Henry Janiec

Henry John Janiec, 85, of Spartanburg, SC, died Saturday, October 17, 2015, at Spartanburg Regional Hospice House. Born November 21, 1929, in Passaic, NJ, he was the son of the late Wladyslaw and Ewa Kobylarz Janiec. Mr. Janiec earned his bachelor and master's degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. He arrived in Spartanburg in 1952, was hired as an assistant professor at Converse College, and took over the Spartanburg Symphony (now Philharmonic) straight out of college. He then served 42 years with Converse College's Petrie School of Music, with 27 years as its Dean. Retiring in 1994, he held the longest running tenure at Converse College. He also served for 43 years as music director/conductor of the Spartanburg Symphony Orchestra and for 32 years as Artistic Director of the Brevard Music Center. During 1953-1965, he conducted the Spartanburg High School Orchestra; was the music director of the Spartanburg Little Theatre from 1953-1976; and conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Charlotte Opera for several years in the late 1950's and early to mid-1960's. Throughout his life, Mr. Janiec received many awards and accolades, which included "Man of the Year" by the Kiwanis Club of Spartanburg; honorary doctorate degree from Wofford College and the Order of the Palmetto. Survivors include daughters, Bobbie Rafferty (Patrick) of Chicago, IL and Kathrine (Trina) Janiec Jones (Jeremy) of Boiling Springs, SC; grandchildren, Erin Rafferty, of Chicago, IL; Sean Rafferty of Indianapolis, IN; and Molly Jones of Boiling Springs, SC; and former wife, Janice H. Janiec. He was predeceased by a brother, Edward Janiec. Visitation will be 6:00 - 8:00 PM Sunday, October 18, 2015 at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 4:00 PM Monday, October 19, 2015, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 290 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302, by the Rev. Christopher Latham and the Rev. Mr. Robert Mahaffey. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Lane Brevard NC 28712 www.brevardmusic.org/support/donate or Converse College, 580 East Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 www.converse.edu or Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home, 686 Jeff Davis Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Henry John Janiec please visit our Sympathy Store.