Morristown Unitarian Fellowship Seventieth Anniversary, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ (2026)

02/02/2026

Women Founders: A Tale Partly Told
The flavor of the era was captured when the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship reported the names of women involved in early roles. Eleanor Mason, secretary of the steering committee that led the Fellowship’s organization, was reported as Mrs. R.W. Mason.

That was typical of the period when the women were hidden behind the title “Mrs” in the public record and the tale of the women founders is harder to fell than the stories of the men in an era in which many women did not work outside the home

Woman held key roles in the steering committee and its operating committees. Doris Babson (oater Thomas), a steering committee member, chaired the membership and hospitality committee appointed about the same time. Jane Steiding was named Sunday School director.

However, the activities of the women founders are faint in the public record The men left more records with public notice made of advanced degrees, promotions, and with the scientists and engineers, patents and inventions, and War Service records, including draft, enlistment and service records. There were no women scientists or engineers among the founders. Only one, Lila Youngquist, performed military service.

While women contributed heavily to non-profit and community groups. They were heavily involved in music and the arts, those endeavors were less frequently recorded, often only appearing in their obituaries.

Members of the League of Women Voters were a key constiuency for the early Fellowship. The November 1957 newsletter reported Marjorie Weggeland was president of the Morristown Chapter, while she, Judy Deutsch, Charlene Kotula and Elanor Mason, along with Jean Baker, a non founder, were members of the Individual Liberties Committee. Others who were members in other chapters including, Lila Youngquist, Dorothy Perry and Brook Zajac, while Mason helped form the first LWV chapter in Delaware.

Two female founders also played important roles in the formation of the Masterwork chorus, which began almost at the same time as the Fellowship.

When the choral organization hired David Randolph, its long-time leader, as its first conductor in November 1955, Fellowship founders Jean Merritt and Joan Wetton were on its board as was chorus founder, Shirley May, who while not a Fellowship founder, was mentioned in the January 1956 Fellowship newsletter for her involvement in Hanover Township Schools. Wetton was also on membership and hospitality committee that was formed under the steering committee.

If they were not keeping house, women were employed in occupations which women held—Dorothy Churchill and Marjorie Weggeland were teachers; Margaret Jane Steiding, a bookkeeper; Jeanne Merritt, copy editor; and Wilda Richards a medical technician.

More typically, women advanced their education and careers after children were grown. Wilda Richards Kovacs began a career in radio and moved into station management after divorcing her husband, Vincent Richards, in 1957. Years after leaving New Jersey, Lila Youngquist became executive director of the Montgomery County Medical Society.

Eleanor Mason, who had a career as a physical education instructor, became an assistant professor at Drew University, but that move did not come until the 1970s. Martha Wheeler, who married photographer, Joseph Zeltsman in 1952, became a professional photographer, nationally known with the profession., but only after her marriage.

01/05/2026

The lawsuit that delayed the construction of the new building of the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship had a predecessor. n In a prior suit, another religious congregation was denied the right to construct its building on Columbia Turnpike for the same reasons that the Fellowship was sued.

The issue was an 1891 deed restricting about 70 properties on 87 acres off Columbia Turnpike and Normandy Heights Road to the construction of single-family homes. The restriction became an issue when the Jehovah’s Witnesses planned to erect a hall.

Neighbors sued, fearing development, citing the restriction that had been place in the deed by the Morristown Land and improvement company.

The restriction was upheld by Superior Court Judge Kenneth McKenzie whose ruling was the subject of a front-page article in the Daily Record of July 26, 2002—”Jehovah’s Witnesses Building Ban Upheld”.

That was not the last word in the newspaper.

Two days later, an editorial in the July 28, edition of the Daily Record was headlined “Building Ban Already Violated Twice”, pointing to the establishment of the Morris Museum and the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship as being contrary to the deed restriction’s provisions.

The editorial took issue with what it said was the judge’s interpretation “the Museum and fellowship hall were compatible with the neighborhood’s charm.”

And the writer also said that the defense of such restrictions “the burden of proof should fall most heavily on defenders of the covenant to prove their motives are pure and without bias.”

Incidentally, research shows the witnesses are one of the most racially diverse denominations with 36 percent of them white, 32 percent, Hispanic, 27 percent Black and 6 percent, another race of mixed race.

The Witnesses are far more diverse than the membership of the Unitarian Universalist congregations and at a reported 1.2 million active members, much larger.

