Larry Pittman

Where to begin? Well, this past week one of my close friends died of a heart attack while out cutting the grass. I am sure many of you do not know who Larry Pittman is but he was my high school choir director and absolutely more than that. Although I am getting better at expressing myself with words I am pretty speechless about what happened to Mr. Pittman. At only an age of 62 he had taught thousands of kids/adults in not only music, dance, and art… but in life.

When I was a new freshman at Male High School my best friend Cannon Edwards had told me he had joined choir and I was interested to say the least. But, why would Justin take choir again after his horrid middle school teacher who didn’t actually teach him a thing? Could Justin have been the next superstar? Probably not but it sure wouldn’t have hurt to have found someone who actually cared about teaching me. Then Mr. Pittman’s assistant (though I don’t like using that word) who had played piano for us in middle school on occasion stopped me while I was registering for freshman year and convinced me it was different and it would be a blast! After all that I was in an looking forward to nothing more than a boring choir class.

[skip ahead a few weeks] Then, the first day of my freshman year of high school rolled around and I was sitting their in choir class waiting for the bell to ring not knowing what to expect. Was I going to get another bum who just wanted to show us videos, handouts, and maybe take us to see a musical? Or would I get someone who cared about their job and lived by it? Well, I think you should know what I got by me writing this in the first place. Low and behold I was sitting in class acting amok not realizing what I was truly in store for. At this time I was going through other trials in my life which caused me to not really go into any of my classes at Male with even 10 percent of my brain. I would just go to class and sit not caring what was taught or who taught it. To say the least I didn’t study once and every math test or English quiz I took used 100 percent of my knowledge from when I was a boy.

But, one day I was stopped and confronted! I had just lurked in all of my classes and the people who did know me in the past I am sure could tell I wasn’t the same. I am usually very outgoing and love to be around people and live life to the fullest and help others day by day to smile or with a simple answer. Then one day out of nowhere Larry Pittman confronted me after choir class. I am still pretty shocked of why this happened but it did and he told me he knew who I was and what he expected of me. What?! let’s just back up a little. A second ago I was the nobody in the back of the class not knowing what car this teacher drove to him telling me he expected something out of me! Why? Well, thats exactly the reason I am writing.

Larry Pittman was different. Though I struggles to find a word to categorize him under different is what I will use to denote him in the future. Why different? Because I feel no other word would satisfy him as a person. If I told you he was energetic, caring, truthful, or a thousand other words I feel it would just cover him on one side of the dice and not truly let you experience what he had to offer. Larry Pittman was single handedly the BEST choir directory I ever had an was truly an unreal individual.

To those of you who got to experience Mr. Pittman first hand I really just want to say during the upcoming weeks my heart will be with you. He touched so many people I don’t know where to begin nor which story to tell but let me tell you this! Mr. Pittman is doing fine in heaven singing with the angels and is looking down on us all day by day. Whether you are now a cook at restaurant or singing on Broadway Mr. Pittman will always be with you and never forget that. Just remember that there is a reason for everything and while we might not understand nor know God’s reasons we must be faithful and know it was the right thing. “The good die young!”

Lastly, I wanted to write on a more personal note to Larry Pittman. In the start we had our differences and still do since we all know pcs are better than macs. (I can only write this looking up smiling at a friend.) But, we came far as not a teacher and a student but as friends. Looking forward I would have never thought I would have become so class to someone in their late 50s that taught music it just didn’t fit but boy was I wrong! I had my moments like the rest of the population and argued with Mr. Pittman normally about silly stuff that didn’t even apply to choir as a class, it was deeper than that. I could talk to Mr. Pittman on a level I talked to no other teacher. Yes, I could have sat in the class and never got to known Mr. Pittman but I am sure glad I didn’t. Larry, gave everyone his best and put 110 percent into anything he ever did for anyone. Whether you needed to borrow his time or his equipment he would always give you the best.

I really feel like I am running along but prescription drugs without a prescription there is so much to say and so little paper. I could tell you hundreds of stories about the 4 years I survived in the Male choir with Mr. Pittman but you would really have to have known him to understand. In the end I am honored to have known Mr. Pittman and have been so close to him as a student, friend, and a mentor. Whether I live to be 62 or die tomorrow I will just be happy I had such a great family and friends to live with.

Thank You Mr. Pittman for all you do for me. I love you and please tell my brother the same.