Earl Groner Passes Away at 83

Longtime Scarsdale music teacher Earl Groner has passed away at the age of 83. Here is his obituary from the William H. Clark funeral home website:

Earl F. ("Pete") Groner, Jr., 83, of Scarsdale, NY, died peacefully on Saturday evening, July 6, 2019, while under hospice care at Calvary Hospital in Bronx, NY.

Born on October 23, 1935 in East Stroudsburg, he was a son of the late Earl F. and Alice (Chase) Groner.

Dr. Earl Groner was a member of the music department faculty of the Scarsdale (NY) Public Schools where for thirty-five years he taught strings and orchestra. This completed a forty-five year career as an active music educator. He is a past president of the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), a past president of the Westchester County (NY) School Music Association (WCSMA), and a past president of the Eastern Division of MENC: The National Association for Music Education (now NAfME). For two years, he served as chair of the University of Michigan School of Music Alumni Board of Governors and he is a past president of the University of Michigan Club of Westchester. 　

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Michigan, he received his Master’s of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and his Doctorate in Education from Drew University. His doctoral dissertation focused on conductor Charles Munch. For two summers, he was a Tanglewood Fellow performing in the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, often conducted by Charles Munch, then Music Director and Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Groner was elected to both Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Pi Kappa Lambda honorary music fraternities. At his death, he was working on a manuscript about the history of the Tanglewood Music Center.　

Dr. Groner played bass trombone in the Seventh US Army Symphony Orchestra based in Stuttgart, Germany, and for two seasons he performed in Carnegie Hall with the National Orchestral Association. He served as music director of Empire State Concert Productions, and for five years he was appointed the Educational Outreach Specialist and Consultant to "Live from Lincoln Center based in New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. He was a member of Asbury-Crestwood Methodist Church in Scarsdale, NY, and was the Chairman of their Music and Worship Committee.　

Surviving are a brother, James B. Groner of Norwood, PA; a niece, Dr. Rachael Groner of Glenside, PA; and a nephew,Andrew J. Groner of Trumansburg, NY.　

The memorial service will be held at 1:00PM Friday, July 12, from the William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main Street, Stroudsburg with Pastor Margie Good officiating, Burial will follow at Laurelwood Cemetery in Stroudsburg.　

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to Music at Asbury, 167 Scarsdale Road, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 (www.musicatasbury.com), where Groner served as a Committee Member.