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I haven't seen it posted by anyone else, so I suspect it falls to me to get this started. It was reported to me by the Salem Concert Band and Portland Brass Society that Dr. John K. Richards passed away on Tuesday morning after recent medical issues and the discovery of cancer.

My recollection puts John at age 93 (born March, 1918). He was the principal tuba for the Oregon Symphony for over 50 years (retiring about 2000) and a wonderful mentor to a large number of people in sharing his knowledge and skill. I personnally own a 1922 Holton Mammoth BBb tuba that John sold to me in 1977 (when I was in High School). What a wonderful gift and something I do not expect to relinquish to another Tuba player during my lifetime. Sadly, John can no longer say to the audience that he gets it back when I pass away.

He was involved with all the Portland and Salem Tuba Christmas performances from the start in Portland in 1980. I am told he was very involved with the Portland Youth Philharmonic, a local civil war band, an education professor at Lewis and Clark College and many community groups. I know this list is horribly short and will need clarification, but hope others will add their comments and memories.

John was a collector of Tubas and most any musical instrument that came his way.

Mike Ferries and Chuck Bolton, are you guys out there? I know you have plenty of information and could you please add to this?

I haven't seen any information on a service yet, but traveled abroad on the day John passed away. My expectation is I won't be back in time to attend. I am passing along from the notices to me that the family has requested no calls. If someone can watch the Oregon website (http://www.oregonlive.com" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank) for information to pass along, it would be appreciated.

Thank you and I look forward to people sharing their memories.

John Dalen

Sorry to hear this news. Although I did not know him personally, I can only express how fortunate he was to live such a long life and play tuba professionally for SO many years, and how many people he must have influenced along the way.

An official obit hasn't been published, but this article was online today. His memorial is scheduled for August 13, which unfortunately is before Chuck (Bubabassboner) returns from AIT.
http://www.nwcn.com/news/oregon?fId=126 ... main=10202" target="_blank" target="_blank

For those of you who never had the honor of meeting Dr. John, he was an amazing man who brought joy to hundreds of aspiring musicians and their families. I could sit and listen to his stories for hours; Chuck certainly did. Knowing that my son had lost his father, Dr. John went out his way to mentor him, teaching him to not only be the best musician he could be, but to be a gentleman.

John
Yes; I am here. I just got in the house from vacation and read your post. Now that I have recovered a bit, I am so glad I went to see him a month ago. He was having problems with his gait ( I suspected spinal stenosis ( yes, I am a physician )) but his memory was horrible. I told his wife to get him in to see his doc, and contacted a few mutual friends. He did not look like death would greet him this soon, however.
People of TubeNET: So passes one of the most remarkable people one could ever meet. I am sorry for those of you who never heard his lectures on the history of musical instruments. He had a colossal collections, and not just tubas. He had an amazing intellect, an unquenchable curiosity, and boundless generosity. He gave freely of his time and talent.
For a full biography, see Mike Grose's excellent article in the old T.U.B.A Journal. Really well done.
Besides my dad, I was fortunate to have several excellent mentors in my life, and John was the last one standing. This hits hard.
John rarely drank ( "The stuff gives me the worst headache." ), but I don't think he'd mind if I had two fingers of single malt in his honor. It might not be enough.