Frederick Gillespie

Frederick Gillespie passed away in Stephenville, Texas on April 3, 2020, at the age of 91.  He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Beverley, three children, four grand children and one great grandchild.

 Frederick was a graduate of Ithaca College with a B.S. degree in Music Education, and Indiana University with a M.M. degree, with distinction, in Theory-Composition, and completed his course work at Indiana University for a Ph.D. in Music Theory.

 Before he was even old enough to drive, Frederick had his own jazz band that performed through out the Catskill Mountain Resort region.  He went on to become the Commanding Officer and Band Leader for the 2nd Air Force Bands and was a sought after Adjudicator, Conductor and Musical Director throughout the country.

 His commercially successful musical arrangements could be heard on television, radio and numerous records.  As a professional Trumpet player, Frederick performed with five (5) different symphony orchestras, and numerous well known jazz, dance and pit bands.  He had performed on television and radio programs, and was a sought after studio recording artist on numerous records.

 But as successful as Frederick was as a musical composer, arranger and professional trumpet player,  his greatest pride and accomplishments were in the field of Music Education, where the impact on the lives of his students and the souls that he helped shape over the years, will be felt for generations to come. 

 He began his teaching career as a Graduate Fellow at Indiana University, where he taught theory, trumpet and brass techniques.  As an instructor at Flint Junior College in Flint, Michigan, he taught trumpet, brass, music literature and a 2-year music theory sequence.  As a Professor and Director of Bands at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, he led the concert band, marching band and jazz stage band.  Later, at the State University of New York at Plattsburg, he was head of the trumpet, brass and theory-composition sections and was the co-director of bands.  Finally, Frederick retired from teaching as the Band Director and Instrumental Music teacher at Franklin Academy in Malone, New York.

 Frederick had lived the past 17 years in Stephenville and loved being around the horses and a part of the horse community.  He enjoyed visiting St. Augustine, Florida to escape the cold winter weather and loved driving and exploring the rural back-roads around Stephenville and central Texas.  His clever wit and subtle humor will be missed dearly by his loving family.

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