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Romeo Amedeo Fracalanza, 89, died on Thursday, July 3, 2008, at NHC-Oak Ridge after a long illness. He had been a resident of NHC since February of 2007.

He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Herbes and husband Stephen, of Oak Ridge; his son Pierre of Livonia, Michigan; his grandson Keith Herbs and wife Tami of Pfafftown, North Carolina; his granddaughter Christy Herbes of Brooklyn, New York; his dear friend Wanda Barron, of Oak Ridge; two brothers, and four sisters. He was predeceased by his devoted wife of 54 years, Giuseppina (“Josephine”), who died in 2002.

Romeo was born on May 23, 1919 in Piombino Dese, Italy, the fourth of eleven children. His lifelong passion for music was apparent as early as age 11, when he became the organist for his local church. By the age of 16 he organized a 40-piece orchestra that played classical music in festival concerts.

Furthering his musical studies, he earned a diploma as Professor of Organ from the Marcello Conservatory of Music in Venice, Italy. Professor Fracalanza received certification as a Concert Artist in Organ from the Academy of Music in Chigiana, Italy studying under Fernando Germani, organist of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. His advanced studies in Rome, for which he had been awarded a scholarship, were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.

Following the war Romeo and Giuseppina, whom he married in 1948, emigrated to Sao Paolo, Brazil. While in Brazil he became the first organist and choir director of the Cathedral of Sao Paulo; served on the faculties of the Carlos Gomes Conservatory in Campinas, Sao Paulo’s Music Institute, and Conservatory Musical; and conducted the Grand Opera Festivals as sub-conductor of the Sao Paulo Opera.

Romeo and his family moved to Ontario, Canada in 1955 where he accepted a church organ position in Sarnia. It was there he began a dedication to private instruction, sharing his love of music with hundreds of piano and organ students throughout his lifetime. In 1957 the family moved to the United States and settled in Port Huron, Michigan, where he continued his private instruction, and for many years served as organist-choirmaster for St. Edwards-On-the-Lake in nearby Lakeport, Michigan. In 2000 Romeo and his wife moved to Oak Ridge, where he joined the faculty of Oak Ridge’s Music Arts, and continued to teach until his health declined.

The family wishes to thank the staff of NHC-Oak Ridge and the staff of Caris Healthcare, who provided highly professional and compassionate care to Romeo throughout his stay, and who gave exceptional caring and support to his family during the final days of his life.

The funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19th in the chapel of St. Mary’s Church, Oak Ridge. The family will receive friends immediately after the service. A private ceremony of interment of ashes will be held at the Memorial Garden of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Oak Ridge.

The family requests that any memorials be in the form of donations to the Music Arts Scholarship Fund, 861 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge TN 37830; or to the Social Services Program, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, P. O. Box 5953, Oak Ridge TN 37831.