Obituary

Patricia F. Jordan, obituary

Mon, 06/24/2013 - 3:30pm

CAMDEN — Patricia Magee Jordan, 86, a talented musician and music teacher, died June 21, 2013 at The Homestead in Owls Head. Born in Camden Jan. 9, 1927, she was the daughter of Forest Magee and Marjorie (Calderwood) Magee Anderson. Patricia attended schools in Camden, Lincolnville Center and Provincetown, Mass., and graduated from Camden High School in the class of 1945 with honors and as class salutatorian. She attended Fisher School in Boston from 1946-1947, and in 1960, graduated from the Northern Conservatory of Music in Bangor attaining a Bachelor of Music, a four-year program which she completed in three years.

During her years at the Conservatory, she also played clarinet with the Bangor Symphony, and continued to play after graduation until 1966 when the distance and her busy schedule of teaching music in the schools, private teaching, and playing piano with dance bands precluded her continuance in symphony rehearsals and concerts.

Starting piano lessons at age 7 and clarinet at age 10, it became evident that Pat was showing a great aptitude for music early, and was therefore chosen to play with the Camden High School's band and orchestra for a number of years before she was enrolled there as a freshman.

While a sophomore in 1942 at age 15, she was asked by a classmate, Art Grinnell, to play piano in his newly organized swing band. She accepted, and shortly thereafter the band was asked by the Women's Motor Corps to play for dances at the Camden Opera House for the World War II troops. The troops were then-quartered in the old Civilian Conservation Corps barracks in what is now the Camden Hills State Park.

While at Fisher School, Pat took particular delight in being chosen to play for singing groups that visited hospitals to entertain the veterans. Pat was also honored to play in the famous Hatch Memorial Shell of Boston Pops fame for Fisher School's Class Day exercises.

Having had secretarial training at Fisher, Pat worked for a number of years in offices while teaching private piano lessons on the side, as well as playing for dances, wedding receptions and other events.

She taught music for 20 years with bands, orchestras, choruses and in schools in Bucksport, Orrington, Orland, Thomaston, Rockport, Islesboro, Lincolnville, Hope and Appleton.

On May 2, 1979, Pat married Howard Jordan, a professor at Maine Maritime Academy who was a well-known journalist, trumpeter and band leader. Pat and Howard lived for five years in Castine, where she led the MMA band and chorus.

In 1984, Pat and Howard returned to Camden and they continued with their music, keeping busy with The Lincolnville Band, the Bright Moments Group and the Blue Stars Swing Band, which played at the Samoset Resort.

Pat played an active role in fundraising efforts for the Lincolnville Bandstand project and the Lincolnville Bi-centennial Celebration, both celebrated in 2002.

Surviving is her half-sister, Arlene Magee Davis of Camden; her step-daughters, Nancy Jordan Hennessey of Conifer, Calif., and Joyce Struck of Sturgeon Bay, Wis. She was predeceased by her husband, Howard C. Jordan Jr. in 2000; her brother, Frank Magee in 1941; her half-brother, Howard Anderson in 1969; and her step-son, Michael Jordan in 1992.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday, June 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St. in Camden. A graveside service will be held Thursday, June 27, at 2 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Camden, with the Rev. Ted Chaffee officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to The Lincolnville Band, c/o Abbie Horton, Treasurer, 173 Main Street, Lincolnville, ME 04849.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the Jordan family by visiting their book of memories at longfuneralhomecamden.com.