12/20/2025

Organizing: First Have a Party; Collect Mittens

Organizing: First Have a Party; Collect Mittens
The big date in Fellowship history was Dec. 18,1955 when the bylaws were approved and there was a book to sign so that after two months of operations the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship actually had members.

Even before the formalities, members were holding get-togethers—ski trips among them, and the first Fellowship newsletter, a mimeographed four-page affair was published by Marshall Deutsch, in time to promote the December 17 party at the Fellowship’s first home, the then-Morristown YMCA on South Street and Washington Street, opposite the Morris County Courthouse.

The party, held the night before the business meeting, was designed as a get-acquainted holiday party with a puppet show, carol singing and a musical program
While the party was primarily for children, adult members were invited “to attend and enjoy the fun vicariously,” according to the December newsletter.

Featured events include a puppet show to be given by Julie Doczi (daughter of founders John and Vera Doczi; carol singing to be led by Gerald Quinlan, a professional flautist; a musical program by Frances Livingston (whose family never joined), Gerald Quinlan and his son David; and the “distribution of gifts by S. Claus.”

Greeters were Charline Kotula and Denny Dalton, the 17-year-old who became the youngest founding member with decorating led by Dorothy and Larry Churchill (who became the second president).

Jane Steiding and Brooky Zajac were to collect “tickets” mittens to be hung on the tree and then distributed to needy children by the Community Chest and Council Christmas Program). Dorothy Perry and Betty Parella were to serve as the refreshments committee and invitations were mailed by Judy Deutsch, Marshall’s wife and member. No. 2

