Passing of Larry Clements, Habonim Organist 1969-2015We are saddened to announce the recent passing of Larry Clements, long time organist at Habonim, from 1969-2015. Larry’s dedicated service to Habonim lasted 46 years, and spanned some 6 decades. He was our longest serving employee.
From Eli RubensteinI have many fond memories of Larry, sitting at the organ in our old shul, playing happily - and faithfully - all the Jewish melodies he had learned from synagogue members and our various cantors over the years.
I remember Larry and Holocaust survivor Albert Feldman, Habonim’s cantor from
1954 to 1998, rehearsing for each and every service they performed at Habonim, where they kept alive and did justice to the elegant melodies of the German liberal tradition. Before Albert retired, near the end, he became forgetful, so Larry put the page numbers of the siddur in his music so that he could tell Albert what page we were on.
Larry also worked closely with Esther Ghan Firestone our Cantor from 1985-2015. And although they had their musical disagreements from time to time, they were both very fond of one another and enjoyed working with each other.
I can still remember Larry lugging heavy binders of pages and pages of sheet music to shul for the High Holidays when he was working with Esther and Albert. (Incidentally, Larry at one point began fasting every year on Yom Kippur because as part of our congregation, he also felt part of the Jewish faith. He later joked that he also fasted because he especially enjoyed breaking the fast when Yom Kippur finished!)
Larry felt a very close kinship with the Jewish people and their faith. As he told Lisa Catherine Cohen, Habonim’s biographer, in an interview some years ago: "It’s funny, they say that I am more Jewish than they (the members) are because I’m here at all the services.” He went on to say: "We are all really serving one God, whether we are Jewish or we are Christian. So much of the Jewish influence shows up in the Anglican service, it’s unbelievable! For instance, they read a portion of the Old Testament in the church service and so much of the New Testament refers back to the Old Testament because of the fact that Jesus was a Jew and therefore the preacher always quotes Old Testament theology. There is an important relationship between Christians and Jews.”
I will always remember Larry’s good cheer, angelic smile, endless patience, kindly temperament and commitment to Habonim and our musical traditions. As Habonim continues to thrive for more than 70 years, it is in no small measure due to the sincere and genuine dedicated service of our beloved Larry Clements.
Please click
HERE to see eloquent Toronto Star article on the role Larry Clements played at Habonim written by Rabbi Reuben Slonim. It was published on July 27, 1974.
From Samantha Goldman (Habonim President from 2004 to 2009)Larry was a kind sensitive man who truly was an important contributing member of our Habonim family for many years. You knew that Larry was in the sanctuary when walking in to the magical sounds of the organ playing. It was always a giggle to watch the sideway looks and discussions between Larry and Esther during services. They often had different views on which key the song was to be played in. Larry was very proud of the role he played at Habonim and was lovingly dedicated to our clergy and members.
Please see link below for his memorial service which will take place on Sat. January 27 at 11:00am at Church of St. Bride, 1516 Clarkson Road North in Mississauga.
https://www.basicfunerals.ca/obituaries/lawrence-clementsAlso please see images of Larry taken in 2012, when he was honoured together with Esther Ghan Firestone & Eli Rubenstein at a special tribute evening organized by Habonim.
