Carman Cluna

[Wsap1980]

To all,

I Just learned that Carman Cluna Passed away this morning.

Carman was the man behind the St Ritas Bassmen of Brooklyn NY and the Saint
Ignatious Girls Of Hicksville NY.

I had the privelge of being in a corps under his instruction and also in later
years getting to know Carman as a friend.

Carman will be sadly missed by the Drum Corps Community.

Rest in peace Carman.

FORMATION A !!!

Bill Sapienza
Palm City Florida
Hip Pickle Brass 90-92
Hawthorne Caballeros 75-80,88-90
Stormy Knights 66-75

[Tom & Karen Peashey]

Pepe's corps keeps getting bigger... all those hall of famers - I didn't
know Carman that well, but he always was a true gentlemen to me... His
reputation and success speak for themselves...

Tom

"Wsap1980" <wsap...@aol.com> wrote in message
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[haring]

Oh my.... sad news. Carmen was without a doubt one of the greatest marching
instructors in the history of drum corps. I'll miss getting a chance to talk
to him at the Caballeros' show, which he used to attend regularly.

Another legend has left us.

Fran Haring

"Wsap1980" <wsap...@aol.com> wrote in message
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[PJC11251]

Rest in Peace Carmen, you helped made me the person I am Today.

Phil
1973 Bressmen
1967 - 1972 O.L.M.M. Orbits
=============================

[Donnie Solinger]

This is sad news. Another one of the giants of drum corps from the "glory
days" of senior corps and beyond. Along with his junior corps credentials I
remember him as being part of the Skyliner team with Dreitzer and Perillioux
and others who turned out some of the most exciting field shows ever done.
May he rest in peace. My heart goes out to his friends and family. May he
rest in peace.

Donnie

"Tom & Karen Peashey" <tpea...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
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[LICABBK]

What sad news. I always respected Carman Cluna. Even when I attended a show a
few years ago, another St. Ignatius member was afraid to go up to him and say
hello. He was like a drill sargeant when he taught but look at where he got
us, a few dci all girl and world open all girl titles. I have a great 8 x 10
pic of him with Hy Dreitzer from one of our drum corps trips. He was a great
instructor, we used to have to know definitons of echelons, distance, squads,
etc and he would test us on it. he was tough but though the years as i ran
into him at shows i would go out of my way to give him a kiss hello. He will
surely be missed.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Cluna.

Debbie
St. Ignatius Girls
fall of 1971-1976

[Sambuca312]

Our condolences to the family of Carman Cluna. A fine drill instructor and
true drum corps gentleman. He is no doubt, at this moment consulting with Hy
and Pepe (and probably Jim Costello) as to what drill design the "Archangels"
drum and bugle corps will be using this season.

Bless you.

SAM
Hawthorne Caballeros &
Caballeros Alumni Corps

[Karen]

Yes, this is sad news. I haven't seen Mr. Cluna in years, but thought
of him often. What a great man he was.
If I could say someone taught me discipline I would have to say it was
definatley HIM. I don't know what type of person I would be if it
wasn't for Mr. Cluna. Yea, I used to think he was mean...made me walk
around with gum on my noise for the rest of the rehearsal one
day....would pick me up and drop me in the right spot when I was not
in line correctly...and I remember him yelling at us, threatening to
break our arm off and beat us with it...or how bout if we got caught
talking in line...he was gonna stick his foot in our mouth and play
tab dance on our tonsils...or throw us over the wantaugh parkway all
the way from cantiaugue park. I could go on and on...now that I'm
older, I could laugh about it all. But Boy, did I learn my lesson by
12yrs old.
Hy Drietzer & Carmen Cluna together again, I hope they'll let me march
in the "archangels" drum & bugle corps one day, because I know that
will be once again another great corps.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Karen
St. Igantius Girls
1974 - 1981
Heat Wave Orlando,FL
1999

[XIGGYMAUR]

Hey there! Many of you know me as BURCH from St. Ignatius. As does Mr. Cluna. I
have been married for 21 years and he still called me Burch. The impact that
Mr. Cluna and Mr. Crietzer made on my life helps me to handle things in
everyday life. I teach a colorguard here in Florida and instill many of the
same disipline policies that Carman had. The man is a legend. He can now play
with the Angels Drum Corps in heaven because we know alot of drum corps people
up there. So when you look up to the heavens remember you always have a
guardian angel looking down on you . May you rest in peace Carman---and your
whistle too!!