The next night, December 18, was also a busy night, featuring a brief musical program, approval of the by-laws and the singing of the membership book John Doczi led the music program which promised a selection sung by Ed Zajac, a tenor, two flute solos by Gerald Quinlan and a duet by Zajac and Doczi (a baritone).
Marsh Steiding, who became the first president in January, led the business meeting as he was chairman of the bylaws committee for the steering committee that had been running things.
Not surprisingly formulating bylaws had been complex. The December newsletter noted, “Consideration of bylaws began last week, and should be completed at the coming session. Since an attempt is being made to reconcile in the bylaws the views of all prospective Fellowship members progress is proceeding slowly and with a great deal of member participation.”
Unlike the first business meeting in 1956, which stretched to three nights, the congregation managed to adopt the bylaws and moved on to signing the membersjo[ book. As noted in a newspaper story that followed the event, Daniel Weggeland suggested Marshall Deutsch be given the honor of singing the book first because of his key role in starting the Fellowship.
The number of those signing on December 18 is complicated by the fact that Vicki Slawson’s name, given as Mrs. Slawson, was squeezed with no number between between Martha Zeltsman, No. 8, and Eugene Slawson, No. 9. The names of Gerald and Rosa Quinlan are on the first page of the membership book with no numbers so the last numbered member is No. 28, but there were 31 individuals signing on December 18.
Why certain individuals did not sign on the first day do not know. Vincent Richards, who gave the first sermon on October 30, did not sign until January 15. Dan Weggeland, who clearly seems to have attended the business meeting, signed on January 8. Brooky Zajac, Dorothy Churchill, Denny Dalton, and Charlene Kotula, who all attended the December 17 party, also signed later
The names of those who signed on December 18 follow in order of signing with dates and comments added
1. Marshall Deutsch (Aug. 17, 1921-Dec. 23, 2017) Member of the first board. A chemist and medical device inventor
2. Judith Deutch (b. 18 April 1929) Alive in New Mexico, [December 2025]. Became a UU minister after leaving Morris County. Wife of Marshall Deutsch/
3. Winfield S. Greenleaf (May 22, 1916-April 21, 2005) Chair of the steering committee. Member of the first board. A plumber and later electronic technician.
4. R. Marsh Steiding (Nov. 15, 1920-Sep. 25, 1962) The first president, serving a four-month term. A chemist and explosives expert, who was later a salesperson/
5.M. Jane Steiding (April 3, 1924-Jan. 16, 2020) The first Sunday School Director. A bookkeeper. Widowed three times. Wife of Marsh Steiding, Lee Howell Taylor and Vincent Popolizio.
6. Charles Van Cott (Sep. 18, 1906-Oct. 27, 1962) Born Charles Nathan, took his mother’s name, Van Cott. Editor of the first formal newsletter in September 1956. A newspaper editor and Thomas Paine enthusiast.
7. Joseph Zeltsman (July 17, 1908-Dec. 16, 2008) Born in Philadelphia but grew up in Romania (modern Moldova) and return to the U.S. Member of the Romania army band and Glen Miller’s Army Unit. Nationally known portrait photographer.
8. Martha Zeltsman (July 30, 1922- Nov. 2, 2006) Nationally honored photographer. Wife of Joseph Zeltsman.
Unnumbered. Signed as Mrs. Slawson. This was Vicki Slawson (July 5, 1916-June 1, 2016). This name was squeezed in between Martha Zeltsman and her husband, Eugene Slawson’s signature. Her maiden name was Anna Jadwiga Wasserman. She married Phil Barbash and died under that surname. The Slawsons often led ski trips and other outdoor activities.
9. Eugene Slawson (originally Eugeniusz Stanislaw Slawinski) (Dec. 12, 1912-Nov. 29, 1983) The Slawsons spent the World War II in Poland with forged passports showing they were Catholic. A publishing manager and linguistics expert.
10. Doris L. Babson (b. 8 April 1926) Probably alive in California, December 2025 under the name Doris Thomas. Her second husband was Albert Thomas. Employed in public relations, she chaired the membership and hospitality committee.
11. Arthur L. Babson (March 3, 1927-Oct. 16, 2016) Third Fellowship president First husband of Doris Lelong Babson. A chemist and pioneering medical device inventor
12. George Perry (Feb. 18, 1921-March 31, 1988) Member of the finance, by-laws, religious education and membership and hospitality committees. A Bell Labs Technical Aide.
13. Alfred K. Mathisen (Jan. 3, 1925-March 6, 2023) Born in Sweden, he married founder Dorothy Faulkner—the first Fellowship couple to marry. An engineer who helped design the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) .
14. Lawrence S. Churchill (June 8, 1922-Jan. 9, 1999) Second first president and first full-term president. An Engineer who worked in top-secret projects.
George E. Quinlan (Oct. 23, 1903-May 8, 1985) No numbers are by George and Rosa’s name. A high school teacher and professional musician
Rosa B. Quinlan (Jan. 22, 1905-July 27, 1994) Wife of Gerald Quinlan. A housewife.
15. John Zieger (March 31, 1898-September 1977) Born in Germany, he was kicked out of the priesthood in New York before taking final vows. A laboratory technician
16. Eleanor C. Mason (Dec. 9, 1919-Jan. 16, 2014) Eleanor was the last founder who was active in the Fellowship. First wife of Robert Mason. Known for her activity with the UN and peace activism. Physical education instructor Drew University and later assistant professor.
17. Robert W. Mason (Aug. 18, 1916-Sept. 12, 1993) One of the Fellowship’s many chemists.
18. Mrs. Grace E. Zieger (March 8, 1896-August 1965) Wife of John Zieger. A housewife.
19. Dorothy M. Faulkner (Dec. 22, 1926-Nov. 10, 2022) Worked at Picatinny Arsenal.
20. John Doczi [ordinally Janos Doczi] (Jan. 3, 1911-March 10, 1979) Chaired the music committee; later ran a chamber music concert series for 10 years. Self-taught professional chemist.
21. Vera Doczi [Born Veronica Gonda] (June 11, 1921-Aug. 9, 2016) Born in Hungary, the Doczis left Portugal on Sep. 12, 1941, using forged passports. A flute player and artist.
22. Lila H. Younguist (Jan. 23, 1921-July 24, 1979) A WAVE in World War II, she later became executive director of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Medical Society.
23. Robertson Younguist (May 16, 1916-Dec. 20, 2002) First Treasurer. Husband of Lila Youngquist. A pioneering rocket scientist and later artist.
24. Anthony J. Parella (July 9, 1921-March 23, 2015) Member of first board of directors. Name originally Luparella. A hairdresser, but later real estate developer.
25. Leslie W. Bauerle (March 22, 1928-Sep. 14, 2011) A chemistry and physics instructor who later served on the board of trustees.
26. Elizabeth M. Parella (July 12,1923-Feb. 9, 2005) Wife of Anthony Parella. The couple worked together as hairdressers.
27. Paul B. Tweed (Sep. 22, 1913-March 28, 2001) Original first name not known Middle B. is for Basset probably after his mother’s surname Basilinksy. Last name, originally, Teved] Born in Russia (Modern Ukraine). An explosives expert, he became board secretary in April 1956.
28. R. McCready [Robert] (May 16, 1911-Dec. 23, 1995) First vice president and later a president. Wrote a multi-part Fellowship history published serially in 1962 and 1963. A map editor

12/02/2025

Marshall Deutsch--the Man Who Started It All

10/23/2025

There are several important dates in the formation of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship—an organizing meeting, the first service. But one that normally would not get notice is Oct. 23, 1955—the date the steering committee held its first meeting.

