RIP Chad Pence

[Old Corps Guy]

.

[jwillis35]

R.I.P. 😞

[blakman7]

Oh man, where do I begin? Chad Pence and I met during the 2002 season of Magic of Orlando when he came in during everydays/hell week (otherwise know as Spring Training now) for a couple of weeks to tech the contras. He was a no bull crap type of guy who showed extreme tough love yet was wise beyond his years. At the time, being the "know everything because I was 1st chair during my whole musical career" guy that I was at the naive age of 18, I had no earthly idea how much of an impact he would make on me as a marching member, a tuba player and a person in society. Chad Pence was a hard a** but extremely fair. He merited good/striving character and the attempt at becoming a better you. as a person. Sadly, I didn't appreciate him at first. It wasn't until he became our full time contra tech in 2003 that I started to see the light. I finally realized that without him and Gino Cipriani, the contra section wouldn't have been the most naturally talented and what I felt, the hardest working section in the corps. The things that he would have us do were mega building blocks to our success but were seen by blind vision. At the end of the 2003 season after our finals performance, I hugged Chaddy (our pet name for him at the time) and told him how much I appreciated him, that I loved him for all that he did for us but most importantly, my deepest sorrows for how much I failed to appreciate him. Especially when I couldn't accept him when he would put me in my place when I really needed an ego check and for putting up with my crap attitude the year prior. I was appreciative for him giving me the chance to prove to him that I was worthy of his wisdom and instruction. For that, I am eternally grateful. I later saw him at a rehearsal in Orlando during the Cadets 2005 season and the way that he embraced me, smiled at me, was genuinely concerned about me well being and accepted for who I was, will never be forgotten. Chad, here's to you good sir 🍻 Thank you for everything that you provided for us at Magic of Orlando, for me personally and anyone else whose heart that you touched. If they're anything like me, they will never forget your tough love but deep adoration for your craft and whomever you had the pleasure of educating. RIP Chaddy. I know that the heavens angels are being serenaded by your tuba playing, being educated on which tune to welcome the next group with and are being treated to Dairy Queen via running down the hill! Anyone of my Magic of Orlando 2003 members will understand that reference. From the 10 of us in the Magic 2003 contra line (myself, JPA, RR, DC, NM, GS, PN, CH, CB, OM) we love you big guy, rest in power.

Edited June 28, 2023 by blakman7

[copyright]

3 hours ago, blakman7 said:

Oh man, where do I begin? Chad Pence and I met during the 2002 season of Magic of Orlando when he came in during everydays/hell week (otherwise know as Spring Training now) for a couple of weeks to tech the contras. He was a no bull crap type of guy who showed extreme tough love yet was wise beyond his years. At the time, being the "know everything because I was 1st chair during my whole musical career" guy that I was at the naive age of 18, I had no earthly idea how much of an impact he would make on me as a marching member, a tuba player and a person in society. Chad Pence was a hard a** but extremely fair. He merited good/striving character and the attempt at becoming a better you. as a person. Sadly, I didn't appreciate him at first. It wasn't until he became our full time contra tech in 2003 that I started to see the light. I finally realized that without him and Gino Cipriani, the contra section wouldn't have been the most naturally talented and what I felt, the hardest working section in the corps. The things that he would have us do were mega building blocks to our success but were seen by blind vision. At the end of the 2003 season after our finals performance, I hugged Chaddy (our pet name for him at the time) and told him how much I appreciated him, that I loved him for all that he did for us but most importantly, my deepest sorrows for how much I failed to appreciate him. Especially when I couldn't accept him when he would put me in my place when I really needed an ego check and for putting up with my crap attitude the year prior. I was appreciative for him giving me the chance to prove to him that I was worthy of his wisdom and instruction. For that, I am eternally grateful. I later saw him at a rehearsal in Orlando during the Cadets 2005 season and the way that he embraced me, smiled at me, was genuinely concerned about me well being and accepted for who I was, will never be forgotten. Chad, here's to you good sir 🍻 Thank you for everything that you provided for us at Magic of Orlando, for me personally and anyone else whose heart that you touched. If they're anything like me, they will never forget your tough love but deep adoration for your craft and whomever you had the pleasure of educating. RIP Chaddy. I know that the heavens angels are being serenaded by your tuba playing, being educated on which tune to welcome the next group with and are being treated to Dairy Queen via running down the hill! Anyone of my Magic of Orlando 2003 members will understand that reference. From the 10 of us in the Magic 2003 contra line (myself, JPA, RR, DC, NM, GS, PN, CH, CB, OM) we love you big guy, rest in power.

I love reading stories of how instructors impacted our lives regardless of whether we were too young to realize it. A reminder to us all to take stock and thank those instructors who had an impact before it’s too late.

RIP Mr Pence.

[2000Cadet]

I thoroughly enjoyed his being a tech at Cadets when I marched. He wasn't my tech as I played trumpet. But he loved talking to me about my having perfect pitch. He was a really great person and it's sad that someone so young has left this planet too soon. My heart goes out to his family. 

Edited June 30, 2023 by 2000Cadet

[2000Cadet]

1 minute ago, 2000Cadet said:

 

 

Edited June 30, 2023 by 2000Cadet