[TPIN] Notice of decease

[Paul Kurtz]

This is to notify TPIN that Dr. William (Bill) Moffit deceased at 3AM
this morning here in Jacksonville, FL. 
Dr. Moffit was a composer and arranger and produced the Sound Power
series played by many people. He was a trombonist and music writer in
the US Coasst Guard in WWII. He taught at Purdue University, the
University of Houston, and most recently at Jacksonville University
here. He started the Tuba Christmas here in Jacksonville, contributed
time and effort to fostering many band and orchestra efforts here and
elsewhere. 
Dr. Moffit was also a strong contributor in the marching band field and
came up with Patterns in Motion, a unique method for designing marching
band presentations for football games. 
Finally, on a personal basis, I met Dr. Moffit later in life. He was
teaching a percussion methods class in the late afternoon and I was able
to take it with my work schedule. However, during that term, my wife had
serious cancer issues, surgery, and the like, and with Florida not yet
allowing blind people to drive, I had to miss a number of classes due to
logistics. Dr. Moffit worked around this, helped me get full subject
knowledge and do well in the class. 
At the same time, he was starting a community band and since I'd heard
so many people like Jon Faddis, Vince DiMartino, and countless others
say we need to give back, I joined that band and am still present and
accounted for in it. 
I found Dr. Moffit to be a joyful and enthusiastic man and between he
and his wife, Jeannette, who also has a livewire sense of humor, band
was fun. Bill also had a serious side, loved people, loved music and
wanted to see it continue to be supported, was very patriotic, and
appreciative of the many blessings he'd received. 
Dr. Moffit's funeral service will be held at Eternity Funeral Home, 4856
Oakdale Avenue, Jacksonville, FL, at 11AM on Monday, 10 March with a
viewing at 10AM. I have no information on donations or other plans, but
an obituary notice will be out in the Jacksonville Times Union and that
should give more information than I've provided here. 
My best to all for a good practicing day. 
Paul Kurtz Jacksonville, FL