David James Messer of Vincennes entered into unending joy on July 20, 2018, lovingly surrounded by his family and friends.
Born on August 25, 1942 in San Diego, California to Alma Jean Bell and James Lanza Messer, David is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carol Cunningham Messer of Vincennes, and his son, James Benson Messer of Fort Lee, NJ; his brother, Richard Darryl Messer and his wife, Margaret Liebler Messer of Mableton, GA; his aunt, Gloria Pauline Jones of Birmingham, Al; and beloved cousins.
David’s life daily reflected a multitude of talents and accomplishments that he joyfully acknowledged came from God. He shared these abundantly with his family, his friends, his church, and the community of Vincennes. He adored singing, cooking, dinner parties, and woodworking, and passionately loved his garden. And of course, his music. The love of music, art and theatre were threads that continued throughout his life. As a teenager growing up in Birmingham, Alabama he became organist in his home church, then organist and choir director at the Chapel in the Pines. While a pre-med student at Birmingham Southern College, David studied organ at the Birmingham Conservatory of Music and was assistant organist for Minnie McNeil Carr at the Independent Presbyterian Church, where he played the great Aeolian-Skinner. David continued his music while in graduate school at Auburn, where he met his wife, Carol, a student in Fine Arts, and at Purdue, where he received a master’s degree in Educational Media.
After graduate school, David and Carol married in 1969 and moved to Kentucky, where David was on the faculty of Henderson Community College, directing community theater there as well. Moving to Vincennes, Indiana in 1972 to create teaching media for the Nursing Department, he then became the head of VU’s new Museum Exhibits program, which he loved. In 1977 he joined with Mary Jo Vermillion, Amy Loomis and some of Vincennes’ finest thespians to found the Old Town Players, an award-winning community theater that recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Some of the best-remembered plays directed by David include The Good Doctor, The Royal Family, The Madwoman of Chaillot, and Under Milkwood, which received a Best Play award from the Indiana Association of Community Theatres. During the summers David happily worked as a set designer for Evansville Civic Theatre’s outdoor musicals at Mesker Park.
The light of David’s life was his son, James, born in 1978, now an architect for NYC Transit. Along with family life and these many endeavors, David was choir director at the United Church of Christ and served as organist for the First Christian Church during the building of the remarkable Taylor and Boody organ. An avid interest in church music composition developed at this time, resulting in more than 30 works for choir, voice, organ and solo instruments.
In the museum field, David continued his work by moving to Beaumont, Texas in 1982 where he served as director of exhibits and publications. He became director of the Museum of East Texas in Lufkin before the family moved to New Jersey, where for 12 years he directed the Bergen Museum of Art and Science in Paramus, presenting exhibitions for leading artists in the New York metropolitan area and an annual season of chamber music. As director, he selected and mounted over 20 exhibitions a year. Over a period of 25 years in Bergen County, David served as minister of music for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Haworth, First Presbyterian Church, Hackensack, and Trinity Episcopal Church, Allendale.
Changing course, from 1999-2001, David directed the 2000 US Census for Bergen County, proudly winning the highest commendation for his achievements. He went on to serve as Matching Gifts Coordinator for the KPMG Foundation, retiring after ten years. During this time, David applied to Juilliard and was admitted at the graduate level into Music Composition. Taking one course at a time, he completed four years at Juilliard, delighting in his teachers and associates, especially his mentor, Dr. Samuel Zyman. His work included the completion of his first string quartet. The culmination of his artistry was the creation of a delightful operetta, The Second Shepherd’s Play, which was based on a medieval mystery play.
Encouraged by dear friends in Vincennes, David and Carol returned to Indiana in 2015, where they found happiness and a welcoming community that remembered many of David’s contributions. He delighted in old and new friendships and joyed in playing the organ at First United Methodist and at First Christian.
From the very beginning, David was infused with a passionate love of his Creator, the Author of his life. Here, the framework of his spiritual life was St. James, his church home. According to Father Dennis Latta, “David certainly brought the gift of music to our church, but his greatest gift was his compassion for the least and unloved of the parish family. He made them a part of his life, inviting them into his home and finding ways to uplift them, being concerned and treating them as worthy of love. His vision was truly Christ-like.” It will be difficult to replace the kind of love, graciousness, humor and companionship David extended to his family and friends. No one can fill his shoes; he will be terribly missed.
David’s life will be celebrated with reverence and jubilation at a memorial service to be held on Saturday, August 4 at 10 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, Vincennes, with Fr. Latta officiating. The Goodwin Family Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
