Obituary for Kenneth O. Beyer
Kenneth (Ken) Beyer died December 13, 2022 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Elizabeth (Betsy) Nute Beyer, and they shared 61 happy years of marriage full of music. Ken was devoted to his family and loved them very much. His wife, Betsy, and children, Chris and Susan, feel so inspired by his dedication to music. One of the biggest gifts he gave his family and all who knew him was teaching them how to worship through music.
Ken was born September 28, 1938 and adopted shortly thereafter by Gretchen and Oakley Beyer. He thrived in the atmosphere of the very musical Beyer family. He began piano lessons at age 5 and later organ lessons. At age 14, he was called to his first organist position, at Bakerville United Methodist Church.
After graduating Torrington High School Class of 1956, Ken went on to study music at Peabody
Conservatory of Music, Baltimore Maryland, the University of Maryland and the College of Church Musicians in Washington D.C. He held roles as Organist/Choir Director in churches in Baltimore, MD and the Washington D.C. area.
Upon returning to Connecticut in 1969, Ken held Organist/Choir Director positions in Torrington, Waterbury and Lakeville. He was Organist/Choir Director of First Congregational Church of Torrington for 14 years. While there, he organized and conducted a Palm Sunday and Christmas cantata each year comprised of ecumenical singers and players from the Torrington Symphony Orchestra. In 2016, while visiting their daughter and family in London, Ken played the organs at Alexandra Palace, St James Church, St Andrew’s Church and Southwark Cathedral.
Over the years he and Betsy sang in the Litchfield County Choral Union and volunteered at the
Torrington Symphony Orchestra. They attended the Bach Choir Festival in Bethlehem PA each year. Ken was a very active member of the Waterbury Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and held many offices in the organization.
In 1981, Ken founded Beyer Music, a family music store, in Torrington. Here he sold pianos and organs and served the musical needs of the community. He enthusiastically shared his love of music with the many students he taught piano and organ lessons. His music lives on through the lives of his many students and choir members.
On June 21, 1994, Ken was surprised by a call from a searcher saying his birth family was looking for him. Soon after, he met his birth mother and father, Kathleen and Peter Koziatek, and four loving sisters, Celia Fredericks, Marge Peshka, Lorraine Werbiski, and Sandra Edinger.
Ken is survived by his wife and children, Christopher Beyer and wife Ching and son, Charles of
Woodside, NY and Susan Reay and husband Paul and daughter Helena and son John (Jack) of Newbury, England and the relatives of the Beyer Family and his sisters and their families. He is also survived by his cousin, Diane Kirsch who is like a sister to him as they grew up next door to each other. A memorial service will be held in the spring.
In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Book of Remembrance at either the First United Methodist Church of Torrington (21 Fern Dr. Torrington, Ct. 06790) or the Book of Remembrance at the First Congregational Church of Torrington (835 Riverside Ave. Torrington, Ct. 06790)
Ken was born September 28, 1938 and adopted shortly thereafter by Gretchen and Oakley Beyer. He thrived in the atmosphere of the very musical Beyer family. He began piano lessons at age 5 and later organ lessons. At age 14, he was called to his first organist position, at Bakerville United Methodist Church.
After graduating Torrington High School Class of 1956, Ken went on to study music at Peabody
Conservatory of Music, Baltimore Maryland, the University of Maryland and the College of Church Musicians in Washington D.C. He held roles as Organist/Choir Director in churches in Baltimore, MD and the Washington D.C. area.
Upon returning to Connecticut in 1969, Ken held Organist/Choir Director positions in Torrington, Waterbury and Lakeville. He was Organist/Choir Director of First Congregational Church of Torrington for 14 years. While there, he organized and conducted a Palm Sunday and Christmas cantata each year comprised of ecumenical singers and players from the Torrington Symphony Orchestra. In 2016, while visiting their daughter and family in London, Ken played the organs at Alexandra Palace, St James Church, St Andrew’s Church and Southwark Cathedral.
Over the years he and Betsy sang in the Litchfield County Choral Union and volunteered at the
Torrington Symphony Orchestra. They attended the Bach Choir Festival in Bethlehem PA each year. Ken was a very active member of the Waterbury Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and held many offices in the organization.
In 1981, Ken founded Beyer Music, a family music store, in Torrington. Here he sold pianos and organs and served the musical needs of the community. He enthusiastically shared his love of music with the many students he taught piano and organ lessons. His music lives on through the lives of his many students and choir members.
On June 21, 1994, Ken was surprised by a call from a searcher saying his birth family was looking for him. Soon after, he met his birth mother and father, Kathleen and Peter Koziatek, and four loving sisters, Celia Fredericks, Marge Peshka, Lorraine Werbiski, and Sandra Edinger.
Ken is survived by his wife and children, Christopher Beyer and wife Ching and son, Charles of
Woodside, NY and Susan Reay and husband Paul and daughter Helena and son John (Jack) of Newbury, England and the relatives of the Beyer Family and his sisters and their families. He is also survived by his cousin, Diane Kirsch who is like a sister to him as they grew up next door to each other. A memorial service will be held in the spring.
In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Book of Remembrance at either the First United Methodist Church of Torrington (21 Fern Dr. Torrington, Ct. 06790) or the Book of Remembrance at the First Congregational Church of Torrington (835 Riverside Ave. Torrington, Ct. 06790)