Final Cadence
Phyllis (Dent) Emerson ’45 of Melrose, MA, died April 9, 2008. She was 86. She began playing piano as a child and, after graduating from high school in Newport, NH, moved to Boston to study at Berklee (then known as Schillinger House). She played throughout her life and sang with the Polymnia Choral Society in Melrose. She leaves two daughters and a granddaughter.
James Richardson ’46 of Maynard, MA, died on February 28. He was 82. Richardson briefly attended Schillinger House and was a member of the Marlborough and Framingham locals of the musicians’ union. Richardson was a decorated Word War II veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force. He leaves his wife, Nancy; a daughter and son; and six grandchildren.
Tim Swarbrick ’64 of Newark, DE, died suddenly of a heart attack on March 8. He was 72. Swarbrick was a veteran of the Korean War and later attended Berklee. An active professional bassist, Swarbrick played with Buddy Rich, Barney Kessel, Tommy Dorsey, the Glen Miller Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, and many local-area artists in his 45-year career. He also operated Musical Tees Inc., a retail store that sold T-shirts and military wares, and was active in veterans’ affairs. He leaves his daughter Marybeth, his three sons, Tim, Chris, and Mark, and four grandchildren.
Jim Carson ’72 of Clearwater, FL, died on May 10 after a long battle with cancer. He was 56. A trumpeter, Carson toured throughout the country for many years playing with various groups. In addition to his wife Stephanie and daughter Cambia, he leaves his mother and two brothers.
Marcio Montarroyos ’72 of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, died December 12, 2007, of cancer. He was 59. A busy professional trumpeter, Montarroyos had backed Stevie Wonder, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Carlos Santana, and Ella Fitzgerald during these artists’ appearances in Rio. He recorded several albums under his own name, including Magic Moment and Carioca, which were released internationally by Columbia Records. His mastery of an array of musical styles—from jazz to Brazilian folk to funk—earned him a reputation as one of Rio’s top trumpeters.
Thomas Myers ’74 of Northampton, MA, died on March 11 after liver transplant surgery. He was 54. A gifted keyboardist, singer, and songwriter, he was a member of the Elevators, a group signed to Arista Records during the 1980s. He later wrote music for film, commercials, and music libraries. He leaves his companion, Cheryl Dellecese.
Joshua Sack ’04 of Merion, PA, died on May 4 of leukemia. He was 22. Since 2004, Sack had performed as the drummer for the rising band the Brakes. Their tours included appearances at South by Southwest, music festivals, and clubs. The band had recorded three EPs, and its song “Special” was featured in a 2006 commercial for H&R Block. The band’s debut album, A Tale of Two Cities, was released just two days after Sack’s passing. Despite extensive treatment and surgery, Sack completed a tour with the Brakes in October 2007 and rehearsed with the band until the week before his death. He leaves his parents, David and Joan Sack, and his brother William.
Former Berklee faculty member Robert Monroe of Millbury, MA, passed away on April 12 at UMass Hospital in Worcester. He was 59. He worked as a science teacher in West Boylston, MA, and taught during the summers at Berklee. A multi-instrumentalist, Monroe played bass guitar, trumpet, and trombone. He directed several youth bands as well as Bands by Bob, a 20-piece swing band. He leaves his daughters Laura and Lindsay and his longtime girlfriend, Jerelyn Bellow.