That date, reported by Robert McCready in a Fellowship history that was serialized in newsletters in late 1962 and early 1963, was when the real business of organizing began. The steering committee included officers and committee chairs—a fully formed structure for operating a new organization

Winfield S. Greenleaf was chair; Eleanor Mason, secretary, Anthony Parella, secretary, and McCready, treasurer. Steering committee members with assignments included the religious education committee, chaired by Gerald Quinlan; membership and hospitality by Doris Babson, Marsh Steiding headed the by-laws committee and Marshall Deutsch was in charge of the publicity committee; Vincent Richards, the program committee; and Steiding, the publications committee.

The Fellowship had secured its home—the former Morristown YMCA building at the corner of Washington Street and Western Avenue and an outline of the next steps was given in a short article in the Daily Record of October 27 which described the plans for a brief, lay-led service and business meeting on Sunday, October, 30, which would also have a social hour. Plans were to be made for a permanent organization to replace the steering committee and the “early implementation of a Religious Education program”.

The Fellowship language of the day should be noted. Through much of the Fellowship’s early days, services were called “Meetings” and that was the phrase used in the newspaper articles that were triggered by Fellowship press releases. The Fellowship also alternated between the use of religious education, church school and Sunday School in its own records, although the first newspaper article referred to the Religious Education committee.
According to the Daily Record of November 3, the Sunday School opening was scheduled for November 11 with the the other members of the RE committee named: Dorothy Perry, as secretary and Jane Steiding, Sunday School director (As they were called in the language of the day, Mrs. George Perry and Mrs. Marsh Steiding). The school was to follow the Beacon Press (the Unitarian publishing arm) curriculum.

During this time, the organizers, particularly the Deutsches and Eleanor Mason, continued to call potential members.

In email and telephone interviews in 2015 and 2023, Judy Deutsch noted the organizations from which prospects were drawn. These included the League of Women Voters and the Morristown Cooperative Nursery School. Judy and Eleanor Mason, who helped found the LWV in Newark, Del., were members of both and Marshall noted the Deutsches had helped found the Nursery School months before their Fellowship work.

The LWV produced the largest number of founders, including Mason, Deutsch, Dorothy Churchill, Dorothy Perry, Joan Wetton and Lila Youngquist. Also named as “Fellowship participants” in the first newsletter were LWV first vice president, Lee Bell, and Frances Livingston, who did not join the Fellowship, while LWV president, Marjorie Olsen “attended one of our meetings [as services were called]”

Other connected organizations, included the newly formed Masterwork Chorus. Jean Merritt and Joan Wetton were among the founding board members of the Masterwork chorus when it hired its first conductor in November 1955 and Stuart Lloyd and Ted Newlin were also members of that body—the December 1955 newsletter noted five Fellowship members also sang with Masterwork.

Founders also became acquainted with each other in their work places. Marshall Deutsch, Arthur Babson and John Doczi all chemists, worked at Warner-Chilcott—which would become Warner Lambert. Larry Churchill, Stuart Lloyd, Edward Zajac and George Perry were employed by Bell Laboratories. Greenleaf’s letter and a follow on by Deutsch on October 17 said Unitarianism had a special appeal to “engineers, scientists and other professional men”, There would be a lot of those when the congregation formally organized. Paul Tweed and Marsh Seiding did not work at the same company but both were involved with explosives—Tweed at Picatinny Arsenal and Steiding at the Hercules Powder Co. at one point (but not when the Fellowship was organized).

Known Unitarians in the group were John and Vera Doczi, George and Dorothy Perry, and Robert and Evelyn McCready. In fact, Mason, in her memoirs in the Fellowship; library, said she met Judy Deutsch, at a service at the Summit UU Church (then called the Community Church, now named the Beacon UU Church). Judy asked, “Would you like to help start a fellowship closer to home?” Mason reported she replied ”Let’s do it” and Mason said she and the Deutsches “phoned a long list of people.”

