Staff Board of Trustees
Cain Park came alive on July 19, 2006 as more than 130 benefit patrons and 430 music fans enjoyed A Night for Musical Memories, a musical tribute to renowned Cleveland Heights musician, educator and mentor, Vince Patti.
Reaching Heights worked with a devoted volunteer committee of friends and family of Mr. Patti and of music program participants, to create the benefit which included a pre-concert dinner followed by a concert in the Evans Amphitheater. The concert featured some of the best local musicians who gave their time and talent to perform a concert to inspire fans of classical and jazz, vocal and instrumental music. Emcee Evie Morris tied together the eclectic concert with a commentary showing the connections of the music to the interests and talents of Vince Patti. Click here to read the commentary.
Cleveland Heights musician Diane Mather, a friend and musical partner of Vince Patti, and Mr. Patti’s son Bruce, a member of the Dallas Symphony served as the music directors. Bobbi McNamara took charge of the benefit dinner and Christina Spackey organized a cadre of 20 CH-UH student musicians to serenade guests as they arrived at Cain Park.
The evening was not only a musical success, but generated more than $24,000 to establish the Patti Family Music Fund which Reaching Heights has the privilege of administering to support the Heights tradition of musical excellence, a tradition that Vince Patti helped to establish during his 20 year tenure as a music teacher in the Heights schools between 1956 and 1976. The McGregor Home made a $10,000 gift to help start the fund which will be used to encourage elementary and middle school instrumental students to take private lessons and to ensure the CH-UH instrumental music program is inclusive. Reaching Heights will work with its music committee to develop an implementation plan for using $5,000 during the first year of the fund.
We appreciate the generosity of more than 90 donors, 20 event volunteers, 26 hosts, and 70 musicians who contributed to a wonderful Night for Musical Memories and helped create a fund that will support the continued vibrancy of music education in the Heights.
Vincent Edward Patti was born on Nov. 13, 1919 and lived until July 7, 2005. He was an accomplished clarinet and sax player, beloved bandleader, inspiring music educator, and loving husband and father.
Vince founded his first band in 1934 as a student at Kirk Junior High School in East Cleveland. As a 17 year old he performed George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Cleveland Orchestra. His friend and drummer Bill Hoffman said, Vince could play as good as Benny Goodman.
As a swing bandleader he encouraged many musicians including famed trumpeters Ray Anthony, Kenny Williams, Bob Peck and Ray Rinaldi. With the start of World War II many band members including Vince entered the armed forces and in 1941, the year Vince joined the Navy, the Vince Patti Band was taken over by Bob Allen's band. While in the Navy, Vince performed and was assistant conductor of the band on the Admiral's flagship USS Atlanta and later the USS Arkansas. At the end of the war, Vince and Hal Lynn created the Patti-Lynn Orchestra which performed until 1981. In the 1950s and 60s, Vince's trio and dance band performed regularly on Cleveland radio. His band was a regular at Cain Park where people came to Dance Under the Stars on summer evenings.
His other performance activities included conducting summer band concerts in Lakewood and musicals at Cain Park. He also sang with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus.
Vince is credited with creating the TOPS Swingband (Tough Old ProS) in 2003 while a resident of McGregor Retirement Community. He performed with the band from his wheel chair and was recognized as an Outstanding Senior Volunteer for bringing music to his retirement home. The band, now under the direction of Dick Wooley, is made up of retired but active musicians who perform for audiences who love big band music.
Vince Patti made his mark on hundreds of people not only as a musician and bandleader, but as a music educator. He earned a music education degree at Western Reserve University where he met his wife, French horn player, Jeannette. Vince started his teaching career in 1946 as band teacher in Garfield Heights. In 1956 he became the vocal music teacher at Wiley Junior High in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District and Jeannette joined the staff at Fairfax Elementary School and later Roxboro.
He spent the 1966-67 school year as instrumental teacher at Cleveland Heights High School and served as an instrumental music teacher at the elementary school level before retiring in 1976 with disability (Multiple Sclerosis). He founded and directed the music program for the Music, Arts and Crafts Summer camp for Heights students in the 1960s. After retiring, Vince continued to offer private music lessons at Academy Music.
Vince grew up in a musical household and music was something the family enjoyed together. His father Sam Pattie was a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and had his own combo for 62 years, a private music studio and also taught at the Music School Settlement. (When Vince entered the Navy he learned that his father had added an “e” to Patti to Americanize the spelling and at that time adopted the original spelling of his name.) His brother Robert Pattie is a sax player and music educator in Shaker Heights. His niece Christine Fessenmeyer-Hill is a pianist on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Vince and Jeannette Patti had five sons, who shared their parents' love of music. In the 1960s the family, joined by Vince's father, mother-in-law, wife Jeannette and five sons, performed as a family orchestra for area PTA and school functions. The Patti children are graduates of the Heights schools and music program. Kenneth became a violinist with the Cleveland and St. Paul Chamber Orchestras. Doug is a consultant for Symphony Orchestras, Bruce is a violinist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Brian is a dance bandleader in Chicago. Vince Patti was preceded in death by Jeannette, and sons Donald and Kenneth.
Vince Patti devoted his life to music. He formed his first band at 14 while a student at Kirk Junior High and his last, the TOPS Swingband, in 2003 while a resident of the McGregor Retirement Community. He frequently performed at Cain Park and delighted dance band fans with Dancing Under the Stars.
Mr. Patti inspired and taught hundreds of students as a private music teacher at Academy Music, and for 20 years as a vocal music teacher at Wiley Junior High and instrumental music teacher in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school district until multiple sclerosis led to his retirement in 1976.
