Mission Statement

The Jazz Education Connection of Ohio (JECO) welcomes all interested in the creating, learning and enjoying of jazz in the state of Ohio. JECO seeks to provide membership with resources to better enable and enrich their jazz interests. Individuals from all levels of expertise, abilities and age are welcome into JECO's ranks.

A good friend and a person who laid the groundwork for the Jazz Education Connection of Ohio recently passed away and in tribute JECO posts his obituary on the front page of the website.

Tom Croghan served the International Association for Jazz Education since it's founding and served as an officer in the state unit for a number of years. A memorable event of Tom's tenure as president was his hosting of the Ohio IAJE "Jazz In Our Own Backyard" jazz festival at the Richland Academy in Mansfield.

Tom also was the recipient of a Lifetime Acheivement Award by JECO in 2009.

Following is his obituary...

MANSFIELD- Tom Croghan lived his life actively guided by the “Fourfold Philosophy of the American Youth Foundation” -- mental, physical, social and religious.  He tried to keep these four areas of his life in balance. Tom made friends in all areas he pursued - through his medical practice, music, philanthropy, tennis, golf and in his effort to expand cultural opportunities in the Mansfield area.  Saddened by such a loss, the greater Mansfield area will always remember and continue to blossom from Tom’s dedication and commitment to the community.  On Sunday morning, he passed away at home. He was 70.

Tom was born at home on October 7, 1939 in Dayton to James E. and Eva (Herbst) Croghan.

Always excelling academically, he graduated from Roosevelt High School in Dayton where he was named “Outstanding Graduate of 1957” among all Dayton schools. Very active in many school activities, Tom represented his school at Buckeye Boys State and Camp Miniwanca. 

On a blustery December 17, 1960 he married Judith Nosker (his 8th grade sweetheart).  Together they raised four children.

He graduated from his beloved Otterbein College in 1961 and The Ohio State Medical School in 1965.

Captain Croghan served in the U.S. Air Force at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida from 1965 to 1967.   He returned to Ohio to begin a four-year OB-GYN residency at Mt. Carmel, Columbus.  He joined Mansfield OB/GYN practice of George Evans, Bill Schamadan and George Loesch in 1972, retiring in 2002. He enjoyed the challenge of staying current in the obstetrical field.

Maintaining an active life, Dr. Croghan was a doubles tennis champion in the Mansfield News Journal tournament.  Trophies from golf and tennis decorated his music room.  He was a certified scuba diver and also enjoyed windsurfing.  He and his wife Judy spent their best times together traveling to 35 countries throughout the world. As part of his medical outreach, he gave lectures on healthy eating and exercise.

Music was a part of Tom’s life beginning at age four and he continued to play until just a few weeks before passing.  He named his band “Tom Croghan and Friends”-- everyone he played with was truly his friend.  Tom greatly enjoyed learning, playing, arranging and sharing his passion for music.  His continuous growth in this area helped keep him vibrant and fulfilled.  Always seeing music as a way to connect with people of all ages, it was through this outlet he could be a student, teacher, performer, arranger and producer.  All of these allowed him to continue one of his true loves as a “jazz enthusiast.”

Using music as a bridge to build relationships and life lessons, Tom enjoyed developing young talent here in Mansfield.  For approximately 8 years he initiated, assembled faculty and taught at the Richland Academy Jazz Camp.  From 1998 to 2003 he initiated and produced the Ohio Young Talent Program which resulted in a professionally recorded CD.  He was very honored to teach at the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshop in Louisville, KY. He took many of his students to jazz workshops and conventions throughout the country.

Tom was one of many who were instrumental in the founding of the Renaissance Theatre.  He also co-founded the Richland Academy and was director of the music program and taught piano, improvisation and music theory-composition.  Tom was the founder of the Jazz Society of North Central Ohio and Mansfield Richland County Arts Council.  He also served on the Board of Trustees for the Richland County Foundation.

During his high school years, he was choir director and organist for his church in Dayton.  As he moved to various communities, he was actively involved in religious activities.  He played the organ for services at the Mt. Carmel Chapel.  Upon moving to Mansfield, he was active in the Mansfield church community.  A special activity for him was the Wednesday Morning Men’s Breakfast.

