Joseph C. McKee 1947 – 2020  “And music echoes eternal tones.” John O’Donohue   BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – Joseph C. McKee, 72, of Monroe Township & Berkeley Heights NJ died peacefully on Thursday, February 13, 2020. He had been battling cancer with great valor and hope.  Joe was born on Sunday, March 2, 1947 in McKeesport PA, the younger son of Mary Jane Challener McKee (music educator) and John Lowden McKee (business executive). Joe lived his early years in Princeton where his musical and acting talents were nurtured and developed in public schools and the Nassau Presbyterian Church. He earned degrees from Princeton High School, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music (BM, MM) and The Juilliard School Opera Theater. He served in the United States Army (1971-1974), US Army Chorus at Fort Myer VA.   Throughout his life, Joe contributed his acclaimed vocal talents to enthusiastic audiences in opera houses, recital halls and churches throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia and Kenya. His elementary schoolmates heard his radiant gifts when he sang the soprano solo in O Holy Night. They evolved through his spot-on Sinatra impersonations and the corn-pone jug band he led in the home basement. Joe’s art matured ultimately in the many leading bass-baritone roles he performed during his 16-year career at The New York City Opera (Beverly Sills, General Director). For more than 20 years right up until his death, Joe sang weekly in the choir at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church (Chatham NJ) under the direction of Robert Long.   Joe’s superb musicianship was matched nearly by his great good humor and his unfailing ability to make people laugh. Many of his best operatic roles were comedic. He was God’s instrument for warming our hearts with eternal music and puckish wit.  Those who survive Joe include his brother David McKee & Barbara Farrell (Brunswick ME), his niece Elizabeth McKee & husband Aaron Katz (Los Angeles), his nephew Andrew McKee & wife Kanako & daughters (Mill Valley CA), his father’s wife Marilyn McKee (Naples FL). And the many people whose hearts he touched and tickled who miss him dearly. The memorial service to commemorate Joe and give thanks for his life previously scheduled forscheduled for Saturday, April 18th at 10:30 am in Chatham NJ at the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, 234 Southern Boulevard has been POSTPONED  DUE TO CONCERNS REGARDING CORONAVIRUS.  ONCE A NEW DATE AND TIME HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THIS INFORMATION WILL BE UPDATED. Meanwhile, mourners may leave tributes and remembrances online at Paul Ippolito Memorial Funeral Homes (Berkeley Heights NJ), https://www.ippolitofuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Joseph-C-McKee?obId=11293027#/obituaryInfo.  Memorial donations are gratefully received by Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, 234 Southern Boulevard, Chatham, NJ 07928 and by the Cancer Research Institute, 29 Broadway 4th Floor, New York, NY 10006-3111, https://www.cancerresearch.org/join-the-cause/donate/one-time-donation.