Vince Patti died in 2005 after an inspiring career that spanned seven decades and touched thousands of people. His talent, warmth and encouragement helped musicians of all ages and at all stages of their lives develop self-confidence, find direction, make wonderful music, and enjoy life.
Ray Anthony – Musician and Band Leader and Lifelong friend
“Vince had been my mentor and friend since I was 14 years old, which means that we had a close and warm relationship for seventy years. … He was quite impressed with the success which I had with my career. I had sent him practically every recording and CD that I made, right up to date. He was as happy with my success as though it was his very own.”
Diane Mather – Musician, former member of the Cleveland Orchestra
“We played at the McGregor Home as ‘Vince Patti and Friends' – Ellen, Kim, Virgil and I. ‘Mr.Patti' took the old songs and fine-tuned the arrangements to make them uniquely ours. He often pushed us past our comfort zones to try what we thought we couldn't handle, and found that we could after all. He gave of his remarkable spirit 100% and we returned it with love, devotion, and our utmost respect. To us, he was truly, Mr. Wonderful.
Evie Rosen-Morris, Heights High Class of 1965
Freelance musician.......Musical Director, accompanist, private piano teacher, vocal coach, and performer.
My Dad, a violin teacher in the Detroit Public Schools, once told me, "If you have one public school teacher who really impacts and influences your life, consider yourself lucky!" Well, I was lucky and for me, the teacher who recognized and nurtured potential and introduced possibilities was Vince Patti.
I first met Vince Patti when I was in the 7th grade at Wiley Junior High School. He wasthe Vocal Music teacher. When Vince found out that I could play the piano well, he told me, “YouWILL accompany my 8th grade chorus!”He also introduced me to the director of the Children's Theater on the Heights. Vince taught me conducting patterns and gave me the opportunity to conduct the Madrigal Singers. As a classically-trained pianist, it would never have occurred to me that accompanying anddoing Musical Theater were ways to use my musical skills. Vince opened the doors.
Ican still rememberwhenVince encouraged me to play a solo at my Junior High Schoolgraduation. I was reluctant, but agreed. Vince turned pages for me and when I was I finished, I turned around to take my bow and Vince had tears streaming down his face. What a dear teacher and mentor he was!
Vince remained a mentor, guide and role model for me throughout my adult life, always willing to listen, suggest, praise, question and comment on what I was doing or thinking about doing.
And even now, although he is no longer physically present, the lessons he taught, the wisdom he imparted and the love he shared will forever remain a part of the person I have grown to be.
Belita Cowan – Former student
“Vince Patti was one of the best teachers I ever had!”
Howard Chizek – WNIR 100 FM Radio Host
Wiley Choral Club 59-62
“There are just so many memories… the singing of Christmas carols door-to-door in the Kingston Road area of Cleveland Heights, the smile that was visible above the orchestra at Cain Park, or the friendly almost safe feeling you had when entering his Wiley Choral Club.
“From playing the guitar on Friday talent day, to my first experience on the stage in H.M.S. Pinafore, Mr. Patti gave me my first chance at being in front of an audience. No one person was more influential in my life.
“I will be a ‘Vince Patti' person always!”
Scott Wachter – Information Specialist
“When a student at Belvoir Elementary School in the mid to late ‘60's, Mr. Patti was a great inspiration to me and my fellow students. Through his love of music, teaching, and kids, he really did bring out the best in me, more so than several other teachers I had in the past, or since.
“Looking back, it's easy to see that Mr. Patti's focus, as a professional educator and musician, was to instill the love of music, learning about music, and encouraging kids to be their best. His enthusiasm and interest were so far ahead of his time. More and more research indicates that kids involved in the arts are more productive in school. I'm convinced, that whether Mr. Patti knew about this research, or even if he didn't, he was successful because he believed in music and education. He was helping children reach their potential both in the arts and academically.
“Mr. Patti knew his hard work would serve as the fulcrum to the success of today's great CH-UH music program,but his dedication had other benefits. Mr. Patti is one of the major reasons I attend Cleveland Orchestra concerts as often as I can, and he is also one of the reasons I'm encouraging my children to continue with their musical studies. He's definitely one of the reason I appreciate music as a whole.
“As an adult and parent, I appreciate what Mr. Patti has done for me, kids, the community, and our collective futures.”
Sue Salomon Maier, Wiley Class of 1961--CHHS Class of 1964
Those of us lucky enough to have had Vince Patti as our choral club teacher at Wiley Junior High School in 1961 cherish the memory of our full-scale production of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta H.M.S. Pineafore. Scores of us, costumed in Victorian dresses and bonnets or outfitted as British sailors, went "gaily tipping" down the aisles and onto the stage, accompanied by live music. ( I think Mr. Patti conducuted both the orchestra and the singers.) The soloists performed like polished pros, and there was even an appearance by Ray Warner, the gym teacher, as the villain, Deadeye Dick. Although I was only in the chorus, I knew every word of the score by heart, because for weeks we came to school early in the morning or stayed late for after school rehearsals--whatever it took to make the production excellent.
All these years later (I won't say how many) I still know every word by heart! Now that I am a high school teacher myself, I am in awe of Mr. Patti's ability to inspire that kind of dedication in a gaggle of fourteen and fifteen-year-olds. I d Gilbert and Sullivan ever since that time. And I salute the spirit of excellence that was and is Vince Patti.
To share your memories of Vince Patti, email Evie Morris at bachtobroadway42@sbcglobal.net.
