Robert Oliphant III

In loving memory of Robert Oliphant III. December 18, 1943 - February 23, 2025. Robert Oliphant III was born, as he, himself, would say with a smile, “a week before Jesus,” that being December 18, 1943, in Kearny, NJ. He was the first born of two sons to Robert Jr. and Marion Bayne Oliphant. As a young boy, Bob would set up a movie projector in his backyard, with a sheet for a screen, and charge the neighborhood kids admission. His love for classic films continued throughout his 81 years. There was hardly one programmed by Turner Classic Movies on television that he had not seen numerous times. Especially, his musical ear relished the soundtracks, such as those by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. He, his brother, Ronald, and his parents often took to the water. His father, being a Sea Scout leader, had a small yacht moored at the Nyack Boat Club on the Hudson River, from where the family would sail. Later in life, when his parents moved to Toms River, Bob and Ron continued their water escapades in a boat with an outboard motor. He would laugh as he told the story of when they gave his Aunt Muriel a ride, and purposely steered head on into a wave to give her a splash! Bob’s father, being musical himself, no doubt inspired Bob’s passion for music. As a high school student, Bob took an interest in the pipe organ, and played the resident Skinner at Kearny High School. Bob went on to major in music education at Montclair State College (1969, K-12 NJ certification). After his service in the US Army as a chaplain’s assistant, Bob graduated from Union Theological Seminary, with his Masters in Sacred Music in 1973. Bob served as the Organist and Director of Music at Union Congregational Church, Montclair, NJ, for 23 years (1971-1994). His organ music, together with the choral and handbell choirs he directed, enriched Sunday worship services. Bob would also invite guest vocal and instrumental soloists and ensembles to enhance the music ministry, including the Canby Singers (of which he had been one), the Montclair Oratorio Society, and the New Jersey Chamber Music Society. In addition, he collaborated with church and community members to present at least 10 major choral works, including “Noye’s Fludde” by Benjamin Britten. He joined the Union Church Choir with the choirs of Montclair State College and St. James Church, Montclair, to present Mozart’s “Requiem” to a full house. Ecumenically, Bob and his colleague, Ken Rapp, organist of First United Methodist, Montclair, combined choirs for special programs and worship services. From 1994-2005, Bob served as Organist and Music Director at the Pompton Reformed Church (RCA), Pompton Lakes, NJ. Along with his conduct of the adult choir, he coordinated a staff of music associates who led children’s and handbell ministries, inspiring the worship of congregation and community. Bob was one of a team of technicians for Konzelman Pipe Organs of Hoboken, NJ. Later, through his own small business, Restoration Associates, Bob also designed, built, repaired, tuned, restored, improved and maintained organs throughout the NYC metropolitan area. He was the consultant and chief technician for the new organ of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Verona, NJ (1989), and also for the organ of Church of the Transfiguration in Towaco, NJ. He maintained and improved pipe organs for many churches, including Christ Church in East Orange, NJ, whose organ accompanied many concerts of the Essex Chorale, with whom he also sang. Surviving him are his sister-in-law, Carol Oliphant; his nephew and niece, Ryan and Lauren Oliphant, and their daughter, Addison Lee, and son, “Bo” (short for Robert Thomas), all residing in Statesville, NC; his cousins, Lois Oliphant and Earl Jackson, and Glenn and Pat Oliphant; and his beloved friend, Kathy Jo Blaske. Rev. Kathy Jo Blaske, will conduct a musical memorial service and inter his ashes in the Memorial Garden of Union Congregational Church, Upper Montclair, NJ, on Saturday, July 19, at 2:00 pm. Colleagues Dr. DeCosta Dawson, Kenneth Rapp, and William Blue will serve as organists. A bagpiper, heralding Bob’s Scottish ancestry, will play. The interment will follow immediately upon the memorial service, and include a military ceremony, after which there will be a light reception at the church. Your memories would be cherished. They may be extended through either the Prout Funeral Home of Verona, NJ (https://proutfuneralhome.com/contact-us/) or the Langeland Sterenberg Funeral Home of Holland, MI, (www.langelandsterenberg.com) where a full obituary and slide presentation will be found. The service will be livestreamed and may be reached through the Union Congregational Church website: unioncong.org. Memorial contributions in Bob's honor may be given to the following: Union Congregational Church 176 Cooper Avenue Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 Pompton Reformed Church 59 Hamburg Turnpike Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442

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Robert Oliphant III

December 18, 1943 - February 23, 2025