Spitzer marks 65th year on TSO board
By Tom Szor
Special to Toledo Free Press
When the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle opened its doors with a 1933 inaugural concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra, 15-year-old John Spitzer was there. He was so spellbound by the performance, he pushed his way to the front of the house to better capture the glorious sonorities. Since that day, he has offered substantial support to the Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO).
Spitzer, president of the Spitzer Company, has served a continuous 65 years as a trustee. He said his connection is not only one of civic obligation but a genuine appreciation for the end result.
“I simply love music,” he said.
Although he said he never formally studied music, he remembers that his father, Lyman, always brought a phonograph along on family vacations to play classical music records. Spitzer's first wife, Lucy, was a pianist and active in music circles. After her death he remarried, and his second wife, Vondah, also had a keen interest in things musical. An affinity for the people involved with the orchestra, on the creative and managerial sides, helped deepen his involvement.
“I just went with the flow,” he said.
What does it take to sustain an entity like a symphony orchestra?
“Believe me, there were times when we were on the brink of collapse, flat broke, and always, it seemed, a guardian angel would come to the rescue,” Spitzer said.
He was president of the fledgling orchestra in those early days and rallied others to follow his lead. Prominent Toledoans whose support was pivotal to the early development of the orchestra were Jules Lippman, Emma Kountz, William Block, Steven Stranahan and Marvin Kobacker, to name a few. The internal dynamic of having these influential forces on the board of trustees, matching each other's contributions made for a usually ever-“green” endowment fund, Spitzer said.
When asked what the future will hold for the orchestra, he said, “I don't have a crystal ball. The endowment now, I think, is better than ever. Richard Anderson and others are doing yeomen's work in that regard on behalf of the organization.”
He said there should be pressure on community leaders to support a quality cultural product like the TSO and warned, “It could all melt away in a hurry.”
Kathleen Carroll, executive vice president of development for the TSO, said she knows how important Spitzer is to the organization.
“His level of commitment to the orchestra over six decades has been unsurpassed,” she said. “Not only are we grateful for his stewardship but also for the personal partnerships he has formed with all those involved.”
Robert Bell, president and CEO of the TSO, commended Spitzer.
“To the organization he has been uncommonly faithful,” Bell said. “John Spitzer was president of the orchestra in the 1950s, and his leadership set the tone for its success in the decades following.”
Spitzer goes to work every day to put in half of a workday. Until recently, he attended every TSO subscription concert. Now he goes on certain occasions. He was, however, among the 1,000-plus souls who braved an ice storm Dec. 9 to hear the annual “Messiah” concert at the Peristyle.
As for the fiscal health of the TSO, Spitzer said with a chuckle, “The Lord will provide.”
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