He keeps active in music and in faith

By KATE BLAIN- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

It's tough for an interviewer to remember why she's interviewing John Van Laak.

There are so many possible subjects:

* his time as chief budget examiner for the State of New York, a position he retired from 20 years ago;

* the "house parties" he hosts for elderly and shut-in parishioners of St. John the Evangelist in Schenectady;

* the old organ from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany that he installed in his home and spent 40 years perfecting.

Prize package

But this story was originally about an award: the Dorothy S. Ludwig Ecumenical Award, recently presented to the 82-year-old Mr. Van Laak by the Interfaith Community of Schenectady to honor his "outstanding service and dedication to the churches, synagogues and like places of worship in the community."

The award recognizes a former officer of the Interfaith Community. A widower and father of six, Mr. Van Laak is currently the co-president of the organization, which helps clergy and laity of various faiths to share resources and meet the needs of the community.

Among the Interfaith Community's efforts, said Mr. Van Laak, are a program that pays for health insurance for clergy and sponsorship of Protestant chaplaincies in local hospitals. The group employs a part-time secretary and holds a meeting with a guest speaker each month, except during the summer.

Involvement

Mr. Van Laak joined the Interfaith Community about four years ago, adding it to a long list of organizations he has been involved with: the Knights of Columbus, Catholic War Veterans, Schenectady United Way, Better Neighborhoods Inc., the advisory board of the Dominican Spiritual Life Center in Schenectady, and the boards of the City Mission, Citizens for Law, Order and Justice, and Schenectady Family and Child Services.

The senior citizen felt that the Interfaith Community should be involved in more activities, so he suggested holding concerts at St. John the Evangelist Church to raise funds. The first was held last year, gathering musicians and singers from churches all over the city to offer their talents. This year's concert, held in May, netted the group $1,250 -- and Mr. Laak an unexpected reward: He received the ecumenical award at a recent Interfaith Community meeting in St. John's school cafeteria.

"It was very satisfying, because I had no idea I was going to get it," he remarked. "It's nice to know your efforts are appreciated."

Making music

The senior citizen has no trouble finding time for his work with the Interfaith Community among all of his other activities. He is especially proud of the organ whose pipes, blower, wiring and added-on instruments take up much of his home.

"The console is from the Cathedral. The pipes have come from all over," he noted, beginning a tour. A snarled mass of wiring fills most of his basement, a furnace seeming out of place amid the musical chaos.

"I just kept adding on and adding on. The blower that makes the wind is from a theater organ from Ravena," he continued. "That Chinese gong is from the old Colonie Theater's organ in Schenectady. The xylophone came from Texas."

Ironically, Mr. Van Laak claims that he built his masterpiece by "just instinct." The self-taught musician also helped to install "Goldie," the organ at Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady and restored the organ at St. John the Evangelist Church.

"That organ is outstanding!" he declared. "It's an organ that was built at the turn of the century and is still virtually unchanged."

Key moments

In addition to the organ, Mr. Van Laak's living room is home to two grand pianos and a harpsichord he built from a kit, which has been played in concerts twice at Russell Sage College in Troy.

"If I had a log book of all the tourists that have looked through here, it would be quite a book!" he said of his home.

The musician is also a composer. Four years ago, he wrote "Our Schenectady," the official song of that city. He has also composed songs to honor his parish and Knights of Columbus council, and put some of his deceased wife's poetry to music.

That poetry is even available in a book Mr. Van Laak had published after his wife's death. He distributes the book to nursing homes and adult homes in her memory.

Getting it done

The senior citizen shrugged off suggestions that his list of activities is astonishing.

"When I see things that need doing, I step in and do them," he explained. "I don't have any trouble keeping busy -- and I take a day off once in a while."

Mr. Van Laak hopes to further his involvement with the Interfaith Community by sponsoring the same kind of "house parties" for people of other faiths that he does five times a year for members of St. John's.

"I keep looking forward, saying, `When's the next one?'" he said.

Spontaneously, he offered advice to fellow seniors: "Just keep active. Always have a job for tomorrow."

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