Maurice A. Sailly
Sailly, Maurice A. (April 8, 2018) Age 96. Beloved husband of the late Florence. Loving father to Jacqueline Sailly. He will also be missed by his granddaughter Janine Sailly. Maurice was born in Amiens, France. He was enrolled in the music conservatory at a very young age where he excelled at the trumpet. He was chosen as a member of the captain’s private orchestra during WWII, in the French Navy. He met his beloved wife one evening at a dance in 1943 when his naval vessel docked in Philly to acquire the latest radar equipment. The war then took him to Africa for 4 years. While on the open seas, he was aboard 2 different ships that were sunk in battle. He miraculously survived both, although he was not a swimmer. After the war, an American doctor at the request of his lovesick future wife, sent a letter to France which enabled him to return to the USA. Soon after, Maurice and Florence were married. Maurice became a clarinet instructor in the Philadelphia Public School system, the Settlement Music School, founded in 1908, as well as taught private lessons to his best music students throughout his career. An avid traveler he traveled to the different corners of the world with his wife and daughter, and later his granddaughter as well. Upon becoming a widower, he spent every day at the nearby cemetery bringing flowers to the gravesite where his wife was interred, befriending all the staff in the process. He was witty, outgoing and a charming fellow who loved chocolate, and Red Wine. He will be laid to rest next to his beloved Flo, at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to Maurice’s Celebration of Life Friday 4/13, 11:30am at Craft Funeral Home of Erdenheim, 814 Bethlehem Pike. Friends may visit with his family for 10-11:30am. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions in Maurice’s name may be made to American Veterans, AMVETS.ORG.
My sincere condolences..my mother is at Holy Sepulchre cemetary nearby….I marvelled at the beautiful love Mr Sailly so obviously had for his wife..I saw him with his chair & his flowers often.
I will always say a prayer as I now visit him also, if that is okay.
Maurice Sailly gave me my career. I owe him much, and was glad to speak to him in the cemetery occasionally. I am sorry to have just now learned of his passing. He will be remembered often by me. My sincerest condolences to the Sailly family. Avec profonde simpathie, adieu, mon maitre, adieu.
Murray Middleman started on clarinet at age nine in 4th Grade .
Two years later, at the age of eleven, as a 6th grad student , Murray and his Mother arrived at the Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School in Germantown, which was an exciting experience for Murray, as he heard about the great clarinet teacher from France , who taught there .
Murray was extremely nervous, and didn’t know what to expect, upon arriving at Settlement School , to meet Mr.Sailly. However , he immediately was put at ease by Mr.Sailly , who was so charming with his French accent and subtle sense of humor.
(Murray said ) As I try to look back at what struck me most about Mr.Sailly , was his ability to speak to me as an young adult , and not as a child . I now see that he must of seen a strong potential in me ,to excel as a musician, and he able to instill confidence in me ,to do the best that I could do , with my music .
One small thing that annoyed Mr. Sailly , was when I practiced to carelessly , and neglected to practice my weekly etude slowly enough . This was partly because of my quick sight-reading ability , which can be more of a curse, than an asset . Just one time in seven years, did I ever see Mr. Sailly lose his temper That was once when I showed up with broken clarinet reeds for a special audition.
Never the less, in my last year of High School, in the spring of 1972, I was accepted by the Philadelphia Musical Academy, as a new student of Donald Montanaro, clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the clarinet instructor at The Curtis Institute, with a scholarship .
Just prior to my Graduation from Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts ,in 1976, I was appointed Teacher of saxophone at Settlement Music School, by Maurice’s good friend ,Mr. Maier Levin , who was The Settlement Music School’s well loved and respected director.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1982 , Murray would make visits to Philadelphia , to see his family and Mom and dad, and often visit his teacher Maurice Sailly, who would later tell Murray ,that he was one of his favorite students.
Murray sends his condolences to our family and wants to express his deep love and remorse for the loss of his dear teacher Maurice Sailly.
As a 4th grader in the a Philadelhia public system at Louis H. Farrell Elementary School, in the late 1960’s, I was offered lessons and a school loaned flute, and the priviledge of taking lessons from Mr. Sailly. He was a gifted musician and teacher, and super patient with my lack of practicing. Sincere condolences to his family.
Just saw this belated condolences to the family. Great clarinet instructer with a splendid sence of humor. Needed that with me..abled me to work way through college…