Mark Wolfe

[Jarrod]

Please visit the DFW Local website via the link below to contribute.

On the left you will see a new link called "Mark Wolfe Fund"

http://musiciansdfw.org/pages/mark_wolfe_fund.htm

[Matt Good]

If there is anybody out there in TubeNetland that has a photo of Mark Wolfe and would like to share it, please let me know. Alton Adkins of the Fort Worth Symphony is attempting to make a slide-show/video of Mark for his service on December 28th. A jpeg or a scan would be great. Please PM me if you can help out with this.

Thanks,
Matt

[chipster55]

From the Dallas Morning News:

MARK WOLFE
Trucker, tubaist killed in accident

By DONNA FIELDER Denton Record-Chronicle dfielder@dentonrc.com
Published December 20, 2007
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ARGYLE - Argyle resident Mark Wolfe jumped on his motorcycle about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday for a quick trip to the grocery store.



"He just went after bread and milk and yogurt, and I called and called," said his wife, Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe, regional reporter for the Denton Record-Chronicle. "Finally, someone else answered his cellphone. They said they didn't like to do it this way, but they told me that he was dead."

Mr. Wolfe, 51, was heading north on U.S. Highway 377 in Roanoke when a pickup pulled into the path of his motorcycle at Hillsborough Street. The driver wasn't seriously injured, but Mr. Wolfe was declared dead at the scene.

He was wearing a helmet but died of blunt-force trauma, said Troy Taylor, chief investigator for the Denton County medical examiner's office.

Mr. Taylor said the pickup was facing a stop sign and the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph, but he did not have information on whether citations were issued. Information was not available from Roanoke police.

A truck driver and tuba player, Mr. Wolfe had played in bands in the area and taught private lessons in Grapevine schools, said Vurl Bland, a friend and fellow tuba player.

Grapevine High School band members planned to dedicate their Wednesday night concert to him, Mr. Bland said. And a group both men belong to will remember Mr. Wolfe at "Tuba Christmas" performances in Dallas and Fort Worth, he said.

"He was so cordial, so down-to-earth, so easygoing," Mr. Bland said. "And always a good musician. He had that special insight into the music that brought it to life."

Mr. Wolfe is survived by Ms. Heinkel-Wolfe and their three children: Sam, a student at North Central Texas College, and Michael and Paige, students at Argyle High School.

Ms. Heinkel-Wolfe chronicled the couple's struggle to understand and adapt to Sam's autism in the book See Sam Run, to be published next year by the University of North Texas Press.

George Getschow, a UNT journalism professor who has been editing the book, said he came to know Mr. Wolfe first through the book and then from sitting in his living room while he worked with Ms. Heinkel-Wolfe.

"Mark is a central character in the book," Mr. Getschow said. "It is the story of [Peggy's] journey with Mark in learning to raise an autistic child. Mark had a hard time in the early years.

"It's about a father coming to terms over the years with an autistic son - how he grows in his relationship with Sam. A relationship and a bond formed between the father and the son that she really cherished."

Ms. Getschow said Ms. Heinkel-Wolfe at first tried to soft-pedal her husband's struggles with his son's disability. But her husband wouldn't let her, Ms. Getschow said. He understood that the story needed to show his failures so it could show the success of his journey.

"It's the story of a family discovering the beauty and magnificence of their son under what appears to be, on the surface, a major disability. It's a powerful story for all of us. The thing I admire most about Mark is that he told her to tell that story without removing the blemishes.

"With Mark's death, it leaves a big hole in the narrative of their lives," Mr. Getschow said.
_____________________________________________________

A personal note - I didn't know Mr. Wolfe well - just spoke with him at TubaChristmas a few times. He was always very nice. My prayers are with his family.

[Alex C]

Mark and I played in the State Orchestra of Mexico for a season.
He was a terrific tubist and a fine musician. He always had a ready smile, great curiosity about anything new and different, an upbeat attitude, and loved life. Everyone who knew him is better for that, and Mark will always be a part of us. Life is too short, so make every day count.

(Too humble, Kim.) These fine words are from the founder and head honcho of the Dallas Wind Symphony.

[Matt Good]

Alton Adkins of the Fort Worth Symphony has made a nice slide-show tribute to Mark. You may view it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY90OmZ9V0c

[Jarrod]

For clarification...some were having trouble finding out HOW to donate on the union website. I spoke with Ray Hair this afternoon, and all you do is go to the "Pay Dues Online" link, and write that it is for the Wolfe Family in the memo section

http://musiciansdfw.org/index.htm

Thanks to everyone who has donated

~Jarrod Robertson

[vurltuba]

For clarification...some were having trouble finding out HOW to donate on the union website. I spoke with Ray Hair this afternoon, and all you do is go to the "Pay Dues Online" link, and write that it is for the Wolfe Family in the memo section

http://musiciansdfw.org/index.htm

Thanks to everyone who has donated

~Jarrod Robertson

The way it is setup now, you can only contribute online through the Local 72-147's website if you are a member of Local 72-147, since you have to login to the Members' Area. So if you are a member of 72-147 please contribute as much as you can.

If you are not a member of the DFW AFM Local and would like to make a donation you have two options:

1) send a check or money order to:
American Federation of Musicians Local 72-147
1939 Stadium Oaks Court, Suite 110,
Arlington, TX 76011

2) send an email to:
Ken Krause, Local 72-147 Secretary-Treasurer
kkrause@musiciansdfw.org
In the memo put "Mark Wolfe Family Fund"
Indicate how much you would like to contribute in the body of the email. Ken will send you an email with a PayPal invoice link allowing you to contribute securely through the internet.

[vurltuba]

Mark Wolfe Funeral & Remembrance Services

Date: Friday, 28th December 2007
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Venue: St. Philip the Apostle Roman Catholic Church
Address: 1897 W. Main Street (at the corner of Main & Kirkpatrick), Lewisville, Texas 75067

Church Website: http://stphilipcc.org/

The funeral service will follow strict Roman Catholic Church guidelines. In the Community Life Center, immediately following the main funeral service, there will be an opportunity for those wanting to say a few words to do so. Additionally, there will be a video / slide presentation "Remembering Mark Wolfe". For tuba / euphonium players able to attend there will be an impromptu ensemble performance for anyone desiring to participate.

Contributions to the Wolfe Family Fund are greatly appreciated and may be made payable to the Wolfe Family Fund, c/o Musicians’ Union, 1939 Stadium Oaks Court, Ste. 110, Arlington, Texas 76011

If you are planning on playing in the tuba ensemble at the Community Life Center following the Mark Wolfe Memorial Mass, please note the following:

1)email me at vurltuba@sbcglobal.net and let me know what instrument you will be playing (to make sure we have enough parts).

2)we will need to have a short rehearsal at 11:00 p.m.

3)bring a music stand.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at the above address or call me on my cellphone: 817 233 8920.

Warmest Wishes to All for the Holiday Season,
Vurl Bland

[TubaRay]

Mark helped me with getting an excellent CB50. He went way beyond what most folks would do. I hope to be able to return the favor with a student some day.
John Rider

In my opinion, this is one of the best ways we can honor someone.