp. Jon sang with the boys’ choir at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Indianapolis.

When we attended our first Pops concerts and for many years to come, we were the “youngsters” in the audience. As the decades passed, though, we saw fewer and fewer familiar faces, and the audience began to dwindle a bit as popular music tastes evolved. That greatly concerned us, and we made the decision that when the time came and our finances allowed, we would include the Pops and CSO in our estate planning. After all, we were both taught about the importance of giving back to the community that has been so good to us. What better way to accomplish that goal than to help ensure, in some small way, that our magnificent orchestra will be around entertaining and inspiring new generations of music lovers for decades to come.

As longtime subscribers and now a part of the Schippers Society, we feel like valued members of a very special family. Our musical experiences with the Pops and CSO have provided us with lasting memories and great expectations of more wonderful things to come.

Make Your Impact in Cincinnati

To join the Doucleffs in planning a gift that will help inspire future generations of music lovers, please contact Kate Farinacci at 513.744.3202 or kfarinacci@cincinnatisymphony.org today.