[Skye9201]

And don't forget the Whistle. We ALL remember that. I wasn't a "member" of
Iggie's but I was definately on the sidelines till I joined New Image with my
sister (who was an Iggie). I remember Mr. Cluna not letting me march cause I
was so small he was afraid a gust of wind would take me out of Cantiaue Park in
one swoop. So, he made me wear arm weights. I remember the fall practices in
Dutch Lane School for marching and kicking the soda can. He was also the one
who gave me the nickname I have today. (There were three of us on the field at
the same time.)
Mr. Cluna was also a family friend and will be sorely missed. Mr. Cluna, I
love you and I thank you. Rest In Peace~!*

Janis "Little Quinn"
New Image 1985 - 1987
New York Skyliners 1992 - ????

[Rqmello1]

I usually don't post messages on RAMD but upon hearing the news of the death of
one of my mentors, Carman Cluna, I felt compelled to speak...

I have had the privilage to know Mr. Cluna not only as and instructor, but as a
friend and "father figure". Everything I know Drum Corps to be (Discipline,
Hard Work, Desire, Performance and Comraderie) I learned from Mr. Cluna, as
well as Hy Drietzer and my father Donnie Quinn.

But despite the intimidation and the hard exterior, Mr. Cluna was a gentleman
that really loved EVERY one of HIS girls. I can often remember him speaking of
members of St. Ignatius, both past and present, with an affinity that is often
missing today. Whenever I saw him at shows he always stopped to hug me and
looked on me with tears of pride that I was still marching. He loved us as if
we were his own and made sure we were always taken care of both on and off the
field. To Mrs. Cluna, Jamie and Susan, my deepest sympathies for your loss...

As an instructor, I am hard pressed to find any one better. I never really
thought of his tactics as harsh or mean, because that was was how I thought
Drum Corps was supposed to be. He pushed us hard, but he got results. Just
look at the track record of his corps. His influence is far reaching, because
the things I learned from being a member of St. Ignatius are things that I
carry with me and practice to this day. I can't think of a better legacy for a
man to leave than that.

For all the criticism that I receive, I am thankful that I had the opportunity
to march under one of the "GREATS" of this activity. I am also grateful to
have known him on a personal level as well. I feel truly blessed to have known
him.

And don't worry Mr. Cluna, I'll "never forget where I came from" or the sound
of FORMATION A...Say Hello to Butch, Hy and Pepe for me..Rest In Peace.

Regina Quinn
St. Ignatius 1980-1984
New Image 1985-1987
Various Senior Corps (1990-2000)

[BklynMario]

There is so much more that needs to be said about this very special
person, but let this observation by Carol Hooton suffice for now:

"Well, he's up there with Bill, Lefty, Cos, and Pepe + many others. Thank
goodness God is the one handling them. He's the only one who could :>)"

mario

[Joseph F. Nash]

He was a man who stood firmly by his principles. I was lucky enough to have
been taught by him in the St. Joseph Patron Cadets and the St. Ritas
Brassmen. The lessons he taught us about quality, dedication, intensity and
what it takes to achieve success have stayed with me all of my drumcorps
life. To this day if I heard a whistle and someone yelled Formation A, I
would be tempted to run full speed to the starting line. He will be missed
but, he and Hy are together again. I'd give a lot to be in their presence
along with Eric Perrilioux on a Friday night on Randall's Island again,
those were great times.

