CD's are $10.00 plus $2.00 Mailing to: Jeff Snow 7 Broadview Rd. Wilbraham Ma. 01095 413-596-8927 |
Email Questions or comments by clicking the flag |
RUAH-is Available as a Digital Download at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JeffSnow , iTunes and a lot of other places. |
RUAH The Spirit of the Wind |
Theodor Marcus Mauch Teacher, gardener The Cape Codder (Oct. 19, 2007) - East Orleans — Dr. Theodor M. Mauch, 87, died Aug. 18 at Orleans Convalescent and Retirement Center, where he had been a faithful volunteer for 20 years. Dr. Mauch was the son of the late Rev. Wilhelm G. Mauch and Emma M. Mauch. He majored in philosophy at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Ill. He earned masters' degrees in divinity and sacred theology and a Ph.D in sacred theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York. He was a popular teacher at Wellesley College in Massachusetts and from 1957 to 1987 he was a professor of religion at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. A builder of fine stone walls and an avid gardener, he grew more than 60 varieties of prize-winning irises in his East Orleans garden, as well as cherry tomatoes, rhubarb, raspberries, currants and English holly. He regularly presented gifts from the garden to visitors and friends, most often delivered in cobalt blue containers. In 1990 he preserved his beloved property on Old Duck Hole Road with its paths, stone walls and gardens by donating several acres to the Orleans Conservation Trust. His beloved old ship’s bell that he rang every morning to greet the day now hangs in a corner of the garden. An avid Red Sox fan, his proudest possessions were Red Sox memorabilia given to him over the years by his many friends. During his years at Trinity he was a one-man cheering squad at Trinity athletic events and during retirement enthusiastically supported the Orleans Cardinals. |
On an August night in 1999 I sat with Ted Mauch on a stone wall at Ted's house in
East Orleans Ma. We swapped stories, ate freshly picked blueberries and had a
wonderful evening together. As I was leaving, a melody came from someplace and
arrived in my head. It fit perfectly on the Autoharp and that's where it continues
to live. The tune needed a name. The license plate on Ted's car was RUAH-I
had a name. The word RUAH has several meanings and after a chat with Ted we agreed that "The Spirit of the Wind" was the one for the tune. Ted Mauch was an amazing, selfless man. He was known for his gardens, Cherry Tomatoes, Day Lilies, Blue Vases and the tiny glass Bluebirds he hid in his wall. When he turned 80, Ted decided that he shouldn't drive anymore because someone once told him than when people turn 80 they should give it up.He gave his car away to a single mother and that was that. At a CD release concert at Ted's church, The Federated Church Orleans Ma., Ted gave me the license plate from his car. The RUAH plate, with Ted's signature, now hangs in my office. I could go on but you get the idea. If you knew Ted and have a special memory, please share it with me. This picture was taken in February 2011 from the wall looking across the marsh to an old duck blind. Ted's obituary is below the picture. |
In 1990 Ted donated much of his land to a Conservation Trust |
This bell hung on Ted's porch for many years. Every day At 7AM he would ring the
bell and call out greetings to the new day. He would also call out the names of
any children that were in the neighborhood. |
This path ran along side and behind Ted's garden. He called this tree the "Lovers
Tree" and would instruct couples to walk hand in hand under its branches. |