Brother Plank Passes Away at 85

[Boodleboy322]

SINFONIAN ICON DAVID PLANK DIES AT 85

David T. Plank, Beta Phi (Baldwin-Wallace) '40, known by generations of
Sinfonians around the country, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2006.
He was 85. His daughter, Stephanie Plank Livengood, reported that
Brother Plank passed away at 3:00 p.m. "as he listened to his favorite
music on the Moody Bible Broadcasting Network out of Chicago."

Plank was a regular at Fraternity events such as National Conventions
and Conclaves, and was known by many Sinfonians for his classic,
music-related puns, which he would "pun" off on unsuspecting souls in
rapid-fire succession. In February 2000, he led several hundred
Brothers
in song during the largest annual gathering of Sinfonians, the Texas
Music Educators Association (TMEA) Sinfonia Sing, in San Antonio.

Plank was the composer of many Sinfonia songs, three of which are
featured in the current edition of Sinfonia Songs:
Sinfonia (Sing, Brothers, Sing) (p.26)
Sing of Sinfonia (p.30)
Sinfonia Grace (p.85)

National President Richard Crosby commented, "This is truly a sad day
for all Sinfonians. No Sinfonian lived and breathed music every day of
his life more than David Plank. He will be sorely missed - but even
though he has left us physically, his spirit will be with us always
through his fraternal songs. I will always remember his spirit when I
sing 'Sing of Sinfonia.'"

Executive Director Ryan Ripperton added, "David has always been the
most
unconditionally enthusiastic Sinfonian I've ever met. Never one to be
involved in politics or policy, David showed up under the Sinfonia
banner over and over again, there simply to share his love of Phi Mu
Alpha Sinfonia."

On Friday, December 30, approximately forty Collegiate Province
Representatives, gathered at Lyrecrest for the annual CPR Convocation,
sang "Sing of Sinfonia" to Brother Plank by telephone after hearing
that
his health was deteriorating.

Chapters, colonies, and alumni associations are asked to sing at least
one of Plank's songs at their next meeting to remember this honorable
Sinfonian. Sinfonians everywhere are encouraged to consider a memorial
contribution to the charity mentioned in the obituary below.


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(as published in The Daily Record; Wooster, Ohio)

SMITHVILLE - David T. Plank, 85, formerly of Smithville, died Sunday,
Jan. 1, 2006, at Sunrise Assisted Living in Wooster.

Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 5, at 11 a.m. at the Gresser
Funeral Home, 415 N. Elm St., Orrville. The Rev. Ray Aspinall will be
officiating. Burial will be at the Smithville Cemetery in Smithville.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the
funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care
of
Greater Wayne County, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster 44691.

He was born March 29, 1920, in Cleveland, the son of Clarence and
Eulalia (Foss) Plank. He married Martha D. Hartzler on Dec. 26, 1943.
She died in 1990.

David grew up in Bath, Ohio and graduated from Bath High School in
1938.
He received a bachelor of arts from Baldwin Wallace College in 1942 and
a master's of music education from Oberlin Conservatory in 1949. He
shared his musical talent throughout his life and was a published
composer. David and his wife, Martha, were educators in the Medina and
Rittman school systems. For three years they lived in Iowa while David
taught music at Buena Vista College. In 1953, David and Martha built
the
Howard Johnson's Restaurant east of Wooster. The restaurant was awarded
Howard Johnson's Franchise of the Year in 1982. After 36 years in
business, they retired in 1990.

David was a member of the Smithville Brethren Church, the Smithville
Ruritan Club, The Clinton Community Band, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Fraternity.

He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie Plank Livengood and her
husband, Mark Livengood of Smithville, and a sister, Arlene Baxter of
Cuyahoga Falls.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Harry
Plank.


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>From the Desk of:
Ryan T. Ripperton, Executive Director
(800) 473-2649, ext. 107
ripperton@sinfonia.org
************************************************** *************

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity
National Headquarters
10600 Old State Road
Evansville, IN 47711-1399
(800) 473-2649

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