In Memory

Robert Delwarte

Robert Delwarte

Per Mrs. Freida Delwarte:

Robert Delwarte passed away on 28 Jul 2018.

Services on 18 Aug at 10 am at Shepherd Church, 19700 Rinaldi in Porter Ranch, in the Ministry Chapel.



 
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08/15/18 06:46 AM #1    

Randy Biddle

Mr. Delwarte was our music teacher at Sequoia Junior High. I had the great privilege of being in his Beginning Winds class in 1959. In the beginning, trudging back and forth to school (from over on Hartland at VanOwen near the Library and West Valley Police Station) carrying a very old two-section clarinet that my Dad bought in a Reseda pawn shop, was not my idea of fun. And, just as with the accordion I learned to play when I was 10 or 11, I hated to practice. Nevertheless, I learned quite a lot from this absolutely devoted teacher, and music lover. By about the very last day of class, I made first chair. Which was a shock to me, Mr. Delwarte, and to my parents. Unfortunately, for me anyway,  that was probably the last day I ever played the clarinet.. Just the other day I was listening to Benny Goodman on Sirius XM channel 73, and remembering those days in Mr. Delwarte's class.

Of course, he had a stellar career as a teacher and composer, both at Taft, and later at SFVSC. It was wonderful to see him at the Taft 50th, and I made a point to tell him how his example made a lasting impression on my life. He taught us to love music, to appreciate the great gift it is to be able to play some kind of instrument, if only a little bit. I remember him telling us that he practiced every day, and while doing so, the family knew he was not to be disturbed. Concentration, dedication to art and craft, and working hard to get better at whatever one sets out to do are behaviors and qualities to be admired and to persist in acquiring. Thank you Dr. Delwarte!

It is no surprise that in his profile, one of the comments is that age 85, he still picked up his trumpet almost every day.

All of we students of Dr. Delwarte should be grateful that instead of chosing a performing career which could easily have been his, he decided that teaching us was far more important and lasting. And he was right.

Dr. Delwarte, I gave the clarinet to a young girl many years ago, and she did learn to play it. But, my accordion is still in sight and in your honor, I promise to get it out of the case and see what kind of joyful noise I can make.

God Bless Your Family, and may your memory and your generosity live on in each of us.

 

Randy Biddle

Sequoia Junior High || Reseda High School || SFVSC \\ CSUN

Star, Idaho

windships@earthlink.net


08/15/18 08:44 AM #2    

Raymond Shaw (Brown)

Mr Delwarte Primarily taught the Orchestra/band students. He filled in for Mr. Turner when Mr. Turner was unable to be at the school. One such day some one told Mr Delwarte that I had written a song. He encouraged me to sing it for the class.

The song however was about a crush I had in a young lady in our choir. The experience was some what embarrassing as I had not shared the crush with the young lady.,and there she sat listening

I had not finished the lyrics and so it stopped short. Mr. Delwarte simply said very good stay on it and finish the write.

His encouragement was exceptional  and a confidence builder 

He was a very cool guy as we said in those days. RIP Mr. Delwarte

Raymond S Brown Sr. 


08/15/18 04:52 PM #3    

Russell Kidd

Mr. Delwarte had a major influence on my life. Before he came to Taft, I knew all about him from his years at Sequoia Jr. High and had gotten to know him through a youth band I played in back in the early ’60s. He had his own youth band (the West Valley Youth Band) that rehearsed at his music store, Canoga Music, which he and his wife Freida owned for many years.

Mr. Delwarte was known as one of the top instrumental music educators in Los Angeles, so when I heard he was coming to Taft, I was thrilled. Playing for him was always fun, and yet he was a demanding guy. I liked his “tight ship” approach because I knew he was giving us what we needed to become good musicians.

He was such an inspiration to me that when I graduated from Taft, I planned to become a high school band director just like him. As it turned out, I became a working musician instead, but the lessons he taught me were a big part of my success as a performer.

I ran into him again when he had the jazz band at Cal State Northridge. I was going to UCLA at the time and several of us in the music department drove over the hill once a week to rehearse at CSUN with him. Mr. Delwarte was a superb jazz musician and helped many young players with that aspect of their musical education.

A good number of years ago, I was looking for a Shaklee dealer since the one I had used for so long was retiring, so I checked the phone book to see if there were any Shaklee listings. Lo and behold, right there in black and white, under the “Chatsworth” area heading, was “Delwarte, Robert”! It turned out that Freida, his wife, had been a dealer for many years. So I reconnected with the Delwartes and have been seeing them ever since whenever I run out of Basic H (a Shaklee product). It has been such a blessing to be in touch with them again.

We were so fortunate to have the Delwartes with us at our 40th and 50th class reunions. Freida told me afterwards that Bob was deeply touched by the number of people who came over to him and told him how much he had meant to them in school. I’m so glad he had a chance to hear such wonderful praise from so many young people whose lives he touched.

Thank you, Mr. Delwarte, for everything you did for us. We were so blessed to have had you in our lives. May God bless you and your family.

With deep gratitude,
Russ Kidd

 


08/18/18 01:28 PM #4    

Janet "Jan" Tauber (Luther)

 I played violin at Taft high school for Mr. Delwarte  and I also was one of the four banner carriers for the West Valley youth  band.  I think that was the name of it.  He was also the leader of that band. I remember how he used to take such good care of us when we would go and play for some function. One time, it was early in the morning in Pasadena and it was cold and the four of us were shivering  so he went up and down the street looking for a car that was not locked. When he found one he told us to get in and stay warm until it was time to start. I was a little nervous that the owner would come back to the car and find us and not be too happy about it.

Another time, I told him I wanted to learn to play an instrument  where I could play in the band, as I had a crush on one of the band members. He picked up a flute and said,here take this home and figure it out. I did, and a couple of weeks later I marched with the band. However, playing the flute and marching made me hyperventilate till I thought I was going to pass out. That was the end of my band experience. 

 After six years of playing violin I gave it up after high school but I kept my violin in my office all these years and every time I looked at it, I remembered Mr. Delwarte and smiled for all the happy times we had.                       Last year I finally gave it to a little girl who wanted to learn to play but her parents could not afford to buy one.

Me Delwarte,  you will always be in my heart. RIP  ❤️


08/18/18 02:40 PM #5    

Jack Butlin

Mr. Delwarte was a blessing and I didn't know it until later. In 1957, as a 7th grader, I was enrolled in "Beginnings Winds" to statisfy a music or art requirement. My parents had a special trailer made so I could haul my "Tenor Sax" to school and back - not to cool, but it was for one semester or so I thought. Mr. Delwarte had a gift for leadership, teaching, and motivation. You guess it, I went into "Junior Orchestra, and then on to "Band so much for one semester. What excited me about music was when he pulled out his trumpet could he make it sing!  He inspired me not only to play, but play to be 1st Chair. I will always have a thankful heart for what Mr. Delwarte did for me.

Jack Butlin - 1st Chair - Saxphone Section


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