Copland Had a "Lushness of the Lungs" After an Accident Early in Life

 31 Years Ago Today

Sunday 2nd of December 1990
Composer Aaron Copland dies of Alzheimer's disease and respiratory failure at the age of 90 in North Tarrytown, New York, United States.

Copland's funeral was held Tuesday 26th of December at the Park Square Theatre and Celebration Hall. Copland's nephew John S. Copland told his grandmother, Karen Copland, that Copland had a "lushness of the lungs" after an accident early in life. Shortly after he was born in 1963, he underwent four strokes of the lung and two lung cancer as well as a heart attack. In addition to his major medical conditions, Copland was involved in a suicide attempt on Sept. 30, 1978 shortly before his 17th birthday. Copland was known to have developed severe breathing problems. He had been diagnosed with the disease early in his life and since that time has been working with his friends to support Copland. A member of the Public Library of New York City's National Endowment for the Humanities, Copland also participated in the 1992 Olympic Games and was awarded honorary doctorates from the National Institutes of Health. Copland was awarded an honorary doctorate from the American Humanist Association. Copland was born Dec 8, 1953 in East Harlem to Eleanor P. Copland and Dorothy Copland Copland on September 15, 1968, in East Harlem, New York. Both were avid football fans. Copland married his first wife.