The passing early Friday of Jay Craven "is the end of era" on the local music scene, says Bob Bernhardt, music director emeritus of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera.
"He was one of the most important and influential musicians in our community for more than half a century," Bernhardt said.
For many, it is hard to imagine Craven without his clarinet. In addition to his roles over the decades with the CSO, he volunteered at area hospitals, particularly at Memorial Hospital, where he played his clarinet to help ease the pain and bring peace to those battling illness.
"He was special and the thing that stood out to me was that it was clear he was here doing God's work," says Betsey Runyan, manager of guest services at Memorial. She is in charge of volunteers at the entrances and in the cardiac and day surgery waiting areas where Craven like to play his clarinet.
"He did not do this for himself, but it gave him such joy to come in here and play," she said.
Jean Payne, director of volunteer services at Memorial, said very often family members of patients in private rooms would come out and ask Craven to come into a room to play and visit with their sick loved one.
"Sometimes he couldn't play because he'd spend time talking and catching up because everyone knew him either as a former student or they had heard him play somewhere."
Those same people often asked for a copy of his music to take home and it was from those requests that he conceived the idea of recording a CD of his music. All proceeds went back to the hospital's Auxiliary program or other services. That first CD, "Melodies from Memorial," was intended to be one-time recording but became a six-CD series.
Founder of the Chattanooga Clarinet Choir, Jay Craven.Craven began volunteering at Memorial in 1999 but didn't start playing his clarinet there until 2003. Over the years, he served many roles, leading volunteer and fund-raising groups, but it was through his music that he perhaps made the biggest impact. He wrote in the liner notes of his sacred recording that performing at the hospital meant the most to him of all else that he had done.
"Everybody here loves Jay and we are so thankful his family shared him with us," Payne said. "He impacted so many lives and I know mine has been changed from knowing him"
Craven also served as minister of music at Westminster Presbyterian Church and he founded the Chattanooga Clarinet Choir. He also taught music at Chattanooga High School.
Bernahrdt said his reach went far and wide.
"Whether he was conducting our youth orchestra or playing principal clarinet in the CSO, or volunteering at Memorial Hospital, Jay brought his wonderful outgoing, humble and genuine personality to everything that he did," Bernhardt said.
"He taught generations of students and brought great music to our town, and he was my friend and I miss him dearly already."
Dan Bowers, now president of local arts advocacy organization, ArtsBuild, first met Craven while working at Memorial.
"Jay was quintessential Chattanooga – talented, sacrificial, uplifting – the real deal! The lives he touched through his music and his character are countless. Our community is a better place because of Jay Craven."