Second Tenor with Atlanta Symphony Remembered By Family

Richard Halsted Welty, 73, of Marietta, Georgia, died August 11, 2012 of complications related to Parkinson’s disease.  

Welty, known as "Dick, was born in New York City and grew up in Larchmont, New York, graduating from Mamaroneck High School in 1957.  In 1961, he graduated from Dartmouth College where he was a member of the Theta Chi/Alpha Theta fraternity and the singing group now known as The Dartmouth Aires.  Welty worked in commercial insurance marketing with Aetna and Kemper, and earned his CPCU designation, serving as the society’s Georgia Chapter President in 1991. Welty’s first loves, however, were music, both vocal and instrumental, and history.  He sang in many local choirs, was a paid soloist, and for many years sang second tenor with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus under then director Robert Shaw.  Welty was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.  

Welty is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Billie Jean Konop Welty, two daughters, Heather Welty Speas (Wade) of Summit, New Jersey, and Erin Welty Rosenberg (Joshua) of Marietta, Georgia, and four granddaughters, Martha and Margaret Speas and Kate and Anna Rosenberg.

The Burial and Memorial Service will be held in New York.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Mr. Welty’s name to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at www.aso.org.