WE HAD A PARTY

The class convened, the table was set.

Instructor Geets read a couple of short pieces,
and then the MC guy in the wild hat took over.

Red played and Sherry sang

a few of Gene's favorite tunes
(so beautifully).

Red played again

and Ruth led us through her adaptation
of Frere Jacques.

Marjorie told a wonderful story
from the point of view of a child's logic
about "Why Fire Trucks Are Red."

Violinist Bernice Goldman gave a beautiful talk
about her fifty odd year friendship with Gene
and Gail McCoy told us an hilarious Irish joke.

Gene then performed one of his favorite bits
about an invaluable Stradivarius he has borrowed
which then falls apart when he tries to play it.

Larry presented Gene with a plaque we’d all signed
and then we moved on to a great luncheon feast.

Tina made sure everything was ready.
The food was delicious and plentiful.
How fortunate we all are.

AND, coincidentally, as I spoke with Mary and John
out on the patio, I learned it was also their
Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary.

WE HAD A LOT TO CELEBRATE
AND SO WE DID.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

Gene Shepherd, born June 28, 1920 in Trenton, NJ, moved to Cleveland, Ohio at an early age. He attended public schools there. Today, his name is on the Hall of Fame at West Tech Ohio. He graduated cum laude from the Baldwin-Wallace Music Conservatory in Berea, Ohio, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree. As a Fellowship winner, he attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York for the next two years.

In 1943, members of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, and Gene's string quartet, received telegrams from Capt. Glenn Miller of the U.S. Army Air Corps office in North Carolina, stating "When you are inducted...... fill out attached form and ........return to Capt. Glenn Miller to request assignment...."

Gene was inducted, went to basic training, filled out the form and sent it off to Capt, Miller's office. All during basic training, however, he heard nothing from Miller. Just as he was about to be assigned to the infantry--he had no desire to be a dogface--he received word his next billet would be the orchestra of the Air Force show "Winged Victory," to open in New York late 1943. Gene joined the band, toured with the show and after a run of 285 performances, "Winged Victory" moved to Hollywood where it was made into a motion picture by 20th Century Fox.

Following the end of World War II, Jeno returned to civilian life in Cleveland. While deciding to accept an offer to teach at his alma mater, Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music, he received a telegram from a musician friend, asking if he was available to fill an opening with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, being revived by Tex Beneke. He jumped at the chance and two weeks later was in St. Louis for the opening show. For the next three years he toured with the orchestra, which appeared during that time in several movies and television shows.

When his gig with Tex Beneke ended, Gene went to the University of Southern California, and in 1951 received a Masters of Music degree. Then, he came to Santa Rosa, California to work at Sonoma State Hospital as occupational therapist and music therapist. He fell in love with the Valley of the Moon.

Over the years, Gene acomplishments are many. He served as music educator on faculties of the University of Redlands, Sonoma State University, and Santa Rosa Junior College. He taught in the Napa School District five years, where he founded the Napa Junior Symphony. Then, he went to Cook Junior High School in Santa Rosa and for the next 21 years taught band and orchestra.

In 1959, Gene founded the Sonoma County Junior Symphony and served as its Conductor for 35 years, after which he was awarded the esteemed honor of Conductor Emeritus. He held the honored position of Concertmaster of the Santa Rosa Symphony for 31 years. As an accomplished violinist, Gene performed with numerous chamber ensembles and also served as Concertmaster of the Coral Cables Symphony, the Napa Symphony and the Bohemian Club Symphony orchestras.

After his retirement from the Santa Rosa city school district in 1980, he took over as conductor of the Baroque Sinfonia of Sonoma County. Twenty five years later, at the young age of 85, he laid down the baton for the last time.

Because of his excellence in music education, the Santa Rosa City Council twice honored him with awards for individual cultural accomplishment. He was also named the city and county "Teacher of the Year."

His last Baroque Sinfonia Concert, May 20, 2005, ranks among one of his most outstanding performances. But, then again, many of his concerts over the years certainly are not far behind.

Jeno, it has been a joy and a pleasure to have known you. You have made your mark on many of us who are non-musicians. How rewarding it must be for you to have excelled and to have been so unique in doing something you love so much, your beloved music. Thanks for the memories.

Larry Nees