Steve Harsch, RIP

[Rick Denney]

Some of you knew Steve Harsch, and he has been active on this forum for several years since his retirement, having posted as recently as a couple of weeks ago. I played with Steve (and Dan Augustine) in the Austin Symphonic Band in the early and mid 80's, and when he and his wife Kelly moved to the Baltimore area several years ago, we renewed our friendship at the Army Tuba Conference every year. During those visits, Steve and Kelly also met many others in the tuba crowd, including several members of this forum and of TubaEuph. Steve and Kelly had joined several of the local community bands and had recently taken a big trip around the country in a motorhome.

On July 19, Steve suffered a massive heart attack that caused anoxia and the resulting brain damage has taken his life.

For those living in the Baltimore vicinity, a memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 31, at Ambrose Funeral Home, 2719 Hammonds Ferry Rd., Lansdowne. (May come up on your GPS as Halethorpe.) Kelly has mentioned a memorial service in Austin in October, with details forthcoming.

Steve was brilliantly smart, and a good musician. He was also a good friend and band mate. I valued playing next to him, but I valued the post-rehearsal conversations I had with him at Scholz's Garten in Austin even more. The world is less good without him in it.

Let's keep Steve's wife Kelly Wagner in our thoughts.

Rick "still in shock" Denney

[Stefan]

I played with him for a couple years in the Bel Air Community Band and was sorry to hear the bad news. He was one of the best tuba players I have played with in a community band. Unfortunately i cannot make the service on Saturday but I know his wife would appreciate as many musician friends as possible.

Stefan

[bort]

Oh no!!

I played next to Steve for several years in the Baltimore Symphonic Band, after he had moved to Baltimore. He was not very old. He was a good guy and a great player. He sure played the snot out of his old Miraphone 186. I'm sorry to hear this news. RIP Steve.

[Rick Denney]

Oh no!!

I played next to Steve for several years in the Baltimore Symphonic Band, after he had moved to Baltimore. He was not very old. He was a good guy and a great player. He sure played the snot out of his old Miraphone 186. I'm sorry to hear this news. RIP Steve.

No, he was not old at all.

He had supplemented his 186 with a B&S PT-1 that he bought at the Army conference a couple of years ago. Yes, he was a very good player. Sitting between he and Dan Augustine really gave me a boost when starting to play tuba again, but they had a lot to endure from me.

Rick "thinking we need to get the most out of every day" Denney

[bort]

I remember when he got the PT-1, yes. Aah, man, sorry to hear this news. Wish I could make it Saturday, but don't think I can get down there (which oddly enough, is about 2 miles from where I grew up).

[hbcrandy]

I knew Steve as a participant in my Merry TUBACHRISTMAS Bel Air, Maryland event. He was a great guy and good tuba player. He will be missed by all of us.

What time is the memorial service this coming Saturday? If I can make it work with my teaching schedule, I would like to attend.

[Stefan]

Randy - it starts at 1 P.M. at the address given in the first post - http://www.ambrosefuneralhomes.com" target="_blank

Stefan

[hbcrandy]

Stefan:

Thank you for the information on the start time. I have students in Havre de Grace until 11:00 AM. I will make every effort to be there, at least for part of it.

[Rick Denney]

Randy - it starts at 1 P.M. at the address given in the first post

Yes, it is at 1PM. I just missed that in my first post.

Rick "sorry" Denney

[Rick Denney]

In response to a question, let me post the following, which Kelly has written on her Facebook page when she provided the details of the service:

Please bring pictures. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland, the coordinating organization through which Steve is donating his organs.

Rick "respectfully submitted" Denney

[hbcrandy]

After teaching private students all morning, I ran like a rabbit from Havre de Grace Maryland to Lansdowne yesterday and did make it to Steve's memorial service. It was a wonderful celebration, in both music and words, of the life of a man who enjoyed living, loving, caring and playing the tuba. I was able to offer condolences to Steve's wife Kelly. Steve will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched. Rest in peace, Steve Harsch.

[Rick Denney]

After teaching private students all morning, I ran like a rabbit from Havre de Grace Maryland to Lansdowne yesterday and did make it to Steve's memorial service. It was a wonderful celebration, in both music and words, of the life of a man who enjoyed living, loving, caring and playing the tuba. I was able to offer condolences to Steve's wife Kelly. Steve will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched. Rest in peace, Steve Harsch.

Did I see you? Was that you sitting in front of me, adjacent to the middle entry door, next to the guest register? Do you carry a cane? If so, I was sitting right behind you, thinking you looked familiar, but unable to put my finger on it.

Yes, it was a true celebration. It started with an excerpt from Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances, for which a piece of the tuba part was reprinted in the program, which Steve had played with the Baltimore Symphony summer program. More than a few of us were following along with the music as it played.

That was followed by reminiscences from a cousin of Steve's who grew up with him in Austin, and then by Kelly, who was engaging and witty, as always. More music, including Laredo Song and a recording of a tuba/flute duet with the Austin Symphonic Band back in the early 90's, with Steve on tuba. Then, more reminiscences from those in attendance. And, finally, the Marches from Gould's West Point Symphony--music Steve liked.

Among the memorabilia included was a picture of Steve with Dave Fedderly--the same picture Joe posted above. Kelly said that she was sure Steve was happy on the day they were married, but she would not have been willing to bet that he wasn't just as happy the day that picture was made, when Steve was able to perform with the BSO. Another item was a letter from his band director at the University of Texas to his parents, written for no other purpose than to praise his leadership and character. I cannot imagine any student motivating such a letter to his parents these days.

And there were some reminders of things I had forgotten, including Steve's love of fantasy literature. I had certainly NOT forgotten his bottomless memory for trivia, or his humor so dry that I often didn't get his jokes until about three hours later, given no hints by his smile that required psychic divination to notice (I eventually had learned to recognize it). He was quiet, but would occasionally interject some rapid-fire comment, with that nearly invisible smile, knowing that three hours later, the object of his wit would finally reach understanding, and offer a similar smile.

There was a picture of him laying on the floor, nose to nose with one of their pets, a floppy-eared rabbit in this case. Kelly was and is a pet-rabbit freak, and Steve had given her a rabbit in lieu of an engagement ring. Anyone knowing them would understand. The notion of rabbits-as-pets had been beyond my comprehension before my first visit to Steve's and Kelly's house in Austin 25 years ago, when they were newlyweds, and I met Diamond The Rabbit in person. It stood me in good stead--my wife had a pet rabbit when we met many years later, and it was good that I had already been introduced to the concept. A relationship with a woman comes with the animals, without the option.

I've been to many memorial services that claimed to be a celebration and not a wake, but this is the first one I went to that actually delivered the goods. I'm sure that would have pleased Steve. The pain of it was that he wasn't there to enjoy it.

Rick "hoping Dexter comes home" Denney

[hbcrandy]

Did I see you? Was that you sitting in front of me, adjacent to the middle entry door, next to the guest register? Do you carry a cane? If so, I was sitting right behind you, thinking you looked familiar, but unable to put my finger on it.

Rick, that was me sitting in front of you. Since I was pressed for time that morning with private students at the conservatory, I did not have enough time to go home and change into more presentable clothes, so, I came in my MCM polo shirt. I do use a cane to get around due to spinal stenosis that is affecting my legs. I am sorry that I did not have more time afterwards to socialize. I would have enjoyed meeting you in person.

Again, Steve's memorial was a fitting tribute to a man who will be sorely missed by his passing.

[bort]

Sorry I wasn't able to make it, and thank you for the details. Sounds like it was a fitting tribute to him, and that's the best one can ever hope for.