Dr. Donald W. Stauffer, Commander, US Navy (Retired)

[sloan]

Dr. Donald W. Stauffer,, age 92,Commander, US Navy (Retired) passed away Thursday, November 17, 2011. He was born in Canton, Ohio, July 30, 1919. He held BM and MM degrees from Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, and a PhD from the Catholic University of America. He played tuba and doublebass in the Rochester Philharmonic and the United States Navy Band before conducting Navy Bands in New York and Norfolk. He was Head, Academic Training Department of the Navy School of Music before named Leader of the United States Navy Band in 1969. Upon retirement he was appointed Associate Professor at Birmingham Southern College and later at Samford University. He founded the Birmingham Community Concert Band in 1980 and served as conductor until 2003.
He composed and arranged over 40 published numbers and authored five books. His best known composition is "Fugue 'N Swing", and most recognized books are "Intonation Deficiencies of Wind Instruments", and " A Treatise on the Tuba". He is a recognized researcher in the Acoustics of Musical Instruments, and has published studies in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America and the New York Academy of Science. His articles on musical topics have appeared in the Journal of the 1962 All Eastern Band Clinic, and in the Bandworld and Instrumentalist Magazines.
Dr. Stauffer is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Eva M. Stauffer; his two sons, Mark A. Stauffer and Brent E. Stauffer; also, his many friends who shared his love of music.
A Memorial Service to celebrate his life and accomplishments will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, December 1, 2011 at Ridout's Trussville Chapel with a family visitation 1 hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester; 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY 14604.

[Rotaryclub]

I had ordered "Treatise" decades ago-it was personally signed (perhaps they all were). It's a now dated but excellent and interesting resource. It fetches quite a price online.

[Rick Denney]

Dr. Donald W. Stauffer,, age 92,Commander, US Navy (Retired) passed away Thursday, November 17, 2011.

Thanks, Ken, for posting the obituary. Dr. Stauffer was a link to the past now broken, and the more we remember of him, the more we keep that link alive.

Rick "whose copy of 'Treatise...' seems a critical part of the tuba literature" Denney