Monday, March 19, 2012

Losing Friends


RIP Ross Sears.

I lost yet another close friend this weekend. As I look back at my life, I have lost some really extraordinary people who were in my life on an almost daily basis. It is a small wonder I feel so empty many days. Here’s the list:

Morrell Pfeifle. Mr. Pfeifle (pron FIFE-lee) was one of my conducting mentors. He conducted the ‘second band’ at Cal State Northridge. He was really the first of my teachers who encouraged me. He let me conduct the college band and even as a 21 year old, he had enough faith in me to let me conduct ‘Music for Prague 1968’ by Karel Husa. Not only was he my teacher, but also he was my friend. I only hope I have made him proud. He killed himself, his 3 kids and the family dog in a plane crash.

Ned Truelfels. Ned was a horn player, with whom I played in Debut, and American Youth symphonies. Later, we were both members of the Theophilous Brass Quintet. He had a brilliant career ahead of him. He was just starting to make inroads into the LA freelance scene, getting some excellent studio calls and getting a toe into the great symphony gigs in the southland. He was smart, funny, a great looking guy and always fun to be around. I’ll never forget our all night session, with Stan Friedman, about the merits (or lack thereof) of the minimalist movement. I have his picture (still) on my bulletin board in my office; I think of him daily. He died of a brain aneurism driving to work on the freeway.

Vic Steelhammer. Vic was one of those once-in-a-lifetime meetings. I met Vic under such odd circumstances, and the reality of the situation is that we really didn’t like each other so much. For some reason, we were drawn to each other and in spite of our differences, we became as close as 2 men can become. I felt like his brother and indeed his family welcomed me into their homes and their hearts. I always wished I could be a Steelhammer. He died in a plane crash. I went to the morgue to identify the body. I don’t think I’ve EVER cried so much. I'll never forget the look of horror he had on his face, as he crashed one of his prized, hand-made RC airplanes. I miss his calls, I miss his stupid jokes, and I miss his company.

Phil Zahorsky. If I had to PICK a brother, Phil would be him. He sat next to me 5-6 days a week for 30 years. I can’t begin to tell you how much he did for me professionally; I could write a book. When the SJ Symph went belly up, I didn’t see Phil as much and I felt real grief not seeing him. We talked almost daily on the phone. When he past May 18, 2011, I was overwhelmed. I wept for weeks; some days I couldn’t get out of bed, completely encased in debilitating grief. I have never felt loss such as this.

There have been other people who passed who I miss, Betty Steelhammer (yes, Vic’s mom) Ted Brown, Sam Comfort, Harald Peterson, Tommy Johnson, Mike Villegas. Every loss, a piece of you goes away.

Please take a moment today and tell a friend how important they are to you in your life.

5 comments:

  1. Whew - just came by to get your current email address....and now read this shocking news about Ross, one of the sweetest cats I've ever met! Damn, this sends bad shock waves through my bones.

    Peace and healing, my friend. Peace and healing to family and friends of Ross'.

    RIP to a beautiful human being leaving us way, way too early.

    Chip Tingle

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  2. Tony- Rena & I miss Phil all the time. You were such a good friend to him. Richard Ferry

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  4. How do you come across saying Morrell Pfeifle killed himself, the kids and Scamper? I knew them from the mid 1960s on. I babysat the three kids, my two girls are named after Kathy and Karen. Sorry Erik, we didn't have a boy.

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  5. To unknown, I grew up in Diamond Bar, Erik was one of my best friends in 3rd or 4th grade, its been a long time, can't remember which. He was the most brilliant kid I knew and I always felt he was probably going to be a scientist someday. I lost touch with him and later learned he perished in a plane crash. To this day I've been sad over this and I've always wondered of what caused the crash and where it happened. If you have any information could you please let me know. My name is Steve Marx, my e-mail is p39cobra@gmail.com Thank You.

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