Mr. James Alfred Rew Jr., 76, of Onley, passed away Dec. 21, 2021, in Cedar Park, Texas. Born Jan. 24, 1945, in Nassawadox, Jim was the son of the late James A. Rew Sr. and the late Ethel Finney (Ames) Rew.
He was a graduate of Onancock High School. He attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., and graduated from Salisbury State College in Salisbury, Md.
Jim was a lifelong lover of music. In his early years, he studied classical piano in New York City and became an accomplished pianist. One of his proudest accomplishments was performing on stage with acclaimed pianist Eugene List in his touring “Monster Concert,” devoted mostly to the music of Louis Moreau Gottschalk. The “Monster Concert” featured a symphony of 10 concert pianos and ended with a rousing rendition of Gottschalk’s multi-piano transcription of Rossini’s ‘’William Tell’’ Overture. In addition to his love of performing, Jim also built and managed the radio stations WEXM and WVES on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. During his retirement years in Texas, he rebuilt Steinway pianos for fun. Jim never knew a stranger and made friends from all walks of life. He was a truly talented, special person.
He is survived by his three daughters, Jennifer (Rew) McGrath, of Conshohocken, Pa., Dr. Suzy (Rew) Lofton Bullis, of Round Rock, Texas, and Hyldie (Rew) Krebs, of Chesapeake, Va.; his stepdaughter, Tina LeCato, of Franktown; three grandsons, Foster McGrath, Jackson Bullis, and Rhett Bullis; his companion, Susan Brewer, and her daughter, Aniko Brewer, and son, Tom Brewer; and his beloved dog, Scarlet.
Interment will be at Mount Holly Cemetery in Onancock. A private memorial will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are being jointly handled by Beck Funeral Home in Cedar Park and Williams Funeral Home in Onancock.
