Former ConVal principal Carl J. Britton Sr. was a strong supporter of the school’s music program through the first decade of the school’s existence. After Britton died of COVID-19 on Jan. 22, his family set up a fund to benefit the ConVal High School music department in his memory. Britton would have turned 87 on Monday, his son Stuart Britton said, and in honor of the occasion, the family wanted to spread the word about the fund, as well as Britton’s impact on the music department.
Britton was an important force in building a strong music department soon after ConVal opened in 1970, along with other early administrators. “Those were tremendous years,” retired music teacher and band director Dick Sanders said, when the band and chorus program grew to 100 students apiece in just four years, and administrators strongly supported the school’s music and art programming.
Britton started at ConVal as the head of the math department, and later served in administrative positions before retiring in 1983. He was highly respected in every role, Sanders said. “He had the most beautiful way of handling things,” he said, and valued “the whole picture,” of education, including the arts.
Britton went out of his way to set conflict-free schedules that allowed any student to attend band or chorus without missing out on other opportunities, Stuart said. Sanders remembered that support, and Britton chaperoning music events, like exchange concerts, where ConVal’s music students would rehearse and perform with other high schoolers. “It was a real honor to be a colleague of his,” Sanders said, and they became dear friends after years of working together.
Britton was a lifelong music lover, Stuart said, playing a number of instruments in school and community bands, and directing and singing in school and church choruses. He was accepted into the Navy band, but opted to enlist rather than wait for an opening in the band and served as a sonar operator on the USS The Sullivans destroyer during the Korean conflict. All three of Britton’s children were heavily involved in music and theater programming while attending ConVal themselves.
“It is our turn to support the music program that gave our entire family so much during our time at ConVal so that today’s students could have the same life-changing experience that we had,” Britton’s daughter Debra Eshbaugh said.
Britton’s family spoke with ConVal principal Heather McKillop and music teachers Brian Moore and James Wickham, and determined that new music risers, used during performances, would be the most helpful use of the memorial fund.
About $2,000 has been raised in Britton’s name so far, Stuart said, and the family is grateful for those who have already donated, and looks forward to hearing from others who have fond memories of him. Family members will likely hold a memorial service after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, he said.
Donations can be made by check to Marilyn Britton with a memo of “Carl Britton Memorial Fund,” and sent to Marilyn Britton at 16 Long Hill Road, Peterborough, NH, 03458.