John C. Hawver, 85, violinist and financial planner, born September 9, 1923 in Hudson, New York to Joseph and Kathryn. He was raised in Clavarak, NY and graduated from Hudson High.
John started to study the violin at the age of 5 after he heard a violin on the radio. He played in the high school orchestra. As a teenager he would hitchhike to New York City to attend concerts at Carnegie Hall. John would “bribe” doormen to let him in for 50 cents. He won a scholarship to attend Interlachen Music Camp in Michigan.
After graduation he attended Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. At this time WW II was happening, so he joined the Navy. Once in the Navy, he went to Officer’s training at the University of North Carolina and played with the Orchestra. He was sent to Okinawa.
After he was discharged from the Navy, John attended the New England Conservatory of Music for 4 years. At times he would sit in as a student in the Boston Pops, when Fiedler was conductor. He also attended the stage door at Symphony Hall in Boston, getting to see and meet many stars like Heifetz.
While at NE, John won RCA scholarship to Tanglewood music camp in Lennox, MA (summer home of Boston Symphony). His greatest thrill was being able to sit in conducting class under Leonard Bernstein, who recognized John’s potential as a conductor.
After graduating from NEC, John received an offer to be solo violinist for the Tulsa Philharmonic and was in Tulsa for 8 years. Not much money was made so John worked as a music teacher and choir director. He decided to begin another career, so he took courses at the New York School of Finance and became a stock broker, as well as an insurance agent.
John moved to Pinellas County in 1958 and worked for several brokerage firms for approximately 25 years. He would hold monthly luncheon seminars at several Pinellas County restaurants.
In the mid-80’s, he opened his own insurance business. He spent 15 years as Key West Senior Services. Due to a stroke in 2004/2005, he had to close this business.
John and his wife, Carole, formed the Master’s Chamber Orchestra with 21 string players in the late 80’s, early 90’s. They performed in area halls for approximately 3 years.
Over the years, while in business John played in local orchestras, conducted choirs in churches, played the violin for weddings, in local restaurants as a strolling violinist, but his greatest love was playing in churches for the Lord. That was his passion. That is where he met his wife, Carole. They met in 1982. He was playing at the First Assembly of God in Lakeland, FL. Both were divorced. She knew immediately that he would be her husband. They were married in 1983.
He was a loving husband to Carole and loving father, to John “Chris” Hawver, Minnesota, P. Suzanne Hawver Wheatley and her husband, Lt. Commander Charles Wheatley, Norfolk, VA, Ginger Hawver, Norfolk, VA, Charlene Carvajal, Leesburg, VA, John C. “Harry” Hawver, New York City, NY and Rochelle Toro and her husband, Jay Toro, Ashland, VA. He has one stepson, Duane Dean, Bartow, FL and one brother, Stuart Hawver and his wife, Jeanne, Terrell, NC. He has several grandchildren, Nicholas and Grace Wheatley, Bradley and Mason Carvajal, and Charity Dean.
He was a member of the American Legion and Palm Harbor Christ Church.
Services are scheduled for 5:00 p.m Sunday afternoon, August 16, 2009 at the Christ Church, 1111 Indiana Avenue, Palm Harbor, FL with Pastor Joe Peterson to officiate. The family will receive friends at the church on Sunday beginning at 4:00 p.m.. Graveside services and full military honors are 2:00 pm, Monday afternoon, August 17, 2009 at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL
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What a lovely tribute, a handsome young man who was just as handsome in his older years. You two were so lucky that your love, affection and respect for each other lasted so many years. Two wonderful people sharing a wonderful life. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love,
Lois
I am so sorry to hear about Uncle John. I know you both shared a great love. I take comfort knowing he is in Jesus’ arms where there is no more pain & you will be reunited again. All my Love, Kathryn
Hi Carole, We will miss John, Sorry we Can’t attend his services, as we are in Augusta, Ga. That was a beautiful tribute. I will see you when we get home in October. We know John is a happy person today to be with the Lord Jesus Christ. Love and Prayers Bob and Shirley
When I think of the two of you only one word comes to mind. Strength. The strength of your love, bond and characters have made your life so full of memories for everyone you met. We will all cherish the memories and respect the great strength the two of you shared.