10/12/2025

It was 70 years ago today, as the Beatles might say, that an article appeared in the Oct. 11, 1955 edition of Daily Record, headlined “Unitarianism Talk Topic on Next Tuesday..
It carried a picture of Munroe Husbands, the pied piper of the Fellowship movement, who was to talk about the denomination at a gathering on October 18 at the Community Room of the Morristown Trust Co. The article gave a general description of Unitarianism and at the end, informed readers to contact, Marshall Deutsch, Franklin Village, for further information
This was the first public notice that led to the formation of what was then called the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship later that year.
The effort started in a letter on May 12 when Deutsch wrote to the Rev. Richard Gibbs, saying he and wife Judy were not interested in joining the Congregation of the Larger Fellowship
“We are interested in joining one of two not-so-distant local churches and before long we hope to participate with some of our many local Unitarian friends in the formation of a Morristown Unitarian Fellowship.” Deutsch wrote.
Husbands responded in a letter dated May 13 and included an organizational guide and then June 24 informed Deutsch he would be traveling to several states to form Fellowships
Husbands stayed with the Deutsches to plan the speaking event and the American Unitarian Association issued a press release and Deutsch issued press releases, with one from Deutsch to the record on October 10 noting the effort to formally Fellowship
It was part of an orchestrated publicity campaign
On October 12, the day after the article about Husbands’ appearance was covered, the Daily Record wrote a letter to the editor from Winfield Greenleaf noting he had read about the planned event and relating that Unitarianism had a special appeal to engineers, scientists “and other professional men”.
There was a small advertisement on the same page with the headline “Who Are These Unitarians?”, one of the stock sermons Husbands delivered over several years
On October 17, a letter of the editor was published under Deutsch’s name in which he reported, he had read Greenleaf’s letter.
We know these things because besides the newspaper articles, Deutsch kept copies of all the correspondence between the AUA and him and the press releases and letter to the editor he wrote.
And there was no accident about Greenleaf’s having written a letter—he would play a key role after Husband’s gave his talk.
The ball was rolling.

Jersey

09/26/2025

The reasons people resign from religious institutions are as numerous as people.
But founders Don and Margaret Weggeland chose one that stands out. it was not out of anger—the Weggelands chose to remain friends of the Fellowship

They resigned because of their concern for racial equality. The couple reasoned that one barrier to creating a more equitable world is whites and blacks do not mix enough in daily living, and they wanted to do something about it.

On April 28, 1964, Dan wrote to Larry Churchill, chairman of the membership committee, “After careful thought on this subject and discussions with Reverend James Coleman of the Calvary Baptist Church; Morristown, Marjorie and I have decided to participate actively in the program of this church.”

Their letter does not say they actually joined the black church, and Dan said the couple would remain Unitarian.

For Dan (1910-1989) and Marjorie (1921-1998), this was the latest in their commitment to racial equality.

Their background was not one that might be expected for individuals who were born in heavily Mormon Utah. Dan’s grandfather, Danforth Weggeland (1827-1918), is considered the founder of Utah/Mormon art and painted portraits of many Mormon pioneers and murals on the walls of Utah temples, including the one in Salt Lake City.

They were also involved in a life-time relationship. Dan and Margery grew up within a block of each other in Salt Lake City and went to school together through elementary school and college.

Dan was a prominent federal mediator and Margery was a teacher, whose tenures included the Kent School in Summit. And whatever the sources of their money, they were affluent.

Founder Marshall Deutsch commented that in the early days “only the Kotulas and Weggelands had any money.” Newspaper articles showed they displayed some of their art holdings such as leaves out of rare Bibles and they brought original medieval art to the Fellowship for a Christmas Service. Their house (on a property diagonally across from Friends on Madison Avenue) displayed original Rembrandt etchings, Albrecht Durer’s 12 Woodcuts of “The Large Passion” and a Madonna and child by sculptor Luca della Robbia.

The amount the Weggelands contributed is not known, but when the Fellowship purchased the Normandy Heights Road property, the Weggelands joined the Kotulas in financing the purchasing of the separate lots on Columbia Turnpike.

The Weggelands invested time and money into other issues involving racial equality.
They helped purchase the site of one of the few black-owned airstrips on the East Coast (now just a field) which was turned over to public ownership in Maryland.

Dan also was a prime mover in a plan to bring African students to the United States for education. He eventually resigned from the board of trustees to work full-time on the program in an effort to raise $100,000.

