I am kama'aina living on the mainland.  I just learned of Mr. McCreary's passing.  Mr. McCreary was our choir director at St. Andrew's Priory; we were his first choir at the Priory. He was a fabulous choir teacher, and we all adored him.  He is one of my happiest memories from high school.  D. Yoder, Priory Class of 1964

I was very sad when I heard John had passed away. I am honored to have known him and his family who were always welcoming and full of spirit and aloha.

My heart and most sincere thoughts are with Betsy, Susie, Kendall and ‘ohana. Me ke aloha pumehana.

We have so many memories of John that it would be difficult to know exactly where to start.  Basically, he was a star from heaven who hopefully will have returned to the milky way after achieving so much success as an organist, choirmaster, family man and social expert dispensing wonderful camaraderie all around himself, family and friends and his dear wife Betsy.  Dreamboat suited her so admirably.  Behind every good man is all I need say.  John so appreciated everyone and expressed himself with humour and a magnetic attraction which was unstoppable.  

Inga and I are devastated to hear of his departure and were hoping to return to Hawaii before all our friends moved on.  John was probably the first to go.  Pearl is still alive and kicking but living now in the San Diego region with her daughter and grandson adopted by Becky, her lovely daughter.  Dale is now on the mainland with Alice in Santa Barbara but Judy and Bob Joseph are still on the Oahu as is the wonderful Wanda.  We are told that John was struggling during his last couple of years  and hard though it is to swallow, I guess most things generally work out ultimately for the best.

I remember how enthusiastic John was about almost everything apart from his organ playing.  Here the enthusiasm was honed into genius.  I have happy memories of us scuba diving with Sir David and Lady Willcocks on their visit in the early 90s.  Last week I saw them both very briefly.  David is still as upright as ever but not playing the organ or keyboard any more.  He's 93 with a surviving elder brother who has just celebrated his 101st birthday.

Anyhow I'm attaching one picture as a reminder of our time together.

Lots of love all round

Carl and Inga

We have lost a musical genius, but his songs will remain in my heart forever.  God bless your family always.  John, thank you for all the beauty you left us.

To the McCreary family: Our lives were so enriched by John's music. We so appreciate the way he joyfully shared his music. We loved his organ 
solo at the Windward Choral Society Christmas concert. We loved his beautiful hymn, "Na Ke Aua Oe e Kia'i. We loved his Halloween concert of "Hunch Back of Notre Dame." So much energy, and love in His music. 
   I'm sure he is now rejoicing with the author of all music. Our love to you at this time of your loss.

John and Janet Sharp
Mililani, HI

There are some people who have a great influence on one's life and changes it forever - John McCreary was one of those for me.  "Mr. Mac" was the choir director at ‘Iolani while I was there in the choir from 1972 to 1981.  From 4th grade until I graduated 9 years later, I was mesmerized by his incredible organ virtuosity as well as his love for music.  

He was my first musical influence at 9 years old, exposing me to classical worship music, the depth and complexity of harmony, and the power that a musical instrument and a trained voice can have in the hands of the right person.  For a while, Mr. Mac and his wife took me under their wing and gave me free singing lessons, an invaluable gift.  I remember him playing this incredible (and I mean unbelievable!) piece he would often play after chapel services and watching not only his hands dance across the keyboard, but his feet do things that I thought feet weren't meant to do.  What a blessing it was to be able to stand right next to him and watch him absolutely shred that keyboard to pieces!  I can still hear his playing in my head today like it was yesterday.  When the movie Rollerball was popular, he would always play Bach's Toccata In D Minor for us when we asked, and it sounded exactly perfect!  

There's even the memories of him bending his baton almost to breaking when us kids would get out of line, and the one time he actually broke it (I was still in elementary school)!  After it broke, he walked out of the room and we felt awful, so we started to sing one of his pieces to say "Sorry" and we left the room.  He then let us know how touched he was by that, and that brought us all together in a powerful way.

The choral pieces he composed were also magnificent - the one I remember was O Ship of State - sorry if I did not remember the title correctly.  There's so many beautiful memories of him conducting us at concerts - especially at St. Andrews Cathedral - and the magic when it all came together just right and the joy on his face!

His love and compassion for music, God, his family, people and his choir kids is what will cement his legacy for all of us fortunate enough to have been blessed by his presence in our lives.  It is no wonder that today I'm a professional musician, playing guitar, singing, leading worship in my church, and using any chance I have to lead the younger generation forward in music. This comes, in large part, from Mr. Mac and the gift he imparted to every student he touched.  I and thousands of others are forever grateful for this man, a person of true influence, who made his life mean something by releasing a gift given to him by God into the hearts of everyone around him.  

Thanks so much, Mr. Mac!  I didn't realize it then, but the Lord used you to shape my life, and I'm forever grateful!  I can't wait to get to heaven and hear you playing the greatest pipe organ of all - the one in the throne room of God!  I'm sure you'll know exactly what to play!  I love you and will miss you - have fun with Jesus!

May all of you in his family be filled with the peace and love of the Lord, knowing that He's right there with you to carry you through this time.  He will never leave nor forsake you!  I am crushed right now that I cannot attend the funeral, but Jesus will be there with you.  John McCreary was truly a great man, and he will be sorely missed!

Sincerely and with great sadness, Larry Le Lievre, ‘Iolani class of '81

OBITUARY

John Swan McCreary

March 2, 1930 – March 30, 2013

Borthwick Mortuary

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