NORTH CONWAY, NH – Floyd Whittier Corson of N. Conway, NH, passed peacefully with family by his side on the evening of September 25th, 2024, four days after his 94th birthday. Floyd was an avid skier, hiker, traveler, concertizing musician and music educator however, being a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather are what brought the most joy to his life.
Floyd was born in Haverhill, MA on September 21st, 1930, and grew up in Merrimac, MA with his parents and younger sister, Fern.
Floyd was mostly known through his music career, having started playing the piano in the third grade and adding pipe organ at the age of 9. He held his first church organist and choir director position at the age of 12 and until a month before his death, remained on the organ bench. Floyd graduated from Merrimac High School and began pursuing his music degree at Boston University where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He subsequently earned his Master’s in Music Education with a church ministries minor, also from BU. After this accomplishment, he began doctoral studies in musical arts, studying at Hartt School of Music, (University of Hartford) and BU. His church music resume included positions at the Second Unitarian Church, Boston, Elm Street Congregational Church, Southbridge MA, Foster Memorial Church, Springfield MA, Second Congregational Church, Westfield MA, First United Methodist Church, Westfield MA and for the past 20+ years, at First Church of Christ Congregational, N. Conway NH.
Floyd also held many music educator positions, beginning as Director of Music, Tantasqua Regional Junior/Senior High School, Sturbridge, MA, 1952-1963. Additionally, while living in Sturbridge, Floyd founded and directed The Old Sturbridge Singers which provided concerts during the Village’s open seasons as well as for special occasions such as performing for the Bicentennial celebration at the Old South Meeting House and in the Boston Public Gardens. Floyd was sought out to consider joining the music staff at Westfield State College and accepted the position of Associate Professor of Music/Director of Music Education. He held this position from 1963 to 1988.
While residing in Westfield, Floyd founded and directed the Greater Westfield Choral Association which remains a strong musical component of Westfield’s cultural dynamic to this day.
In all the locations Floyd has lived, he has filled the roles of accompanist, guest conductor, private teacher, adjudicator, adjunct professor and substitute organist as well as a concert pianist.
Although most of Floyd’s professional career was spent in Westfield, MA, as a young boy, he developed a strong love for the White Mountains and spent much time here, visiting family, skiing and hiking. It was his dream to someday live in the Valley and in 1972, he and wife, Sara Jane (Cummings) began taking steps to make that dream come to fruition with the purchase of land in Jackson, NH on which to build their retirement home. They moved to Jackson in 1988 and in 2004 moved to a new home they had built in N. Conway, with better accessibility to town and a walking neighborhood.
Floyd’s music career did not ‘retire’ upon his move to the Mt. Washington Valley. In fact, he loved to tell people “I flunked retirement,” even up to age 93! His musical endeavors included accompanying Junior, Senior and Graduate recitals at the University of Southern Maine, pianist with the Lakes Region Wind Quintet, accompanying many vocal and instrumental recitals in the Valley and performing “Two Men, Four Hands, One Piano” and “Two Men, Four Hands, Two Pianos” recitals with Duncan Cumming and with the late Frank Glazer, an internationally recognized concert pianist.
Floyd and Sara Jane were also the founders of the White Mountain Musical Arts, where he was the first president, performer and first conductor for the annual Bach Festival, held every August in N. Conway, NH.
Outside of music, Floyd’s other passions included hiking, and he completed all of the 4000 Footers in NH as well as 5 in Maine and VT. He loved skiing and he also loved to tell the story of surviving an avalanche while skiing Tuckerman’s Ravine with his college buddies. Additionally, Floyd was the Coordinator of Valley Volunteers for the Mount Washington Weather Observatory from 1988-2010 and one of his fondest adventures was when he volunteered for a week on the summit. Floyd was also a “host” for Mt. Washington’s Tip Top House during the summers in the 90’s.
In 2018, he was honored as “A Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce Treasure” for his musical and cultural contributions to the Valley.
A few other dynamics about Floyd that made him really stand out – he was known for his impeccable yard, complete with beautifully landscaped islands. His handshake! What a grip. It made one really feel ‘held’ in love. He also celebrated his 90th birthday with a full 7+ mile hike on the Imp Trail. Daughter Anne, granddaughter Sara, niece Gina (a World Iron-Man competitor) as well as another family friend accompanied him on this amazing journey. It was also a huge dream of his to be the oldest person to climb Mt. Washington. Up until spring of 2024, he really felt this could be a reality however health issues began to tell a different story.
Floyd was also known for his quiet humility, and he treated everyone who crossed his path with respect, dignity and encouragement.
Floyd met his wife, Sara Jane through their mutual music educator professions in Massachusetts. They were married in July 1961 in Newburyport, MA and had one child, Anne Whittier Corson. Family was at the heart of Floyd and Sara Jane’s life. He taught us all how to ‘show up’ by modeling his dedication and intentional presence at all functions where family was involved, whether it was school concerts, awards ceremonies, graduations, athletic events or just day to day activities. He took advantage of every opportunity to spend time with his family and he relished the 7 years he was able to spend as a great-grandfather. One dearly treasured memory was a 4-generation downhill ski day in 2023. He was 92 at the time.
Floyd has joined his wife, Sara Jane and parents, Ulysses and Leona (Whittier) Corson. He leaves behind daughter, Anne W. Polak (Frank) of Bridgton, ME, granddaughter Julia Edwards (Daniel) and their children, Atticus and Amelia, also of Bridgton, ME. Granddaughter Sara Handspicker of Portland, ME, sister Fern L. (Corson) Peters of Wilton, NH and nieces, Lisa Ikerd, Gina Whipple, Gail Etter, nephews, Mark Peters, Paul Cummings and Peter Eldridge as well as many great nieces and nephews.
Floyd’s Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, at 2:00 PM at First Church Congregational, UCC, 2521 White Mountain Highway, N. Conway, NH. There will be a light reception to follow. The service will also be streamed on the church Facebook page if you are not able to attend. If you have sung under Floyd’s direction throughout his vast career and would like to join in the choir anthem for his service, please arrive at the church for a 1:00 rehearsal. If you would like to make a gesture in Floyd’s memory, the family is asking that you consider a small donation to either The Greater Westfield Choral Association, PO Box 1968, Westfield, MA 01085 or The White Mountain Musical Arts, PO Box 2753, North Conway, NH 03860-2753, both non-profit groups that Floyd had a direct hand in creating.
