Thomas Baust, 65, pianist, singer from Holland, Pa.

Thomas Baust, 65, a pianist who accompanied the Voices of the Philly Pops and other regional musical groups,  died Oct. 3 after a battle with leukemia.

Mr. Baust, of Holland, Bucks County, also was a baritone who performed with a variety of choral groups.

Born March 20, 1952, in Philadelphia, Mr. Baust discovered early on that he had musical talent that his parents helped to nurture, his brother, Joseph Baust said.

Although he never received a formal degree in music, Mr. Baust "helped students grow and shine musically and personally for over 35 years, offering private lessons for the young and not-so-young in voice and piano,"  said his sister, Jeanette Baust.

Throughout his career Mr. Baust performed with many groups, including Peter Nero and the Voices of the Philly Pops, the Pennsy Pop Singers, the Ocean City Pops, and the Old York Road Symphony, according to his family.

Mr. Baust was the principal accompanist for the Bucks County Singers, directed by Terry Greenland, for 25 years.

He also sang with Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, the Music Group, and Pennsylvania Pro Musica.

Live theater was another part of Mr. Baust's career, with performances in I Do! I Do!,  A Little Night Music with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Little Mary Sunshine, Closer Than Ever, and Finian's Rainbow.

Mr. Baust lived at a historic 1806 farmhouse that he had restored himself, at 115 Middle Holland Rd. Each year for 11 years, he hosted an open house, during which he put on free concerts and gave tours of his home and gardens.

"Tom was a local who made good and stayed put in Philadelphia and Bucks County because he loved the city and its people. He was a gentle giant at 6-foot-6, a great listener with humor and disarming kindness," Jeanette Baust said.

Mr. Baust's brother and sister are his only immediate survivors.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Oct.  29, at 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of God's Love, 791 Newton Yardley Road, Newton, PA 15089.