We are holding the Hawver family in our thoughts, prayers and hearts. This is a wonderful tribute to John. It was nice to learn more about my friend Suzanne’s father; now I know where some of her creativity comes from. Peace be to you.
What a man. He not only was my Brother-in-law, John was my best friend.He was my hero.I miss you an know someday I will see you again. he was the tuffest man I have ever known.He was a fighter. Love you John
What a man. He not only was my Brother-in-law, John was my best friend.He was my hero.I miss you an know someday I will see you again. he was the tuffest man I have ever known.He was a fighter. Love you John
DEAR CAROLE. WE ARE SORRY YOU LOST JOHN. BUT WE CAN TESTIFY THAT YOU TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF JOHN DAY AND NIGHT. AND GAVE HIM MORE LOVE THAN ANYONE COULD KNOW.
YOU BOTH OFTEN SPOKE OF THE GREAT LOVE YOU HAVE FOR CHIRST. BUT I KNOW YOU WILL BE OK CAROLE AS ONE YOUR AND JOHN’ FAVORITE SONGS. ” BECAUSE HE LIVES” I CAN FACE TOMORROW WILL BE YOURS.
LOVE MARILYN WOLF
Carole, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. John’s faith was something to be admired. I know that the assurance of seeing him again will be of great strength to carry you until you reunite with him. You are in my prayers. God bless you. Love, Iris
Dear Carole:
So sorry to hear about John, you know my thoughts and prayers are with you. I know that you did all you could for him, and he was so lucky to have you and your love. Talk to you soon.
Love Carol
My Darling John..I just want to remind you how much I love you and miss you. Life is hard sometimes..but we got thru it together, with our love even greater and stronger. However, I loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you. I feel so honored to have been your wife and been the one to see you through your health issues and have a chance to prove my love. I miss you so much but wouldn’t ever want you back in all your suffering..You just wait for me, because one day I will join you in the presence of Jesus. I know your music will make heaven even sweeter. I will love you forever, my Sweetheart. Carole
My thoughts are with my cousins, with Carole, and with Uncle John’s family and friends. I am so sorry for your loss, but trust and hope that your memories and your faith will sustain you in the days ahead. With much love and sympathy, Sabrina.
Dear Carole, I will always remember fondly our Sunday afternoons spent with John and his chamber music. Through thick and thin you and John have been in my heart for many years. I want you to know I am here for you any time you want to talk or just shed a few tears. I’m sure Joe welcomed John into the heavenly music.
Carole, Sorry for your loss. I know Mom and Dad always enjoyed John’s music.
Dear Carole,
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you. Your faithfulness to John through the past few years of very difficult hardships has been a model for us. You loved John and loved the Lord and were selfless in caring for him.
We love you!
Dearest Carole,
I was very touched by you and John when I met you,the sweetness in your voice when you would speak about each other, such pride in such a loving way! I am truly blessed to have met you both. My prayers & Thoughts continue with you, Brenda Gail
John Chancellor Hawver was the consumate musician of our time. I had the privilege of playing violin beside him in many church musicals. Whenever John and I were both guest violinists in church orchestras for special productions, John was the concert master. I was honored to play at the same first stand with this classically trained musician, who held sacred the unequaled talent he owned for his position. John’s technique was perfect, as was his professionalism. He had an expansive repertoir of music, and huge inventory of memorized names of composers and their music. He could play with such feeling that one could hardly contain the emotion this brought; he did so with complete immersion of himself in the piece he was playing wtih consecrated abandon. Added to this was his desire to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, who he loved and served with his music, and the great love he and his wife, Carole, shared. Carole was his soulmate, who stood with him in prayer, being with him everywhere he played so eloquently on his beautiful violin. As Carole
is a very dear friend, as was John, I can say undisputedly that they were a team in every way. Carole was a true
helpmeet, an example of devotion, demonstrating the great love she held for John, as she cared for him at home in his later years, when he was laid low by strokes and heart attacks.
