Dr. John Motley Passes Away

Dr. John Motley, Director of the St. Francis College Choir
for 14 years passed away May 22 after a long illness. In the
1960’s, as Director of Music for the New York City Public Schools,
Dr. Motley formed the All City Concert Choir. For two decades, the
group sang at venues like Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall and
Lincoln Center; for dignitaries including President Jimmy Carter,
Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, Pope John Paul II and Mayors Abe
Beame and John Lindsay; and with musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and
opera singers Marian Anderson, William Warfield and Camilla
Williams.

Please continue to check the College website for news of a
memorial with members of the All City Concert Choir in the
fall.

Longtime friend and Chancellor of St. Francis College, Frank
Macchiarola brought Dr. Motley to St. Francis when he was President
of the College to head the choir. “He showed so many of us the
positive impact music can have on a young person’s life,” said Dr.
Macchiarola.

Dr. Motley stayed at St. Francis for the past 14 years, reaching
thousands of graduates, alumni and faculty with Christmas concerts
and performances at commencements, charter days and other College
functions. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts by the
College in 2002.