Tom Baust, 'Brilliant' And Accomplished Musician, Dies At 65

Obituary and photo via Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home:

Tom Baust (born Thomas Phillip Baust) of Holland, Pa., lost his battle to MDS and Acute Myeloid Leukemia on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at the age of 65. A celebration of life for Tom will be held on Sunday, October 29th, 2017 at 2 P.M. at The Lutheran Church of God’s Love, 791 Newtown Yardley Road, Newtown.

Tom is survived by his sister Jeanette Baust and sister-in-law, Evelyn Hansen; brother Joseph August Baust and sister-in-law Gail Morgan Baust and their children: Joseph August Baust Jr. (Kimberly), Leah Baust Hooper (Jason), and Edward Sorger Baust (Rebecca) and their children, Joseph August Baust III, James Emerson Baust, Anne Grace Hooper, Jane Edwards Hooper, and August Edward Baust.

Other surviving relatives include cousins Elaine Clark Eichner (Edward) and their children Robin & Lori
Hildegard Clark Klauck (Jim) and their children Beth, Jim & Peter and the children of the late Barbara Clark Yodis Oates, Paul and Heather.

Tom was preceded in death by Parents Mary Louise and August John Baust, Jr., Grandparents Jenny Zimmerman Baust and August John Baust, Sr. and Marie Sahm Sorger and Josef Sorger.

Tom was known as a brilliant and accomplished musician, and a caring and inspiring teacher. His friends knew him as funny, joyful, warm and beloved. As a musician, Tom played in venues with Peter Nero and the Voices of the Philly Pops, the Pennsy Pop Singers, the Ocean City Pops, the Old York Road Symphony, the Kennett Symphony, as a Concerto Soloist at Odette’s in New Hope, at the Mann Center with Sarah Brightman, at the Taj Mahal Casino, on WPVI TV, Philadelphia and on WMBI Radio, Chicago.

He recorded with Shawnee Press, Harold Flammer, Glory Sound, Hope Publishing, Mark Hayes, and Alfred’s Publishing. Tom sang in choral groups including: The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, The Music Group, Pennsylvania Pro Musica, Singing City, Voces Novae et Antiquae, Chorale Delaware, Beth Am High HolyDay Choir and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

He accompanied individuals and groups: at Lincoln Center, a Philadelphia Mayoral Gala, the Prince Theatre, the Waldorf Astoria, an Inaugural Gubernatorial Ball, in a two month tour of China, and as the show pianist for the Bucks County Singers. Tom also performed in live theatre in I Do! I Do!, A Little Night Music with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Little Mary Sunshine, Closer Than Ever, and Finian’s Rainbow.

Tom’s work is featured in the CD “In the Spotlight” which he produced, for which he arranged and provided the vocals and accompaniment. His vocals can be heard among Mark Hayes’ productions of 10 Christmas Songs for Solo Voice, 10 Hymns and Gospel Songs for Solo Voice, and 7 Psalms and Spiritual Songs for Solo Voice. A visual montage of his life is available on Tom’s web site at tombaust.com and on YouTube.

In lieu of flowers please send memorial gifts to Gladwyne Presbyterian Church, 1321 Beaumont Drive, Gladwyne, PA 19035 (Memo of check to read: Barnabas Fund/Tom Baust).