J. Frank Nash

[HTWAVE FL]

Amen

Vic

[Donnie Solinger]

This is sad news. Another one of the giants of drum corps from the "glory
days" of senior corps and beyond. Along with his junior corps credentials I
remember him as being part of the Skyliner team with Dreitzer and Perillioux
and others who turned out some of the most exciting field shows ever done.

My heart goes out to his friends and family. May he
rest in peace.

Donnie

"Tom & Karen Peashey" <tpea...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:iur47.50917$T97.7...@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com...

[SkyDrmline]

I would just like to say may Mr. Cluna rest in piece....i am much too young to
have known him. But from what one of my good friends, Harold Barber, has told
me he was a man who stood by his principles, was firm yet fair, and was always
there for the kids (and adults) he taught. So i would like to say to Mr.
Cluna, thank you for helping to make my friend who is today, he is someone that
i will love till the day i am no longer on this earth. Harold has told me many
a story about Mr. Cluna and his "AXE", or the one time he forgot his shoes at
the hotel before finals and Cluna would take of his glasses off in a calm
manner and then proceed to yell at him...."YOU'LL WALK BACK!!!!!" But again, my
condolances to the Cluna family. I am very sorry for your loss

-Dalip-
NY Skyliners...'95- End of time

[Siglow]

My first memory of Carmen is when I first joined the New York
Skyliners in Nov. of 1964. At the time we practiced in the 142nd
Street Armory just off the Harlem River in Manhattan. It was Carmen's
last year as the Drill Instructor for us. He had his clipboard and
whistle of course. He had placed everyone in their positions on the
starting line and indicated what he expected everyone to do,...how
many steps to go in which direction, etc. We went through the opening
few sets that he had given us,...Carmen blew his whistle and yelled
"FORMATION A". As I lined up to go through the opening sets again, he
approached me and "whispered" in my right ear with the force of a
Marine Drill Sargent and a deep scawl in his voice that I remember to
this day,..."If you screw up this time you'll be replaced
immediately". I was NOT replaced,...as a matter of fact, due to the
discipline instilled in me by Mr. Cluna I became able to learn an
entire drill within 3 "run-throughs".

The most amazing part of that particular season (1965), Carmen taught
that entire drill without the benefit of having written it down on
paper. As the story goes (as was told to me by my senior drum corps
mentor and DCA World Hall of Fame member Gus Wilke) Carmen would carry
this clipboard around with him with blank sheets of graph paper
clipped to it. Anytime someone came over to ask a question about the
drill, he would press it close to his chest and not let anyone see. He
was TRULY amazing.

My last memory of Carmen was at a New York Skyliner Alumni chorus
rehearsal where he sang second baritone voice. It was quite a few
months ago. For the last couple of years Carmen seemed to be suffering
from symptoms of Alzheimers. When people would say "Hi Carmen",...and
he would look up, flash a smile and say "Hi,...Say,...Do I know
you???",...and he meant it.

Hy Dreitzer and Carmen Cluna. There were no two better friends. Damon
and Pythias.....The "Tale of Two Cities". These are two legends that
were instrumental (along with the likes of Lefty Mayer, Walter
Winkelman, Vic DiAngelo, Bill Borner [sp], Jimmy [Vince] Salmone,
Frank DioGuardi to name JUST a few) in putting the name of New York
Skyliners BACK on top of the drum corps world in the early 60's. A
TRADITION of excellence that they helped preserve as a tribute to
those who went before them,...the New York Skyliners of the 40's and
50's,....and the same TRADITION that those of us who took up the
challenge of preserving that TRADITION into the 70's.

Funny,.....at different times in the history of the New York Skyliners
both of these icons were summarily dismissed from the corps,...but NOT
before they established a legacy that MANY people shrink from trying
to emulate and live up to. I, like them, am no longer with the New
York Skyliners in body as I have suffered their same fate.....But on
the other hand I have been blessed with having been taught by them
both,...especially Carmen who instilled in me an ability to do
something not many other could.

