Charles LoMedico - Obituary

harles J. ("Chuck") LoMedico, 94 Musician, Teacher Charles J. "Chuck" LoMedico, 94, a local musician who entertained generations of Washingtonians, died March 12, 2011, at Mount Vernon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He had congestive heart failure. Chuck was born June 24, 1916, in Foggy Bottom. He often told stories of his early years when he accompanied his father as a lamplighter and fruit and vegetable vendor. He also hawked for the STAR newspaper. Along with his parents, brother, Peter and sister Mae, who all predeceased him, Chuck owned and operated an Italian store, Caligios, in Northeast D.C. He worked 17-hour days, 7 days a week to earn enough money to take music lessons. Those lessons led to his lifelong dedication to his beloved music. After service as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Mr. LoMedico, a trombonist and string bassist, played with the bands of Jack Merton and Steve Lesieur at many functions at, among others, Avenal, Columbia, Indian Springs, Congressional, and Chevy Chase country clubs. He also performed with the orchestras of Duke Ellington, Charlie Barnett, Wayne King, Woody Herman, Carmen Cavallaro, and Bob Crosby when they entertained in Washington venues. Mr. LoMedico played with the Meyer Davis Orchestra at many debutante cotillions at the SuIgrave Club and other sites. During this time he also worked as a wedding music planner and consultant. A longtime member of Local 161.710 of the Washington Federation of Musicians, Mr. LoMedico was especially proud of his long time association with the Lee Maxfield Orchestras. While affiliated with that organization he voluntarily performed, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Defense, on several tours entertaining troops stateside, and on bases in Saudi Arabia, Libya, Germany, Korea, and at the Ernie Pyle Theater in Tokyo, among others. In that capacity he performed with such legends as Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Frances Langford, Dorothy Lamour, Jerry Colonna and Connie Boswell. It was also under Maxfield's auspices that Mr. LoMedico led the musicians on the Wilson Cruise Lines, and at many local dances and special events. While performing in these venues, Chuck worked as a part-time realtor for Long & Foster and at a career of teaching music theory and various instruments to generations of local music students throughout the D.C. and Maryland area. A demanding, but loving, teacher, he stressed the importance of tempo and concentration to all his students, qualities he often lamented that were not taught in public school programs. He continued teaching until 2009. Mr. LoMedico was a member of Mt. Calvary Catholic Church in Forestville, where he resided for 38 years, and, of late, of St. Columba Parish in Oxon Hill. There he would give free music lessons to any parishioners who sought his musical guidance. A Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, he served for several years as chief usher at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Among the many charities he supported were Catholic Charities, the Franciscans, St. Jude's, Children's Hospital, and Couples for Christ's Gawad, Kalinger, and Ancop of the Philippines. Mr. LoMedico was very proud of his associations with so many other talented and dedicated musicians. It was his fervent wish that today's musicians pursue their profession as devotedly as he did, and that new generations will continue to appreciate and enjoy great music.