New Berlin, N.Y. & Nashville, Tenn. - John Robert Larchar passed away at his home in Nashville, Tennessee Jan. 7, 2019 after a prolonged struggle with heart disease. Twin cousins, Sharon and Douglas Fowler formerly of Earlville, were born at the former New Berlin Hospital, the same day as John, Jan 25, 1940. John’s parents, John Hopkins Larchar and Alzina Mary Henderson, and the Fowler twins predeceased him. Sadly, John’s first two children predeceased him, an infant daughter and a son, John Howard Larchar born to him and his first wife, Sue Ellen Albright Silbert, presently of Parsippany, N. J.
John is survived by his wife Sarah Benson; his mother’s sister, Florence Delameter of Oneonta, N.Y.; his sister, Marianne E. Larchar of New Hampshire, and brother William U. Larchar of Columbus, NY. John leaves his beloved children, Amanda Jane Larchar Collins, and her daughters; his son, Christian Michael Larchar (Campbell) of Nashville, both children of John and his second wife, Nancy Wunder. Unknown to John, he leaves a daughter of his deceased son, John Howard Larchar, Lauren Elizabeth Maxwell MacIntyre, of Morristown, N.J.; and many nieces, nephews and cousin.
John’s generously happy spirit, his beautiful tenor voice, astonishing gifts of music at the keyboard and every other instrument he picked to play prompted seeking a BS in Music from Ithaca College, after his 1957 New Berlin Central School graduation. Following their 1961 college graduation, Susie and John married and taught public school music. John auditioned for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, with invitation to return to replace their retiring concert bass player. But soon, John relocated to Nashville, Tenn, becoming a song writer, literary writer, and blue-collar entrepreneur in Music City. John’s business ventures, driving taxi and tractor-trailer, established reliably prosperous incomes while he worked in the music studio.
John’s venture experiences provided rich capitol for his songs and publication of a book describing what he saw dealing with tourists, businessmen, and notable country music stars. All are described in a simply straightforward, shockingly honest way, as they revealed themselves. Some were astonishingly unimpressed with status, wealth or fame; while others, were surprisingly graceless people. In his last chapter, John describes his transcendent joy, then woeful disappointment when one of his songs won the CMA Song of the Year Award.
John’s easy friendship and quick smile, his exuberantly happy manner, and his gracious kindness with everyone, as well as the music he loved so well, he has taken with him. He and his gifts slipped quietly away, and we became poorer for it. We will surely miss you, John.