Good Bye Carmen. And when it comes time for me,...PLEASE,...hold a
spot in the drill for me,.....you KNOW I can handle it. :-)

Michael "Super Sub" Siglow

wsap...@aol.com (Wsap1980) wrote in message news:<20010715211024...@ng-fo1.aol.com>...

[Gregg Sweney]

Mike, nice tribute and very well written.
Gregg.

[BJR715]

Dalip:

You would have loved Carmen. He was a real Skyliner through and through!

Barbara

[XIGGYMAUR]

He was not only a Skyliner (whom he and Hy loved) he was aBrassman and St.
Ignatius All Girl through and through. He was extremely protective of HIS
GIRLS. At his wake he had pix of all three corps and representatives from all
three corps. Girls that were 9yrs old who marched until they were 21 were
there.Brassman and Skyliners of all ages were there. He was truly loved by one
and all.

[Harvey Berish]

Sitting here in California, it is hard to imagine that so many of my
compatriots and friends are 'marching off the field' these days... I worked
with Carman Cluna when he started the beautiful CADENCE MAGAZINE in the
early sixties.. and I admired his talents, and loyalty and love for all
corps... I always will remember the devotion he had to St. Ignatius Girls...
Our Lady of Loretto, and the Skyliners... I enjoyed sitting and learning so
much from him when I lived in The Bronx... He inspired so many people, and
his units always gave drum corps their best... This is truly a major loss
for the activity..,. it is hard being here, so far away, from these
wonderful innovators, who created so much, so well... To the Cluna Family,
and the Skyliner family, and to all those who worked with Carman... Our best
wishes, and a hearty THANKS for all he did and for all he meant to so many
people. Har...@worldofpageantry.com (Harvey Berish, Irwin Post Kingsmen
(Bronx), NY Kingsmen (Kingsbridge), New York Knickerbockers (NYC)

"XIGGYMAUR" <xigg...@aol.com> wrote in message
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[aquarius25]

I heard recently(way down here in Texas news travels slowly) that Ed Cozzolino
passed away recently! Is that true? I was with Eddy when he was with St. Joe's
and the Rochester Crusaders. A man with a heart for drum corps and gave much but
never earned the respect he deserved.

[Tom & Karen Peashey]

Yes, it's true... he was found dead in his home... was not sick that we
know of... apparent massive heart attack.

Who is this? Email me? Will be home tonight - late...

Tom Peashey

"aquarius25" <aquar...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
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[george maloney]

Drum corps has lost another great man. The world of pagentry will miss
him, as will all of the students who marched for him. "The wistle"
"Formation-A" "I said run" "Put the gum on your nose" "Again" "Line up
for inspection" still ring in my ears.
I had the privilege of marching with the Emerald Cadets from New
Haven, CT. in the early 70's, Carman was our drill designer. Our staff
consisted of Carman Cluna, Pepe Nitaro, Joe Genaro and Mickey Kelly.
What a staff. None better for the time. They all taught me what it
takes to be a good member. I still teach the same timeless lessons
they taught me as a kid, to my students today. Love this activity
unconditionaly. Be prepared for every rehearsal(practice is something
you do at home). Respect yourself, the Corps and your competition.
Loyalty is everything. Most important "The organization comes first"
Nothing and no one is above it or more important than the organization
itself.
Thanks to Carman, Joe, Pepe and Mickey,(among others) I still Love
it, Respect it and continue to teach young people to do the same.
These people changed my life forever and I will always be grateful for
the lifelong lessons. I love these guys, they will always be my
mentors, my heros and my friends.
Rest in peace Carman and Pepe.
George Maloney
Emerald Cadets
Freelancers
Hurricanes

"It's nice to be important, it's more important to be nice"

"Tom & Karen Peashey" <tpea...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message news:<XAT87.161293$T97.19...@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com>...