This way to FSSGB

In Memoriam

  • Panos Constant
  • We are very sad to inform you that longtime FSSGB member Panos Constant died suddenly and unexpectedly on January 7, 2007. Panos' most active years as a FSSGB volunteer were the 60's, 70's and 80's, and included service on the Board of Directors, Membership Committee and Program Committee. He also collected our mail at the Post Office for many years, as well as distributing advance tickets for our larger concerts. He was a teacher in the Wakefield school system for 35 years.

    Panos was the son of the late Bessie & Charles Constant and brother of Helen Constant of Arlington. The funeral will be held at Keefe Funeral Home in Arlington on Thursday, January 11th, at 9am, followed by services in St. Athanasius The Great Church, 5 Appleton St., Arlington at 10am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the above named church. Burial will be in Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

  • David Ingle
  • Longtime FSSGB member David Ingle died Jan. 14, 2006, of complications from coronary artery disease and an autoimmune neurological illness. He was 71 and had spent the past year engaged in the arts and his most recent scientific research. Some friends knew Dr. Ingle as a college professor and researcher in the psychology of vision. Others met him after his declining motor abilities made laboratory work too difficult, prompting him to focus instead on storytelling, songs, and poetry -- often in performances with his longtime companion, Libby Franck of Framingham. He was a scientist and a storyteller who embraced equally the loneliness of the lab and the limelight of the stage.

    A collection of materials from David Ingle has been donated to FSSGB by Libby Franck, including several books with titles like "Ozark Folksongs" and "Anglo-American Folksong Scholarship Since 1898." There are scholarly papers that he had collected and some that he wrote, such as "The Self-Image of the Irish as Hard-Drinkers: Reflections of 19th Century Pub Culture in Folk Songs" and "Images of Women in Traditional Song." There are song books and sheet music for songs of humor, fighting, drinking, temperance, outlaws and rakes, and the frontier. There are two shoe boxes of cassette tapes, mostly of drinking songs, but some of concerts and particular performers. And there are Sing Out magazines, old concert flyers, and a great photo of David playing the bodhran.

  • Lisa Neustadt
  • Those FSSGB members who were involved in any way during the '70's and early 80's will remember Lisa who has been described as "a great presence and influence" in the Society. She passed away on March 26, 2008, after a short illness with pneumonia. Her daughter, Karuna, relates that the last week before she got sick, the facility she lived in had kareoke one day. Lisa took her turn at the mike and sang several songs, with the staff and other residents yelling "Go Lisa!" She still enjoyed singing, and they played her CDs there, which people also enjoyed.

    Ellen and Allan Schmidt are hosting a memorial gathering in honor of Lisa. Karuna will be here from Oregon that day and will be at the gathering. All are welcome to come, but if you knew Lisa, please bring your memories of her and those times, and we will record anyone who wishes to say something. We will have photographs and ephemora from the time, including old Folk Letter columns that she wrote. We'll be playing Lisa's recordings that she did with the Angel Band and others. And, of course, we will Sing!

    Memorial Gathering:

    Saturday, July 12th, 2:00pm to late afternoon
    Potluck at the home of Allan and Ellen Schmidt
    199 Cambridge Tpke, Concord
    eschmidt01742 AT yahoo DOT com
    Email for directions, and RSVP please