Shandaken — Diana Mae Munch of Foxhollow Road died Sunday January 20, 2019 at her residence with family at her side. She was born November 7, 1946 daughter of the late Walter and Dorothea Herdman Munch. She was a graduate of Onteora Central School Class of ’64, and this is where her thirst for the theater began!
Diana moved to New York City soon after, landing a job with Bob Cavallo, Manager of “The Lovin’ Spoonful.” While working there days, got involved at night with the legendary, ground-breaking experimental theater group known as The Cafė Cino! Perhaps best known as the starting place for many performers like Yoko Ono. In the late ‘60’s, met composer/musician, Murray Weinstock with whom she started writing songs. Living in New York City’s Greenwich Village, she was writing songs like “You’ve Got To Believe In Yourself” and “Leaves”on John Sebastian’s legendary “Red Piano.” In 1970, married Murray and started recording & performing with Jake and The Family Jewels. With cameo appearances on “Good Fellows,” Saturday Night Live, before long she and Murray cofounded and wrote the album for “The Camaros,” a rock group that soon attracted the attention of Elektra Asylum Records President, Bruce Lundvall. After the international release of The Camaros’ 1983 album ”Stars in Your Eyes,” Diana continued to write and record her original songs, collaborating with musical giants like Lenny Kaye and performing with Snooky & Tish of Manic Panic fame in a three part group called “The Cream Tones”!
Diana loved her Fox Hollow Road family and as her song that characterizes that love states, “These old mountains are the only things I know.” For years, she was the organist at the Shandaken and Phoenicia Methodist Churches, as well as the St. Francis de Sales Church. She had been an active member of the United Methodist Women. She had a strong sense of community, and lent her musical talents to fund raise for the church, food pantry, or any other worthy cause. She enjoyed the DooOop fundraising dances. She participated in the choirs of the Catskill Chorale, and the Phoenicia Festival of the Voice. She provided private lessons in piano, voice, and even aerobics! Diana had a profound appreciation of nature, and the deep family roots in the farm on the Herdman Road. Family was paramount to Diana, and she loved her two nephews unconditionally.
Surviving are her sister Katherine Williams, nephews: Adrian and his wife Suzanne, and Brian, and her stepfather Robert Gasperini. Also surviving are her former spouses: Murray Weinstock, and Charles “Rick” Beehner. She was predeceased by her parents, and her brother Walter Munch.
A Service to Celebrate the Life of Diana will be held on Saturday at 11am at the E. B. Gormley Funeral Home 87 Main St. Phoenicia. Spring burial in the Shandaken Rural Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Shandaken Memorial Methodist Church or Ulster County Hospice. Friends will be received at the E. B. Gormley Funeral Home on Friday afternoon from 2pm to 6pm. You may share a special memory with the family on Diana’s Tribute Wall at
www.gormleyfuneralhome.com.
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