Stuart Gillespie, a resident of Bethlehem, Connecticut, is retiring after a distinguished 26-year career at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC), where he served as chairman of the Fine Arts Department. His tenure at NVCC saw the choir grow from a small ensemble of 15 students to a prestigious group of 70, with an elite subgroup performing alongside renowned artists such as Kenny Rogers and Andy Williams. Under his leadership, the Fine Arts Department flourished, prompting the construction of a comprehensive arts center at the college. Despite growing up in a family that didn't take the arts seriously, Mr. Gillespie's passion for the arts was evident from an early age. He began playing piano at the age of six and was composing by seven. Although he initially pursued sociology at Parsons College, his musical talents led him to a significant turning point during his military service. Drafted into the Army in 1965, he joined the Third Army Chorus and later the U.S. Seventh Army Soldiers Chorus in Germany, where his music career truly began. After his military service, Gillespie returned to Connecticut, pursuing a voice major with dreams of performing at the Metropolitan Opera House. His love for nautical music led him to a position at Mystic Seaport, where he worked as a maritime historian and singer of sea chanteys. During the off-season, he taught music at RHAM High School and directed the Manchester Symphony Chorale, eventually leading him to NVCC. As he retires, Mr. Gillespie reflects fondly on his time at NVCC, particularly the eager and impressionable students. He plans to continue composing, having published and performed at least 10 choral works. Mr. Gillespie and his wife, Carol Cassidy Gillespie, will be moving to the coast of Maine, where he looks forward to new creative endeavors. His final performance at NVCC includes an original composition, "Fanfare and Prelude for Organ," marking a fitting conclusion to a remarkable career.