Today is a sad day for me and for all the people I work with. Our beloved colleague and my dear friend, Robert Danziger, died at 11:30 Monday morning. Bob loved life and fought his illness with strength, quiet courage and graceful acceptance of whatever fate would serve him. His love of music and wine was legendary. He played his treasured bassoon right up to the last. He was here Friday night playing in a performance of Chopin's Concert #1. He will be sorely missed by many.
28 comments:
Now he gets to discover exciting new knowledge concerning all of the misteries we ponder.
From Tina
A lovely, lovely posting. I didn't know Bob was ill. May his soul rest in peace. A very gifted artist, handsome, strong. What was wrong? I'm so very sorry for your loss. Please give everyone my condolences Annie. Love, Tina
Dear Annie,
I did not know Mr. Danziger. A man who loves music and a glass of wine must have had many good times in his life, and maybe given other even more.
I find grieving appropriate when a dear one dies.
Even if his immortal soul lives on, one feels a pain and a loss that need time and space to heal.
Even king David felt such sorrow, not to say Jesus himself as he woke up his friend Lazarus.
May Mr. Danziger rest in peace!
From Felisol
From Quanah
Thanks for sending this, Mom. I'm going to go say a prayer and then pull out the ol' bassoon.
Quanah
The photos say everything about your friend, he obviously loved life. I hope there is peace and healing soon.
Oh, Annie, it's so very hard to lose a friend that way. So many times we acknowledge the deaths of parents or children or immediate family, but for many of us, friends are extended family. My heart is with you.
I am so sad to hear this news. I didn't even know he was ill. My condolences to all.
From Joy
Thanks, Anne. Beautifully said.
Joy
sending my love to you Annie xo
More from Tammy who run marathons for fundraising for leukemia and lymphoma. God bless you Tammy
Annie
*****************************
That is so sad. I really hate blood cancers.
I am going to print out the pic of him w/his bassoon from your blog and wear on my shirt in memory of him at our next race in June.
Thank you for letting me know.
From Al
**************************
I am stunned and deeply saddened by this devastating news; although I only knew Bob since I started work here three years ago, I truly enjoyed the conversations we did have together and will deeply miss him.
Sincerely,
Al Brown
Annie - I am indeed so sorry for your loss of this good friend. I know how you are feeling right now, as my heart is feeling very much the same.
With God's love we will go on and in time remember only the wonderful things and not the sadness of our loss.
Wine and a musician - wish I had known Robert. We would have gotten along great I know.
Thanks for the phone call, Anne. I shall miss that big smile.
From Bogi
I wish I can be there! Please give my condolences and deepest symphathy to his family! He was a great inspiration to me!
FROM DALE -
Sheryl and I were out-of-town the past five days, this morning was the first time I heard about Bob’s passing. I was under the understanding that Bob was doing well and gaining strength for his bone marrow transplant and that a donor was in place. I am truly shocked and my heart is full of grief to hear of his passing.. Bob was an amazing, loving, witty, caring professor who knew how to transfer his knowledge back to his students. He loved his family and friends so much; his character was amazing. I am going to miss him so much as a good friend. For all of us who were lucky enough to really know Bob, this loss will be huge and not easy get over. We were all indeed blessed to know such a quality human being; a rarity in these times. My prayers are with Joy and the family as they move through this very difficult time.
Dale
FROM BIENE
Even though I have known Bob Danziger since the fall of 2001, being a student, and not staff, I have always called him Dr. Danziger. In real life, this smiling man was a teacher extraordinaire, a fabulous bassoonist and a true mensch. For the last two years he has been battling a very horrible disease, and this week-end it played a nasty trick on him.
Dr. Danziger was my professor in Spring 2005. I had put this class off for four years, because I didn't know what to expect in the way of work. What I got what this incredible human being, who loved his subject and his students. For this class I learned to play the pan pipe (when I showed him my new instrument, he asked me what I paid for it, salivated, and asked if he could buy it from me - as if!), interviewed a Peruvian (Andean) music group, harassed an overworked Florida State Andean music professor and put together a fun musical final project for class.
Since 2005, I have been gone from the Music Department, but I always stuck my head in Dr. Danziger's open door whenever I was passing through. We had made special plans: as soon as he was able, he would give me recorder lessons, and we would play duos!
Dr. Danziger was Bassoonist for the Modesto Symphony for years. His collection of bassoons was unequaled. Whenever he came back from Europe with a new bassoon, he was like a kid with a new toy, and I suppose that's not far off.
Last Friday evening was Dr. Danziger's last performance. The recording will be the last addition to his many CDs; and his last book (2008) leaves us a fabulous musical legacy. My professor and friend was a courageous fighter. I shall miss him
annie, i'm so sorry...may he rest in peace & may the perpetual light shine upon him
So sorry to read this, I'm sure he will be greatly missed.
Bob looks like the sort of person who embraced life to the fullest extent possible. This wonderful man gave to the very last, imparting his musical gift on those who gathered to hear the orchestra. My heart goes out to his family, and to his friends. I'm so sorry for your loss, Annie.
From Autrice -
Bob looks like the sort of person who embraced life to the fullest extent possible. This wonderful man gave to the very last, imparting his musical gift on those who gathered to hear the orchestra. My heart goes out to his family, and to his friends. Blessing to all, Annie.
Autrice
I am sorry for the loss of someone so loved. He looks like he was a wonderful man, from the comments from people who did it must be true.
From Helen -
**********************
I am sorry for the loss of someone so loved. He looks like he was a wonderful man. From the comments of people who did, it must be true.
I am really sorry for your loss. I hope that he died without pain. It is nice that he left you with a fun last memory; it was probably exactly what he wanted at the time. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
Dear Annie, Thera are many who walk this world and we do not see any footprints to say "I was here"
Your dear friend Bob must have walked many miles leaving many footprints - He will always be known as "being here" and "always" your dear friend.
I am sure he would say "do not cry for me Annie" for I go to play my music at the feet of god!!! "be joyful for me dear friend"
Yes I am sure he would say that!
hugs always Annie Lee-ann
FROM JOHN W.
**********************
I appreciate the kind words that many of you wrote concerning our dear colleague and friend. Bob was an original who will be greatly missed by all. To me, he was a good friend as well as a supporter and advocate. I will miss his regular advice, words of wisdom, and great humor. We always had fun playing chamber music together as well as playing in the orchestras of Modesto and Merced, and he was always willing to play with me on my faculty recitals. I am glad that I had the opportunity to play next to him last Friday evening. I told him that he sounded great (which he always did) and playing together was just like "old times". We also had a great time last year when I featured Bob as bassoon soloist in the Philips 'Concert Piece' with the Symphony Band.
He will be missed, but not forgotten by all of us.................John
Dear Annie, my heartfelt sympathy and condolences. This is a wonderful tribute to a lovely friend.
I hadn't seen Bobby for about 30 years, since he and his family were in Israel.
Our parents were the best of friends, and his mother and mine are still friends.
AwwwwWWW! Annie! I LOVE YOU! and feel sooOOOOoo sorry for YOU! I will pray for Bob and all his family and friends. Prayers are the best medicine! He looks soOOOOOo sweet and FUN and YOU can tell he LOVED life! That wine bottle he is draining reminds me of one of the bottles of wine we drained one evening out on my back porch one of the last evenings we would have with my son, Damon before he left for Korea for a year! That was in the Spring of 2001! Thanks for the memory Bob and Annie! ((((((Annie))))))kind of too tight! but I need a smile from my Annie, even if it is laced with tears
Post a Comment