The Music Man Of Point Pleasant High School Not Soon Forgotten, Even 20 Years After He Retired

POINT PLEASANT, NJ — The name Loren Donley and Point Pleasant High School music are synonymous.

Donley was the school's music teacher, music director and "founding father," as one student put it.

He held the position for four decades and left his mark on the students he taught and guided, according to app.com.

Loren Donley died on Aug 6. at age 83, more than 20 years after he retired. But few former students and staff have forgotten him. They will hold a celebration of his life at the high school at 2 p.m. on Oct. 1, in the auditorium that bears his name, his obituary states.

“The school and community are grieving big time over his death," said Point Pleasant drama teacher Rebecca Muraglia, Class of 1990. "He was that important to people, even if you weren’t musical. “He was a very quiet, modest man so to call it a ‘spectacle’ isn’t the right word, but we want to celebrate this wonderful man’s life and his influence on so many thousands of students.”

And every December, he would return to the high school for the annual winter concert that closed with the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's "Messiah" and a Gaelic blessing. Students from the nearly 40 years he presided over the music department would return for the event.

"It's quite an experience, to be surrounded by people who are 20 years older than you, some who are 20 years younger than you, and you're all singing a song he taught you," said Jennifer Enright, Class of 1985.

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Photo: Legacy.com