Funeral for John P. Smith IV

Hi, my name is David Crane and I am fundraising for a family in need.

I am writing to you today to let you know how the loss of our colleague John is hitting for some.

John P. Smith IV, served the Roanoke Symphony for over 30 years as our Associate Principal Bass, performing in almost every concert for the duration of his service in the Orchestra. In addition, John played each week as part of our Wellness Arts ensemble, bringing music and memory back to patients in nursing homes. John was also our Librarian, spanning decades of service and meticulously prepared concert music and programs with Maestro Wiley for so many years.

On Monday, May 15, John suffered a heart attack while visiting his mother in Northern Virginia and passed away. John was not sick and many of our colleagues at the Symphony have stories of just playing a small concert, meeting with him, or speaking on the phone about some concert details just a few days before we heard about his sudden passing.

John meant a great deal to us at the Roanoke Symphony. As colleagues in the symphony world, we build these relationships and John is more like family to many than just a friend from work. John’s contributions to the RSO are many and varied. His smile, dry sense of witty humor, and jovial approach to work, performances, and playing music with others are the first things that come to mind when I think of him. John was a remarkable man and I will miss him deeply.

John’s obituary will be posted by the family later this weekend. This was a shock to the family, and his wife and son are both just breathless with this news and searching for answers. Private funeral services will be held late in June in Northern Virginia, where John has a number of extended family members.

Pati and John V (John’s son) are absolutely devastated by the news and struggling to find the funds to cover the cost of the service and cover some of John’s salary in this transition. In my recent conversation with John V, he is reporting approximate expenses of $9,000 in funeral costs, and $4,000 in upcoming fees as they figure out how to cover the house payment, medical, and travel expenses.

I’ve started a fundraiser to collect donations for John’s funeral service and family as they work through John’s sudden passing and expenses. Please consider donating if you are able to do so. We are so very grateful for every donation during this difficult time.

With thoughts of John,