Lester H. Groom, musician

Lester H. Groom, who taught music at Seattle Pacific University for 23 years and played organ almost as long at the First Presbyterian Church of Seattle, could "do" as well as teach.

Almost everything he attempted had an artist's touch and a craftsman's discipline.

He gave recitals throughout the area, composed choral and organ music, and inspired generations of music students. He also shot and developed gallery-quality photographs and painted watercolors.

"He took great joy in music, in teaching and playing," said his wife of 44 years, Myrtle Groom of Bellevue. "But he was very artistic in other areas."

Mr. Groom died last Tuesday (March 28) of complications of diabetes. He was 71.

Born in Chicago, he earned a bachelor's degree at Wheaton College and a master's degree at Northwestern University.

His first teaching job was at Moody Bible Institute in Illinois, followed by stints at Blue Mountain College in Mississippi and Baker University in Kansas.

In 1969, he joined the SPU faculty. He taught organ and harpsichord as well as composition and music theory. He retired as a professor emeritus in 1992.

He served as First Presbyterian organist and choir director from 1979 to 1996.

"One of the reasons I joined First Presbyterian Church is because he was the organist," said Marian Barnet, who was the church's assistant organist under Mr. Groom before his retirement.

Barnet called him "a master at improvisation" and said he had done "beautiful, beautiful arrangements."

"We would sit and listen with awe," she said. "He brought dignity and beauty to our worship services."

Mr. Groom also could "sell" reluctant choral groups on songs they did not consider musically distinguished.

He once suggested a choir sing John Stainer's composition "Crucifixion," which includes the song "God So Loved the World." The choir groaned, but he told them he liked it because of what it had to say without the music getting in the way of the text.

"To do it properly," he later said, "you have to have people singing it who really know what they're singing about. I told them I thought they were that kind of choir," the kind that sang with more feeling than some professional choral groups.

Mr. Groom published many choral and organ compositions as well as articles on music.

For 13 summers, he was on the faculty of the Evergreen Conference of Church Music in Evergreen, Colo. He was conference president for five years.

Also surviving are his children, Rebecca teVelde of Stillwater, Okla., Vera Liles of Seattle and Lester Groom of Bellevue, and three grandchildren.

Services are at 7:30 tonight at First Presbyterian Church of Seattle, Seventh Avenue and Spring Street.

Donations may go to the American Diabetes Association, Western Washington Affiliate, 557 Roy St., Lower Level, Seattle, WA 98109; or the American Guild of Organists, Seattle Chapter, P.O. Box 19740, Seattle, WA 98109.

Information from Seattle Times staff reporter Lisa Diaz is included in this report.