Harold Ash Obituary

Dear Martha, Brendan, and Stephen,

Geoffrey and I remember Harold very fondly. We spent years together at the Library of Congress. We remember meeting all of you at Christmas parties. Harold indeed lives in blessed memory.

Sarah Morgan
Geoffrey Simon

I am deeply saddened by the news of Harold´s passing. My sympathy goes out to Martha and the Ash family. Harold was special to me because much of his life centered around the piano, as does my life.

Harold will be missed.

We were fortunate enough to know Mr. Ash through his son Brendan. Over the last 20+ years, we got see his gentle love of his family and of the piano. He always greeted us with a smile and made us feel welcome.
Sending love to his wife, his sons, and his beautiful extended family and all those that grieve his loss.

Our ODU Opera for Everyone class is so sad to learn this news of Harold's passing- he was part of our group for many years and his presence will be greatly missed.

I worked with Harold at the Copyright Office. He was a very talented man and had a sly humor about him on the side. RIP

Harold Ash was a gentle soul. I´ll miss him forever. I only saw him in person 3 times, all at or because of concerts, the first time at the Staunton Early Music Festival in summer 0f 2016 and the last time for the farewell concerts of Maestra JoAnn Falletta retiring from the VSO when I also visited him and his wife at their home.

I stayed in touch with them by postcards from concert travels, mostly for Mahler´s music and the Ring Cycle. In my most recent Ring trip to Austria last May, I also sent them postcards from a few Mahler sites throughout Austria, mostly from where he lived and worked, not to mention from Mahler´s burial site. He made it very clear to me that he really appreciated those cards and email pictures.

I tried to encourage him to join me for a concert of M2 (Mahler 2nd) in DC with Michael Tilson-Thomas conducting the National Symphony last season, or concerts of M9 in both NY and again in DC next season. I also mentioned and invited him to join me in attending the annual MahlerFest in Boulder, Colorado one of these years, but he never made serious commitments citing his health issues.

I was planning to send him postcards from my trips to Dresden and Stuttgart for the Ring Cycle next year (already confirmed) and possibly from Zurich, Seattle, Bayreuth, and ROH Covent Garden, London if I´d be successful ordering the Ring tickets, not to mention the concert versions of these operas with the Dallas Symphony during the 23/24 season if the rumors I´ve heard are true. He always told me he loved receiving those postcards and the extra information and that he shared them with others.

Based on the obituary I read that came with John´s email, Mr. Ash lived a long and productive life. I did not know much about most of his accomplishments. I knew this dreadful day would come sooner or later. On the same day that I received John´s email and found out about the tragic event, I had sent him and his wife a postcard from Reno, NV during a rare non-concert trip.

I´m planning a trip to the UK including Scotland next month during which I will attend 3 Mahler concerts, in Edinburgh and London´s Proms, of M2, M3 and M7. The postcards are already prepared and ready to be mailed once I get there and I guess now Mrs. Ash will receive and read them in his loving memory.

I didn´t know about his interest in the German language until yesterday. I always addressed him as Mr. Ash. He often pleaded with me to call him just by his first name. I told him I could never do that as I was brought up being told that I should always show respect to the people who are older than me like aunts and uncles as well as family friends. Just like German, we have equivalents to the familiar "du" and formal "sie" in Farsi. I would and could never ever address my uncles as "du". Somehow, he never understood that.

When it comes to my friendship with Mr. Ash and knowing him, the only regret I have is that it lasted only 6 years. What a pity and what a huge loss for all of us who knew him.

I want to express my condolences to the Family and Friends of Mr. Harold Ash. May The Hearer of Prayer be with you in your hour of need. While it is so hard to deal with the loss of a loved one, you can take comfort in knowing God is always there for you.

Marty, Barbara and I enjoyed visiting you and Harold in your lovely home. Harold was a well educated Professional Musician and a delight in his widely known interesting fields. We know you and his family will be missing an important voice now gone.
Barbara and Joe

Aboard "Ariadne" - St. Michaels, MD (1986)

1985 Olan Mills family picture

He was a great dad, always there for us, always supportive. He lived a long, full life. I couldn´t ask for anything more. Love you dad!

I am truly sorry for your loss. I really enjoyed meeting Harold and sharing music conversations and ideas with him in the Opera for Everyone Class and after the operas. His knowledgeable and curious spirit will be missed.

I met my best friend at the VA Opera. We sat next to each other and thus started 5 years of memorable times talking, learning, and just driving around. He was curious about everyone and everything.

He was stubborn - it took 2 years for him to agree to get a large screen smart TV. But this allowed him to greatly expand his knowledge of music and world history.

He missed driving his car - we went to Wegman's (see picture) so he could get a little practice in.