Jerry J Critser
25 September 1932 -- 09 July 2022

Jerry Critser was 89 years old when he passed away. He was predeceased
by his friend Stanley Bakewell with whom he lived for decades.

Jerry was an avid lover of the theater organ and very active in those
circles since the 1950s. He was also passionate about European operetta
and could talk very knowledgably about that genre of music. Jerry was
a long-time member of AMICA and owned three Ampico pianos.

Active in pipe organ circles, Jerry learned that Bob Johnson had
obtained the entire remaining stock and masters for the Welte
Philharmonic pipe organ that had previously belonged to W. W. Kimball
in Chicago. Jerry negotiated and purchased the entire collection.

Jerry, who related great stories, shared that the purchase involved
a rental truck which when loaded would exceed weight limits on highways,
so Jerry drove from Georgia to Chicago using only secondary roads to
avoid all weigh stations.

Arriving at his mother's home, he passed more than 3,000 Welte
Philharmonic rolls through a basement window since his mother did not
approve of his purchase. His Welte-Philharmonic roll collection included
ink-lined rolls created on the recording machine sent from Freiburg I B.
to New York when the company was still M Welte & Sons, Inc.

Jerry was articulate until the end of his life, his body frail with age
but his mind remaining sharp. When we saw Jerry in May 2022 he still
told many colorful stories that make me smile to this day. Jerry will be
missed by those who knew him. Rest in peace my friend.

Mark Reinhart
Charles Town, West Virginia

 [ Jerry Critser and Mark Reinhart in front of Jerry's Welte-Philharmonic roll changer
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/22/09/10/220910_015912_Jerry%20Critser%20+%20Mark002.jpg 

 [ Jerry Critser in England
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/22/09/10/220910_015912_Jerry%20Critser%20England015.jpg 

 [ Jerry Critser as a child
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/22/09/10/220910_015912_Jerry%20Critser016.jpg 

 [ Obituary published at
 [
https://obituaries.neptunesociety.com/obituaries/downers-grove-il/jerry-critser-10845938 
 [ -- Robbie