The air at the Meeting House of the First Congregational Church of Southington was filled with a festive sense of joyous anticipation as a near full house gathered in excited anticipation. As they found their seats in this oldest of churches still standing in Southington, people from the far reaches of the community and beyond happily joined members of the congregation for an especially meaningful benefit concert the
Alzheimer’s Association, Connecticut Chapter.
The community was honoring its own Mark Corcoran and his wife, Esther for the gracious manner in which, together, they faced Mark's early onset of Alzheimer's with great courage and hope as they discovered only a year after their marriage that Mark had an early onset form of Alzheimer's Disease.
The concert highlighted one of the legends of American folk song, Tom Chapin, a three-time Grammy Award Winner, co-featuring a relatively new group of three young contemporary folk singer/instrumentalists who call themselves “EVA”.
A story published in Appleseed after originally appearing in my Appleseed column in the Southington Citizen's March 19, 2016 edition, provides an idea of how Mark and Esther faced the disease which abruptly came out of nowhere and the life changing ensuing five years.
. .
The community was honoring its own Mark Corcoran and his wife, Esther for the gracious manner in which, together, they faced Mark's early onset of Alzheimer's with great courage and hope as they discovered only a year after their marriage that Mark had an early onset form of Alzheimer's Disease.
The concert highlighted one of the legends of American folk song, Tom Chapin, a three-time Grammy Award Winner, co-featuring a relatively new group of three young contemporary folk singer/instrumentalists who call themselves “EVA”.
A story published in Appleseed after originally appearing in my Appleseed column in the Southington Citizen's March 19, 2016 edition, provides an idea of how Mark and Esther faced the disease which abruptly came out of nowhere and the life changing ensuing five years.
. .
Mark loved music and sang for years with the FCC group known
as “Branches”. His interest in folk music included the songs of Tom Chapin as
well as those of his late brother, Harry and younger brother Steve. So, having Tom Chapin at this concert was a circle of
life, deja vu experience for Mark.
Speaking to Mark briefly before the concert (backstage), I asked him about how he felt about Tom Chapin being here for the concert. "It’s great”, Mark said. Asked how he felt knowing the event being done in his honor, Mark replied simply: "It’s too much”. Mark was happy to speak about the place where he lives now, Alzheimer’s Resource Center of Plantsville. It is a great place”, he said. "You know I had worked, (as a volunteer), in group homes before."
While in a beautiful old parlor of the church, now the pastor's office, my wife, Grace, and I were privileged to be invited to meet with Mark, Esther and Tom Chapin for a private interview and conversation before the concert. . This moment became an experience we had not anticipated.
We chatted a bit. Then, I asked Esther and Mark if they would sit on a couch, inviting Chapin to get in a bit closer with them and continue talking. Picking up his guitar, Tom sat down getting in close with them. Smiling and relaxed. Chapin spoke softly to Mark and Esther and began strumming his guitar in a soft rhythm with what he was saying. Then, directly facing Mark, Chapin sang his famous 9/11 inspired folk ballad song “Follow the Light”.
Mark began singing many of the words with Tom. The expression of blissful joy I saw on Mark’s face was frankly indescribably emotional.
Quietly, I asked Tom if he had seen what I had seen. Tom smiled and remembered something. “A wonderful thing happens with music. Somebody told me once that a song is a container. ‘What does that mean’, I asked. He said ‘when a song is happening and say 10,000 people are all listening, your music fills the place. Everybody is in that one place’.”
Thoughtfully, Tom said: There’s something magical about that. And right now, this is one of those moments. Here’s a gentleman who is suffering with Azheimer’s. If I can move him with my music, that’s magical. Then you find out that Mark has been singing those songs for years and now we’re bringing him back to them. This is one of music’s magical connections. You’re putting words together with music. That’s emotion.” Chapin said: “We all know someone with Alzheimer’s or their families. Actually, it’s the families who suffer most. They become the caregivers and personal witnesses of the changes happening. They also become the guardians of the dignity and personal history of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s. So, that’s why I’m thrilled to be here and always happy to do something to help with my songs and monetary support, too.
It was only moments into the “live” concert when the audience was moving with the joy of the lively contemporary songs of EVA, aka, Nicole Zuraitis, Kath Buckell and Liz Simmons. Chapin joined them for a few songs, the audience thrilled at the invitation to join in song.
As EVA left the stage, Chapin continued with some of the older songs including those of his brother, Harry, and a few newer songs. EVA rejoined him for the closing of the concert as the feelings of emotion and compassion of the soul were connected, all in one musical container.
Freelance writer Dick Fortunato resides in Southington. Your comments are welcome at dicFirk617#gmail.com
Speaking to Mark briefly before the concert (backstage), I asked him about how he felt about Tom Chapin being here for the concert. "It’s great”, Mark said. Asked how he felt knowing the event being done in his honor, Mark replied simply: "It’s too much”. Mark was happy to speak about the place where he lives now, Alzheimer’s Resource Center of Plantsville. It is a great place”, he said. "You know I had worked, (as a volunteer), in group homes before."
While in a beautiful old parlor of the church, now the pastor's office, my wife, Grace, and I were privileged to be invited to meet with Mark, Esther and Tom Chapin for a private interview and conversation before the concert. . This moment became an experience we had not anticipated.
 |
| Esther and Mark Corcoran join Tom Chapin in singing |
We chatted a bit. Then, I asked Esther and Mark if they would sit on a couch, inviting Chapin to get in a bit closer with them and continue talking. Picking up his guitar, Tom sat down getting in close with them. Smiling and relaxed. Chapin spoke softly to Mark and Esther and began strumming his guitar in a soft rhythm with what he was saying. Then, directly facing Mark, Chapin sang his famous 9/11 inspired folk ballad song “Follow the Light”.
Mark began singing many of the words with Tom. The expression of blissful joy I saw on Mark’s face was frankly indescribably emotional.
Quietly, I asked Tom if he had seen what I had seen. Tom smiled and remembered something. “A wonderful thing happens with music. Somebody told me once that a song is a container. ‘What does that mean’, I asked. He said ‘when a song is happening and say 10,000 people are all listening, your music fills the place. Everybody is in that one place’.”
Thoughtfully, Tom said: There’s something magical about that. And right now, this is one of those moments. Here’s a gentleman who is suffering with Azheimer’s. If I can move him with my music, that’s magical. Then you find out that Mark has been singing those songs for years and now we’re bringing him back to them. This is one of music’s magical connections. You’re putting words together with music. That’s emotion.” Chapin said: “We all know someone with Alzheimer’s or their families. Actually, it’s the families who suffer most. They become the caregivers and personal witnesses of the changes happening. They also become the guardians of the dignity and personal history of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s. So, that’s why I’m thrilled to be here and always happy to do something to help with my songs and monetary support, too.
 |
| EVA with the Corcorans: Nicole Zuraitis Mark, Esther, Kath Buckell and Liz Simmons |
It was only moments into the “live” concert when the audience was moving with the joy of the lively contemporary songs of EVA, aka, Nicole Zuraitis, Kath Buckell and Liz Simmons. Chapin joined them for a few songs, the audience thrilled at the invitation to join in song.
As EVA left the stage, Chapin continued with some of the older songs including those of his brother, Harry, and a few newer songs. EVA rejoined him for the closing of the concert as the feelings of emotion and compassion of the soul were connected, all in one musical container.
Freelance writer Dick Fortunato resides in Southington. Your comments are welcome at dicFirk617#gmail.com
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| Meeting House of the First Congregational Church of Southington |
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