However, many students were brought to New Jersey, one, Samuel Boro Kabumba (1938-2005), a Kenyan, was brought to their home in January 1961 and they financed his high school education at the elite Phillips Academy (also known as the Andover Academy.) If the goal was to educate students to return to Africa, it did not work with Kaumba, who worked in the U.S. in technology until ill health forced him to retire to his native Kenya where he died.

The full effort started in the fall of 1960 when Dan began corresponding with Kenya leader Tom mBoya. After listening to Karumba describe problems faced by other African students who came to the United States, Weggeland and the Metropolitan area UU association funded the idea of a self-help program. He also worked with Samuel Pratt, dean of Fairleigh-Dickinson University’s Madison campus and they worked with the Weggelands and the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Metropolitan district to bring over more students.

Karumba was clearly viewed as part of the family as Marjorie was recorded in Fellowship records in a statement that had him calling her “Mommy”.

The Fellowship was involved in the program. At the May 14, 1963, board meeting Dan informed members of the need for housing and employment for high school African students coming to this country. The board voted to offer rooms in the Fellowship building as fallback housing for three or four if they could find no other spaces
On June 23, 1963, it hosted a picnic for five African students, including Karumba.

There were also efforts to help African college students with transportation for holidays—especially those placed in Southern colleges

It is not known how long the Weggeland continued with the program. They sold their Madison Avenue home to Boeing Computer Services 31 June 1976 for $250,000 and this was likely when they moved to Pennsylvania where they died months apart.

09/05/2025

The Fellowship’s First Choir
For two years in the mid 1960s, the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship had its first choir, one directed by a nationally known performer and harpsichord builder

The musician, Nova-Scotia-born Claude Jean Chiasson (Nov. 2, 1912-1985) led “The Fellowship Singers: in 1963 and 1964. The one program found so far for the group—a concert in the Great Hall on May 1, 1964—featured Chiasson on a harpsichord he had constructed that same year, along with 17 singers—six sopranos, five altos three tenors and three basses.

How he came to the Fellowship job is not known. But classical music dominated Sunday services from the congregation’s founding late in 1955 and onto into the 1970s.

Chiasson was not the most famous harpsichord maker in America in the 1900s. That honor was reserved for one of his teachers, Wanda Lewandoska. But he was well-enough known that all histories of harpsichord making in the Twentieth Century, included interviews with Chiasson or mentioned his work.

Chiasson lived in Massachusetts before moving to the New York/New Jesey area with the 1940 census showing him in Cambridge, Mass., where he was employed at Notre Dame De Pitie Church. His musical career was interrupted for four years after Chiasson enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force on Dec. 22, 1942.

His picture and autograph are from a program for the dance performance in 1947, which he accompanied on the piano and appears to have been among the first important concerts in which he performed after his military service.

Chiasson differed from many harpsichord makers in that he constructed the instruments from scratch, not from a kit. He is reported to have built about 40 and some can be seen for sale via an Internet search, which shows he placed his name above the keyboards of his harpsichords

A note on the website “Reverb,” regarding the sale of one of these, said, “Because the instrument was so difficult to find in the US, Chiasson would build his own for performances and then leave them behind at the venue.” This note gives him major credit for the revival of the harpsichord in the United States.

The AI Review from a Google search reports “Chiasson's work left a significant mark on the early music revival and is still accessible on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.”

A New York Times review of Sept. 4, 1953, about a concert in Carnegie Recital Hall (now called Weill Hall) referred to Chiasson as one of the very few musical artists to perform in public on instruments of their own construction. (The review also called his playing “dry”. The other musicians in the concert played violin, cello and oboe).

His discography includes the album Elizabethan Love Songs" with tenor Hugues Cuénod and French Masters of the Harpsichord, which can be found on YouTube. He also recorded an album of music of composer François Couperin and of George Phillip Telemann and Wolfgang Mozer in an album “Mozart/Telemann”, and “Five Centuries of Spanish Song”.

Chiasson may have been a paid director at the Fellowship. The Indiana University book, “Harpsichord in America”, which features an extensive interview with him, stated “Chiasson moved to New Jersey to work as an organist-choirmaster. After two years, he gave up this position to devote his time to piano and harpsichord teaching, some concerts, and a continuation of his avocation building harpsichords.

But he remained a friend of the Fellowship and continued to perform in concerts there. However, there was no choir for several years after his departure.

Morristown Unitarian Fellowship Seventieth Anniversary

02/02/2026

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12/20/2025

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