“And music echoes eternal tones.” —John O’Donohue
Joseph C. McKee, 72, of Monroe Township and Berkeley Heights, NJ, died peacefully on Thursday, February 13, 2020. He had been battling cancer with great valor and hope.
Joe was born on Sunday, March 2, 1947 in McKeesport, PA, the younger son of Mary Jane Challener McKee (music educator) and John Lowden McKee (business executive). Joe lived his early years in Princeton where his musical and acting talents were nurtured and developed in public schools and the Nassau Presbyterian Church. He earned degrees from Princeton High School, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music (BM, MM), and The Juilliard School Opera Theater. He served in the United States Army (1971-1974), US Army Chorus at Fort Myer, VA.
Throughout his life, Joe contributed his acclaimed vocal talents to enthusiastic audiences in opera houses, recital halls, and churches throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, and Kenya. His elementary schoolmates heard his radiant gifts when he sang the soprano solo in “O Holy Night.” They evolved through his spot-on Sinatra impersonations and the corn-pone jug band he led in the home basement. Joe’s art matured ultimately in the many leading bass-baritone roles he performed during his 16-year career at The New York City Opera (Beverly Sills, General Director). For more than 20 years right up until his death, Joe sang weekly in the choir at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church (Chatham, NJ) under the direction of Robert Long.
Joe’s superb musicianship was matched nearly by his great good humor and his unfailing ability to make people laugh. Many of his best operatic roles were comedic. He was God’s instrument for warming our hearts with eternal music and puckish wit.
Those who survive Joe include his brother David McKee and Barbara Farrell (Brunswick, ME), his niece Elizabeth McKee and husband Aaron Katz (Los Angeles), his nephew Andrew McKee and wife Kanako and daughters (Mill Valley, CA), his father’s wife Marilyn McKee (Naples, FL). And the many people whose hearts he touched and tickled who miss him dearly.
A memorial service to commemorate Joe and give thanks for his life is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at 10:30 am in Chatham, NJ, at the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, 234 Southern Boulevard.
Joseph C. McKee, 72, of Monroe Township and Berkeley Heights, NJ, died peacefully on Thursday, February 13, 2020. He had been battling cancer with great valor and hope.
Joe was born on Sunday, March 2, 1947 in McKeesport, PA, the younger son of Mary Jane Challener McKee (music educator) and John Lowden McKee (business executive). Joe lived his early years in Princeton where his musical and acting talents were nurtured and developed in public schools and the Nassau Presbyterian Church. He earned degrees from Princeton High School, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music (BM, MM), and The Juilliard School Opera Theater. He served in the United States Army (1971-1974), US Army Chorus at Fort Myer, VA.
Throughout his life, Joe contributed his acclaimed vocal talents to enthusiastic audiences in opera houses, recital halls, and churches throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, and Kenya. His elementary schoolmates heard his radiant gifts when he sang the soprano solo in “O Holy Night.” They evolved through his spot-on Sinatra impersonations and the corn-pone jug band he led in the home basement. Joe’s art matured ultimately in the many leading bass-baritone roles he performed during his 16-year career at The New York City Opera (Beverly Sills, General Director). For more than 20 years right up until his death, Joe sang weekly in the choir at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church (Chatham, NJ) under the direction of Robert Long.
Joe’s superb musicianship was matched nearly by his great good humor and his unfailing ability to make people laugh. Many of his best operatic roles were comedic. He was God’s instrument for warming our hearts with eternal music and puckish wit.
Those who survive Joe include his brother David McKee and Barbara Farrell (Brunswick, ME), his niece Elizabeth McKee and husband Aaron Katz (Los Angeles), his nephew Andrew McKee and wife Kanako and daughters (Mill Valley, CA), his father’s wife Marilyn McKee (Naples, FL). And the many people whose hearts he touched and tickled who miss him dearly.
A memorial service to commemorate Joe and give thanks for his life is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at 10:30 am in Chatham, NJ, at the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, 234 Southern Boulevard.
