Obituary of Charles-Patrick O-Kane

O'KANE - Charles Patrick, 81, of Amherst, MA, died May 5, 2003 in Springfield, MA. Born in New York City, June 14, 1921, he was the son of the late John and Jane (Traynor) O'Kane. He resided in Bergenfield, NJ for many years, and was a graduate of Tenafly High School in 1938. He enlisted in the US Army after graduation and served with the 113th Infantry Army Band. After the war, he was a musician and played with the bands of Billy Butterfield, Benny Goodman, Boyd Raeburn and Elliot Lawrence. In the 1960s, he began playing in the Orchestras of Broadway Shows with Elliot Lawrence. His shows included Bye Bye Birdie, Here's Love, Golden Boy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and several others. He retired in 1983 and moved to northern New Jersey, and later to Massachusetts in the 1990s. He is survived by two daughters Eileen and Kathleen O'Kane, and two grandchildren. The Funeral Services are private. The Ahearn Funeral Home in Northampton, MA is in charge of arrangements.