Tom Key Tom Key, who led...

Tom Key

Tom Key, who led and supported the Pacific Symphony Orchestra back

when the state’s third-largest orchestra more resembled a mom-and-pop

business, died Tuesday at his Fullerton home. He was 81.

The founding president of the symphony, who loved to play the

trumpet in his free time, lost a battle to corticodasal degeneration,

a brain disorder. Symphony board members said Wednesday that Key’s

support from the beginning in 1979 helped the organization not only

start but continue to perform as regulars at the Orange County

Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa and other venues.

“There were no large funds coming in really,” said Lorraine

Lippold, a Costa Mesa resident and emeritus board member, of the

early years. “So for the first few years, he and a few others

basically held it together with their own financial help.”

Key was a real estate broker who bought land in Orange County in

the late ‘50s and retired from the business in 1982. He offered free

offices to the orchestra decades ago for leaders to use as

administrative headquarters. The first office, which is used today as

a rehearsal hall, was at Bush Avenue and Santa Ana Boulevard.

“He had an innate love of people and a love of wanting to see the

best for the community,” Lippold said.

Key would even open his home for fund-raising events.

“There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do,” said emeritus board member

of the symphony Eve Steinberg. “He did everything he was required to,

from moving chairs to picking up people ... to selling tickets and

having receptions. He did it all.”

Key was also a Navy pilot during the Korean War and World War II.

He is survived by his wife, Anne; his daughters Alexandra,

Stephanie and Lizabeth; and three grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Andrews Episcopal

Church in Fullerton.

-- Young Chang