Geoff liked the entire score by Howard Shore. I have a favorite memory of Concerning Hobbits. For many years, Geoff was the dinner cook on Thursdays because I was at school late for a faculty meeting. I usually arrived home to find Geoff in the kitchen, the small of dinner cooking and Concerning Hobbits playing. This was the ultimate feeling of coming home.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer provided much of our family background music in the 70s. Fanfare for the Common Man was one of Geoff’s favorites. A classical piece written by Aaron Copeland in 1942, it was adapted by Keith Emerson and released in 1977.

I Believe in Father Christmas (below), was also a favorite.

Rudy Cheeks, ( not his real name) the lead singer for this local band, The Young Adults, was a year ahead of us at Tolman High School in Pawtucket, RI. This song Complex World, became a frequent reference in family discussions. Looking at a list of difficult options? Typical response: It’s a complex world.

The Planets, a suite by Gustav Holst which premiered in 1918, was our morning inspiration in 2023. Geoff was especially fond of Jupiter. Two violinist friends, Deborah Bradley and David Gable kindly played past of this at Geoff’s memorial service at West Falmouth Quaker Meeting on May 6, 2023.

This familiar, upbeat tune goes back to the Charlie Brown Christmas special in 1964 when Geoff was 13 years old. Geoff put this one near the top of his playlist.

Geoff’s dad, a middle grade teacher, was a Peanuts fan and used images from the comic strip by Geoff’s sister, Judy, to enliven his homework assignments.