As a concuctor, John had the privilege of sitting in on classes being taught by the emminent conductor and composer, Leonard Bernstein, as well as being on full scholarship at Tanglewood Music Camp. I especially loved to hear John speak of his years of meeting the great violinists and conductors in the mid twentieth century. Even when quite young, John’s love of music and the talent that he had which were recognised by Bernstein, gave him entrance to many major concerts in New York city. He knew the great Arthur Fiedler, conductor, and musicians in the Boston Symphony and other musical groups. I stand in awe of John and of the way he and his soulmate spouse, Carole, together founded The Masters’ Chamber Orchestra, which played in many venues in Palm Harbor and innumerable surrounding areas, including Tampabay. I still treasure times at their home where Carole, the gracious and lovely lady that shs is, made us feel so welcome. Times there were often with hours spent as my husband Harold, and I, with Carole and John, listened to recordings of orchestral works,the classics of music literature. They presented me a gift recording of one of my favorites, the New World Symphony in E Minor by Anton Dvorak. As a bassoon major and violinist, I will always cherish the memories that generous gift evokes of our times together. Another wonderful summer, Harold and I met with John and Carole at Tanglewood in Massachusetts, for a special day of picnic on the green, and hearing the on site masters of music throughout the day. Then we rejoiced in the celebration of our Nation’s birthday with concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, culminating in their presentation of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, that incorporated cannon fire in the place the brilliant composer had notated. This was so relevant to the Anniversary of the United States of America that John had served in WWII to defend. We had a great time of fellowship with this special couple. Harold and I dearly miss John: the World is better for his having contributed such music. His church solos will always be in grateful memory by all who had the opportunity to have been touched by this great musican, and the love of his life, Carole.
Carole, we are praying for you in the lonely times, and hope to see you soon. With our love and thankfulness,
Hope and Harold Klee
John Chancellor Hawver was the consumate musician of our time. I had the privilege of playing violin beside him in many church musicals. Whenever John and I were both guest violinists in church orchestras for special productions, John was the concert master. I was honored to play at the same first stand with this classically trained musician, who held sacred the unequaled talent he owned for his position. John’s technique was perfect, as was his professionalism. He had an expansive repertoir of music, and huge inventory of memorized names of composers and their music. He could play with such feeling that one could hardly contain the emotion this brought; he did so with complete immersion of himself in the piece he was playing wtih consecrated abandon. Added to this was his desire to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, who he loved and served with his music, and the great love he and his wife, Carole, shared. Carole was his soulmate, who stood with him in prayer, being with him everywhere he played so eloquently on his beautiful violin. As Carole
is a very dear friend, as was John, I can say undisputedly that they were a team in every way. Carole was a true
helpmeet, an example of devotion, demonstrating the great love she held for John, as she cared for him at home in his later years, when he was laid low by strokes and heart attacks.
As a concuctor, John had the privilege of sitting in on classes being taught by the emminent conductor and composer, Leonard Bernstein, as well as being on full scholarship at Tanglewood Music Camp. I especially loved to hear John speak of his years of meeting the great violinists and conductors in the mid twentieth century. Even when quite young, John’s love of music and the talent that he had which were recognised by Bernstein, gave him entrance to many major concerts in New York city. He knew the great Arthur Fiedler, conductor, and musicians in the Boston Symphony and other musical groups. I stand in awe of John and of the way he and his soulmate spouse, Carole, together founded The Masters’ Chamber Orchestra, which played in many venues in Palm Harbor and innumerable surrounding areas, including Tampabay. I still treasure times at their home where Carole, the gracious and lovely lady that shs is, made us feel so welcome. Times there were often with hours spent as my husband Harold, and I, with Carole and John, listened to recordings of orchestral works,the classics of music literature. They presented me a gift recording of one of my favorites, the New World Symphony in E Minor by Anton Dvorak. As a bassoon major and violinist, I will always cherish the memories that generous gift evokes of our times together. Another wonderful summer, Harold and I met with John and Carole at Tanglewood in Massachusetts, for a special day of picnic on the green, and hearing the on site masters of music throughout the day. Then we rejoiced in the celebration of our Nation’s birthday with concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, culminating in their presentation of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, that incorporated cannon fire in the place the brilliant composer had notated. This was so relevant to the Anniversary of the United States of America that John had served in WWII to defend. We had a great time of fellowship with this special couple. Harold and I dearly miss John: the World is better for his having contributed such music. His church solos will always be in grateful memory by all who had the opportunity to have been touched by this great musican, and the love of his life, Carole.
Carole, we are praying for you in the lonely times, and hope to see you soon. With our love and thankfulness,
Hope and Harold Klee