Final Cadence: Fall 2020

Davey Thomas Tucker ’17 of Bessemer, AL, died August 29. A multi-instrumentalist and composer, he wrote original scores for A&E/Lifetime Network and PBS Digital Studio, and composed and prepared music for television and movies, including Family Guy, Mary Poppins Returns, Fifty Shades Freed, and Ferdinand. He leaves his mother, Kristina; father, Michael; brothers, Michael and Jeffrey; grandparents; aunts and uncles; and cousins.

James Barto ’80 of Ajijic, Mexico, died February 19, 2020. He was 63. A trumpet player and composer, Barto worked for eight years at Berklee as an instructor of film music, and later became a freelance musician. In 2017, he founded Barto Digital Music, a company dedicated to the development of software that creates musical arrangements. Since 2004, he had performed locally in Ajijic. He leaves his partner of five years, Diana; his mother, June; his sister, Gwen; and nieces. His wife, Susan Ferraro, died in 2015. 

James Milliard ’69 of Dayville, CT, died May 4. He was 72. A saxophonist, he performed in several area bands and booked bands for weddings and events. He leaves his wife, Annie; his daughters, Carrie and Catherine; his sister, Arlene; his four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Theresa.

Richard Kenneally ’75 of Quincy, MA, died July 2 from complications due to COVID-19. He was 67. A multi-instrumentalist, he taught music in the Quincy public schools for 30 years, many as band director for Quincy and North Quincy high schools. He leaves his children, Jennifer and Jessica; siblings, Marie, Kevin, and Ann; and many nieces and nephews. His wife, Cecilia, and brother Paul predeceased him. 

Jack Marius Jarrett of Greensboro, NC, died August 16. He was 86. The chair of Berklee’s Composition Department from 1989 to 2001, Jarrett was a composer, conductor, professor, author, and software architect. His work has been performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and published by Warner Bros. A recipient of a Ford Foundation grant and a Fulbright scholarship, he also taught at Dickinson College, University of Richmond, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and Virginia Commonwealth University. He leaves his wife, Elizabeth Flynt; daughters, Elizabeth and Lori; and grandchildren. He was predeceased by wife Shirley Mae Walker.  

John “Jack” Salley ’72 of Tallahassee, FL, died December 17. He was 71. A professional trumpet player for over 40 years, Salley worked in event production as well as taught and mentored young people in South Florida in the art of music and playing trumpet. He leaves his wife, Elizabeth “Annie”; and daughter, Charlotte.

Anne-Marie (Dermody) Norman B.M. ’88 of Billerica, MA, died December 15. She was 60. A guitarist, she taught the instrument to young children for several years. She leaves her husband, Lawrence; her children, Lauren, Elizabeth, Daniel, and Andrew; her siblings, Kathleen, Paula, and Michael Dermody; and many nieces and nephews.

Thomas Breggia ’69 of Providence, RI, died August 16. He was 94. After serving during World War II, including at the Battle of Iwo Jima, he graduated from, and taught at, Berklee. He worked as the music director at Shea High School until his retirement in 1990. He leaves his children, Deborah, Karan, Donna, and Thomas; and grandchildren. His wife, Pauline, and daughter Claudia predeceased him. 

Tara Morgan Keith ’08 of Hamilton, Canada, died in October. She was 32. Keith was the winner of the Recording Academy’s Emerging Talent Competition in 2014. She leaves her parents, Michael and Dawn; sisters Kandra, Bailly, Heather, and Becky; and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

John Anthony Ficarrotta B.M. ’77 of Las Vegas, NV, died August 7. He was 64. A trumpeter and pianist, he taught music throughout his life, including at Chaparral and Durango high schools. He leaves his wife, Connie; children, Justin, Erica, Amberly, and Taylor; and his father, brothers, and grandchildren.