"My father was a great accordion player," said his son Don. "He never had an accordion until he was 17. By the time he was in his early 20s he was teaching others how to play. He continued to teach a few years before he passed away."

He also recalled that his father created an all-accordion band and dance bands. He wrote music continuously. Among his favorite songs that he wrote were the "The Farrell Polka" and "Wintertime Waltz." He made records of these and other songs.

"He got me started in playing and teaching music and that’s how I got myself through college,’’ Don said

While his formal name was Joseph, fellow workers at the post office knew Mr. Sebastian as J. Don, and those in the music world knew him as Don.

As Mr. Sebastian’s music career grew, he bought a top-of-the-line accordion in the early 1940s that listed for $1,000 - an enormous sum at the time. He promoted himself as "Don Sebastian and his $1,000 accordion," Don said.

Mr. Sebastian was a physically strong man who enjoyed baseball and football. He also was a very hard worker.

"I don’t remember him missing a day of work," Don said. "He was very generous and would do anything for his family."

Don recalled the time when his father bought a new car for the family in 1948. Cars were scarce at the time because car production ceased during World War II. But instead of using the car himself Mr. Sebastian turned the keys over to the rest of his family.

"Many times he walked to work while I drove to school," Don said.

His other son, Joseph Jr., recalls that music was the love of Mr. Sebastian’s life.

"That wasn’t his vocation, it was his avocation," Joseph said. "He told me one time, "Without music there’s nothing."

During the Great Depression one of Mr. Sebastian’s students wanted to buy an accordion, Joseph said. But the student couldn’t afford the accordion.

"My father just told him to pay him off when he could," Joseph said.