ATHOL — Donald “Spin” Ainsworth spent more than 30 years as the organist and choir director at Starrett Memorial Methodist Church in Athol, and this Sunday, in celebration of his life, a memorial service and musical celebration will be held at 2 p.m. at the church where he played all those years.
“He loved music, he loved seeing people enjoy music,” Pastor Mary Owen said. “He loved to put on big concerts, not just for him to play the organ, but he loved to have the voices singing. He could really make that organ rock and roll, and when he played, things could really reverberate.”
Ainsworth died on June 5. He spent his life dedicated to his passion — music. He learned to play the piano in eighth grade, and he played throughout his life, tuning pianos for members of the community.
“When I say the community, I don’t just mean (just) Athol, his reach goes a long way,” said Owen.
Jean Partridge, local musician and vocalist, met Ainsworth when she first arrived in Athol at the age of 9, while taking trumpet lessons in an old warehouse. She said at the time, he was teaching music to children. Partridge said Ainsworth was a unique musician.
“Once in awhile, even at church, he’d get carried away with something and jazz it up a little bit,” she said. “He was just a fine musician. Even later in life, when he was in his 90s, he could play just as well.”
On Sunday, a choir of about 30 people, including Partridge, will sing some of Ainsworth’s favorite pieces. A variety of solo and ensemble performances, featuring musicians from the North Quabbin region and beyond, will follow.
Rene Lake-Gagliardi, the new music director at the church, helped organize the musical celebration, along with Ainsworth before he passed. She said people from all over expressed interest in participating in the service.
“It is amazing how many people have come forward who want to participate in some way,” she said. “We all love ‘Spin’ and anytime he would ask for participation in any event that he was doing, we just came. Most of us, if we had other plans, we dropped them.”
The community is welcome to attend and share memories, exchange stories and enjoy music in Ainsworth’s honor.
“He lived his music to the very end — he was making music and making people enjoy music to the very end,” Owen said. “What more can you ask?”