In Memoriam Gary Martin 1936 - 2021 Dr. Gary Marvin Martin, 84, passed away with his family around him on Monday, January 11, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. Born July 24, 1936 in Manassa, Colorado, he was the son of James Marvin and Hazel Holtsclaw Martin. He is survived by his wife, Betty Martin, daughter Karen (Bruce) Walters, son Alan (Linda) Martin, daughter Mandy (Mark) Davis and son Mark (Karen) Martin. Gary learned young how to work hard and love his family. Even as a young man, he had a healthy sense of humor and a joy for life. Gary graduated from Alamosa High school in 1954 and began attending Adam’s State College on a four-year full tuition scholarship in music. He took leave to serve a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Switzerland and Austria. Upon returning home he graduated from Adam’s Sate with a degree in choral music education. In April, 1962 he married the love of his life, Betty Jane Hanks, in the Mesa Arizona temple. They moved to Oregon in 1963 for Gary to pursue his PhD at the University of Oregon. His 35-year tenure at the UO School of Music included working as a music professor, associate dean, and acting dean. Gary served devotedly in his church and always offered his best effort to each situation he encountered.
Sean Wagoner 1970 - 2021 Sean Wagoner passed peacefully on July 2, 2021. He is survived by his wife and two teenage children, Sean was a Senior Instructor of Percussion at the University of Oregon, teaching orchestration for music educators and music appreciation courses. He received his DMA, MMus, and BMus in Percussion Performance from UO, where he was a student of Charles Dowd. Sean also served as Principal Percussion for the Eugene Opera Orchestra, was a member of the Eugene Symphony percussion section, and performed regularly at the Shedd. His recording credits include the Grammy Award-winning Hännsler recording of Penderecki's Credo with Helmuth Rilling and Oregon Bach Festival, the platinum-selling album Zoot Suit Riot: The Swingin' Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, and David Crumb’s Primordial Fantasy. As a composer and arranger, Sean received commissions from the Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Fresno State University, and the University of Oregon.
Victor Steinhardt 1943 - 2021 Victor Steinhardt, pianist, composer, and beloved teacher, passed away peacefully at home on July 30, 2021, in Eugene, Oregon. He was born on March 10, 1943 in Los Angeles, California. His parents, Mischa and Pearl Steinhardt, were music lovers who encouraged Victor to begin piano lessons at age seven. At age ten, he launched his composition career by creating “Hot Air on the G String,” inspired by Bach’s Air on the G String and the novelty piece The Hot Canary. Victor made his debut as concerto soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at age fifteen and earned an MA in Composition at UCLA, which led to the creation of many works for chamber ensembles and for solo piano. From 1968 to 2007, Victor was a professor of piano at the University of Oregon. He performed often as a soloist with the Eugene Symphony, Oregon Mozart Players, Oregon Festival of American Music, and he co-founded Chamber Music Amici and The Pacifica Trio. A featured artist at Oregon Bach Festival, Oregon Coast Music Festival, Ernst Bloch Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival in Wyoming, the Mohawk Trail Concerts in Massachusetts, and Chamber Music Northwest, Victor performed chamber music throughout the United States, Taiwan, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Victor was beloved by family, friends, and colleagues for his humility, empathy, diplomacy, originality, and sense of fun. Victor is survived by his wife Betsy, brother Arnold, sister-in-law Dorothea, niece Natasha, nephew Alexej, and dachshunds Andy and Rafa.
UO SCHOOL OF MUSIC A ND D A NCE
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