Parishioner Spotlight: John Spain, Senior Warden
Spotlight on John Spain, Senior Warden
Hometown: Born in Florence, Ala. (northwest corner of the state); at age 6 months moved across the river to Sheffield where he grew up.
Family: Wife of 50-plus years, Bonnie Keller; daughter, Jennie; son, Barry and two grandchildren Keller and Wesley.
Church Affiliation: “My name is John Wesley Spain so I had to be a Methodist. My grandfather was a Methodist minister in Oklahoma before it was a state. I became an Episcopalian in my early 30s when I had an [organist] church job at All Saints in Mobile, Alabama.”
Profession: Information Technology, church musician.
Let’s talk music, because you decided very early that it had to be a part of your life. How old were you when started piano lessons?
I was 6. The little, old lady with 17 cats who lived across the street taught piano. I also had piano lessons with our church organist. Mother would set the timer on the stove and say, “This is how long you have to practice.”
When did you switch to organ?
My first grade teacher, Ms. Grace Jones, was the organist in our church. I was fascinated with the instrument. When I got to the point where I could take organ lessons in high school, I did and decided that’s what I wanted to do.
Isn’t it a complicated instrument to play?
I don’t remember ever struggling with it. The most complex things are what are called trios, where each hand is on a different keyboard and your feet are going in different directions. It’s really more coordination.
So, Bonnie is another keyboard person. When did you two meet?
We were both music majors at Birmingham-Southern College and dated off and on through college. We married between undergraduate and graduate schools. Literally, we got married on Saturday, drove to Cincinnati. Bonnie started grad school [at the College-Conservatory of Music] on Monday. Our honeymoon was 25 years later.
You’ve had quite a few part-time jobs as a church organist, but what eventually became your main career?
Information Technology. I first worked as a bank teller for 5/3 and moved to computer operations. When we moved back to Mobile in 1979, I worked for First National Bank, monitoring their ATM system and did systems programming. Did the same work for Mobile Infirmary, then a life insurance company, which was purchased by American Financial. That brought us back to Cincinnati, where I worked in various IT positions for an American Financial subsidiary until I retired. I also started helping Bonnie with the Cincinnati Boychoir Training Choir she conducted. That evolved into becoming Director of Operations for the Boychoir until three years ago.
How many church organist jobs?
Over a 50-year period: two in college; three in Cincinnati the first time here; three in Mobile and three in Cincinnati the second time. The last was at St. Anne Episcopal Church in West Chester where I was for 18 years until about three years ago when I retired. That’s when we decided to attend All Saints after some church shopping.
You must enjoy finally just sitting in the pew with Bonnie during church. Anything you miss about being the organist?
Playing hymns is probably one of my favorite things to do.
Being Senior Warden comes with a lot of responsibility. What made you want the job?
I’ve always worked for the church and gotten paid. I thought it was time to give back, and I felt there were things I could offer All Saints.
We have to talk about all the musical hardware in your living room, because you both still love to play. Give a rundown.
Two grand pianos, one 6 foot and the other 7 foot. A digital organ that takes up a space about 5 feet by 5 feet. And there’s a chair.
How much has it meant to have a partner who loves music as much as you do?
I don’t know anything else. I think it would be very difficult if my partner wasn’t interested or intensely disliked the kind of music I like.
What is your perfect evening:
A lovely dinner out with Bonnie, then a symphony or chamber music concert.
Something that most people don’t know about you?
My first full-time job was in Pleasant Ridge in 1972, working at the now-defunct Burger King when I was in graduate school. I was the only employee, aside from the manager, who had finished high school so I made a nickel more an hour than the others.
What’s on your bucket list?
To attend Evensong in the chapel at King’s College in Cambridge, England.