 Tom is survived by his loving wife of 49 years Judy Croghan of Mansfield; four children Jeffrey Croghan (Carmen), Kathleen Croghan, Karen Duffey (Tim), and Michael Croghan (Jessica); Eight grandchildren Ross and Maggie Croghan, Austin and Lavinia Abbott, Mackenzie and Evan Duffey and George and Jack Croghan; a special “adopted” exchange student from Finland, Antti Rissanen; siblings Patricia Monroe (Bill), Robert Croghan (Pam), Dennis Croghan (Sharon), siblings-in-law Mikie Barger, David Nosker (Barbara) and Sam Nosker (Mary), along with numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.




A message from Scott Garlock, JECO President

November 17, 2009

Dear JECO Member,

I would like to thank you for supporting JECO in its first year as a charter member. The current board has been very, very busy getting JECO off the ground and would like to have this serve to let you know of our doings and to let you know what to expect in the near term future.

We now have a formal Board of Directors in place—thanks to both the individuals who have chosen to serve and to those of you that have unanimously voted them into place.  We are proud of the work we’ve done to make JECO a reality and to establish a good foundation for the organization. With the election of this board, we move into another phase where we will seek and implement a number of new initiatives that will help us better serve those interested in enjoying, performing and teaching of jazz in Ohio. The board members follow:

NameLocationArea of ExpertiseSub Area
Brett BakerClevelandHS EdInstrumental
Jeff BoehmFindlayCollege ProfMus Ed
Bill BurnsDaytonElem EdGen Music
Edward FelsonCincinnatiMus IndArtists
Scott GarlockAshlandCollege ProfTbn/Improv
Mark GridleyHeidlebergCollege ProfJazz History
Linda JacksonGreenwichHS EdVocal
Jeremy LongOxfordCollege ProfJE/Sax
Al ManiscalcoChicagoMusic IndustrySax
Jay MigliaColumbusCollege ProfJE/Sax
Bev MontieClevelandMusic IndustryArtists
Mike ParkinsonAthensCollege ProfJazz/Trumpet
Emily PlummerSpartaMS/HS EdVocal/Gen
Judy ShaferColumbusArts AdminIntegrating Arts
Kelly ShellhammerColumbusHS EdInstrumental
George ShernitMillersburgMusic IndustryJupiter Sax
Michael ShirtzColumbusCollege ProfVocal
Bradley SowashColumbusPianoTeacher Training


These individuals will soon occupy various committees and offices—please email us/them and let us know what/how you want us to precede. We truly are a grass roots organization still in its infancy, and one that is very much interested in providing you with the best organization that we can.


As part of our agreement with OMEA, JECO members can attend the OMEA conference without having to be members of OMEA for the 2010 and 2011 conventions. Therefore, JECO members can attend this annual soiree for the next two years at a savings of over $200 (it does bear mentioning that there is a $95 fee to attend the convention that all attendees must pay). The PDF for attending the convention as a JECO member is attached—please note that in order to receive this perk, you’ll need to pre-register.  We’d love to have as many of our members use this perk as possible, to not only visit with you, but to also have you participate in our annual meeting, Saturday, Jan. 30th at 9:45.  Other highlights from the convention include the JECO sponsored clinic by Jamey Aebersold, and the JECO Intercollegiate Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. David Morgan (YSU), featuring John Fedchock on trombone.  We hope to see you there at our booth!


Among our other activities include preparing articles for the Jazz focus TRIAD, where we’ll have five or so of our members preparing articles. We will continue to maintain a regular column in TRIAD; and as a member of JECO you are invited to write for us. Another perk of our membership is the 4-6 clinics that we provide for the OMEA convention—it’s not too early to start to think about next year—we’d welcome you sharing your thoughts/concerns and expertise in these ways.  We’ll also soon be awarding this year’s winner of the JECO sponsored OH. Jazz Hall of Fame (housed at Stanton’s in Columbus).


Our memberships will be due to be renewed as of the first of the year—please go to the website to renew—please note that we are going to be ridding ourselves shortly of our credit card—in our efforts to be good stewards w/ the money you invest in us as members, we cannot currently justify paying the exorbitant credit card fees we’ e been charged to simply have this benefit any longer.


Again, many thanks to all of you for entrusting and enabling us to get off to the great start that we have.


Best,


Scott Garlock

President, JECO

Ashland University


2010 OMEA Professional Conference Registration Form for JECO Members

 


 
Copyright © 2010 Jazz Education Connection of Ohio