Music teacher Addison Lightfoot dies at age 79

Tuesday, Mar. 19 | By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

By former students of
Addison E. Lightfoot

"Ferme la grand bouche!"

His voice would boom through the band room, hushing the 100-plus rowdy students that made up his class.

Once he had our attention, he would smile and raise his baton to the first chair for a pitch.

Even telling his students to shut their mouth, Mr. Addison Lightfoot would expand our horizons with the gentlemanly grace that was uniquely his own.

On March 15, 2013, the Ides of March, this great man departed our world, leaving behind a grateful legacy of thousands of students.

Addison Ernest Lightfoot, youngest of the five children of Addison D. Lightfoot and Mabel D. Yager Lightfoot, was born on May 2, 1933, in Culpeper County.

Some of his students went on to careers in music. Some of us would go on to other careers. But we were all indelibly impacted.

We will all remember Mr. Lightfoot first and foremost as a gentleman with high but achievable standards. He pushed us, motivated us and encouraged us to do our best.

He took a bunch of crazy kids and taught us discipline, through his love and devotion to music, and led us to do great things -- not just in the band room, but also in our own lives. He helped lay the foundation for our future not only as musicians, but also as responsible citizens.

Mr. Lightfoot saw in us what we could not see in ourselves: potential. He helped us find our voices, and work together to strive for excellence. He taught us we could be something greater. He showed us if we practiced and corrected our mistakes that we would be better.

We still cherish the times we spent sitting in his cramped little office talking about music and life in general.

It wouldn’t be until later in our lives that we would realize that the time spent with him was a gift because it would continue to mold us in ways that weren't apparent when we were sitting in those classes or auditoriums.

We hold dear to our hearts the lessons learned and amazing music we made under his tutelage.

And we will forever envision his bounce as he conducted each Christmas when we hear "Sleigh Ride" and "A Christmas Festival." And we will remember his gentle smile.

We can sincerely hope that the mold was not broken after they made Addison Lightfoot, but rather fashioned a new mold, based on his example, for new teachers, regardless of the discipline, to inspire the next generation and generations to come, to be something more than they thought they could be.

Rest in peace, Mr. Lightfoot, knowing that you have left the world a better place. You will be missed. And your legacy will live on in all of us.

Lightfoot leaves his wife of 56 years, A. Patricia Porter Lightfoot, their three children and a god-daughter. He also leaves his brother Calvin Lightfoot and sister Harriet Richardson (David); and brothers-in-law William Harris, Presley Reed, and Conway Porter (Miriam); and sister-in-law June Penn and nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Addison E. Lightfoot Auditorium at Fauquier High School in Warrenton at noon on Saturday, March 23

A "Meet and Greet" at 10 a.m. will precede the funeral services. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be given to the Addison Lightfoot Music Scholarship or a charity of choice.

Interment with military honors will be at Tapscott Family Cemetery, Warrenton.

Online condolences can be given at www.joynesfuneralhome.com.

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