“And music echoes eternal tones.” —John O’Donohue
Joseph C. McKee, 72, of Monroe Township and Berkeley Heights, NJ, died peacefully on Thursday, February 13, 2020. He had been battling cancer with great valor and hope.
Joe was born on Sunday, March 2, 1947 in McKeesport, PA, the younger son of Mary Jane Challener McKee (music educator) and John Lowden McKee (business executive). Joe lived his early years in Princeton where his musical and acting talents were nurtured and developed in public schools and the Nassau Presbyterian Church. He earned degrees from Princeton High School, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music (BM, MM), and The Juilliard School Opera Theater. He served in the United States Army (1971-1974), US Army Chorus at Fort Myer, VA.
Throughout his life, Joe contributed his acclaimed vocal talents to enthusiastic audiences in opera houses, recital halls, and churches throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, and Kenya. His elementary schoolmates heard his radiant gifts when he sang the soprano solo in “O Holy Night.” They evolved through his spot-on Sinatra impersonations and the corn-pone jug band he led in the home basement. Joe’s art matured ultimately in the many leading bass-baritone roles he performed during his 16-year career at The New York City Opera (Beverly Sills, General Director). For more than 20 years right up until his death, Joe sang weekly in the choir at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church (Chatham, NJ) under the direction of Robert Long.
Joe’s superb musicianship was matched nearly by his great good humor and his unfailing ability to make people laugh. Many of his best operatic roles were comedic. He was God’s instrument for warming our hearts with eternal music and puckish wit.
Those who survive Joe include his brother David McKee and Barbara Farrell (Brunswick, ME), his niece Elizabeth McKee and husband Aaron Katz (Los Angeles), his nephew Andrew McKee and wife Kanako and daughters (Mill Valley, CA), his father’s wife Marilyn McKee (Naples, FL). And the many people whose hearts he touched and tickled who miss him dearly.
A memorial service to commemorate Joe and give thanks for his life is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at 10:30 am in Chatham, NJ, at the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, 234 Southern Boulevard.
Joseph C. McKee, 72, of Monroe Township and Berkeley Heights, NJ, died peacefully on Thursday, February 13, 2020. He had been battling cancer with great valor and hope.
Joe was born on Sunday, March 2, 1947 in McKeesport, PA, the younger son of Mary Jane Challener McKee (music educator) and John Lowden McKee (business executive). Joe lived his early years in Princeton where his musical and acting talents were nurtured and developed in public schools and the Nassau Presbyterian Church. He earned degrees from Princeton High School, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music (BM, MM), and The Juilliard School Opera Theater. He served in the United States Army (1971-1974), US Army Chorus at Fort Myer, VA.
Throughout his life, Joe contributed his acclaimed vocal talents to enthusiastic audiences in opera houses, recital halls, and churches throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, and Kenya. His elementary schoolmates heard his radiant gifts when he sang the soprano solo in “O Holy Night.” They evolved through his spot-on Sinatra impersonations and the corn-pone jug band he led in the home basement. Joe’s art matured ultimately in the many leading bass-baritone roles he performed during his 16-year career at The New York City Opera (Beverly Sills, General Director). For more than 20 years right up until his death, Joe sang weekly in the choir at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church (Chatham, NJ) under the direction of Robert Long.
Joe’s superb musicianship was matched nearly by his great good humor and his unfailing ability to make people laugh. Many of his best operatic roles were comedic. He was God’s instrument for warming our hearts with eternal music and puckish wit.
Those who survive Joe include his brother David McKee and Barbara Farrell (Brunswick, ME), his niece Elizabeth McKee and husband Aaron Katz (Los Angeles), his nephew Andrew McKee and wife Kanako and daughters (Mill Valley, CA), his father’s wife Marilyn McKee (Naples, FL). And the many people whose hearts he touched and tickled who miss him dearly.
A memorial service to commemorate Joe and give thanks for his life is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at 10:30 am in Chatham, NJ, at the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, 234 Southern Boulevard.
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