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Robert Gabriel Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Robert Gabriel
Dee Farrand
March 2, 2023
I have such an amazing relationship with Mr. Gabriel and think of him often since my son is named after him. What an amazing contribution he made to the world, his students and their families.
March 2, 2020
Just wanted to let you know your namesake is a grown up married man with kids of his own now. Thank you so much for the support and guidance you have me as a young person. Your memory will live on.
Jeanette Wah-Duffy
May 5, 2009
Mr. Gabriel was one of my first teachers when I moved to Tucson and he was so nice and understanding during my transition ... So sorry for your loss.
Dee (Denise) Farrand
April 20, 2009
I would like to honor this amazing teacher and man by starting a scholarship to the music department at the U of A in Mr G's name. Anyone who would like to add to the funding for such, please contact me. I will have all the research and contacts so that once we have a group who can cover the cost of attendance, we will be able to establish a fund. Contact me at [email protected].
Dee Farrand and son John-Gabriel
April 20, 2009
Dee (Denise) Farrand
April 20, 2009
Mr. Gabriel was such an important person in my life, at a time when I needed to know that someone cared. He helped me through those very difficult Jr High years and made me realize I had something to offer the world. As a Music Maker in 82-84, he helped me overcome shyness develop self esteem. I will never forget his gentle nature and his absolute belief in the young people he worked with. I now run a Sr. High Youth group and it is my hope that I can emulate him in this work.
Mr. Gabriel impacted me to such a degree; I named my son after him and had the pleasure of introducing them and explaining why. He was a wonderful man and will be sadly missed. God Bless him, his family and his friends as they grieve their loss.
Tina Puzino-LaSure
April 7, 2009
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Mr. Gabriel made an everlasting impression on my life and I would have loved to have the chance to thank him for that. I was in The Pioneers in 85-86 and couldn't wait everyday for class to begin! My prayers will be with his family who he loved so much!
Jamie Post Melin
March 22, 2009
What a wonderful, life-altering experience I had in Pioneers '84-'85! I am so grateful for Mr. Gabriel and his commitment and talent. Over the years I have realized that it takes such a special person to teach middle schoolers and really touch them the way he did. I can't imagine how many lives he changed just through giving a bunch of awkward 8th graders some confidence and something to believe in...I still believe in music! Thanks to his Family for sharing him with all of us. Like others have said, he's our Mr. Holland.
I wish I could be there at the memorial today.
Heather Mueller O'Shields
March 21, 2009
I remember Mr. G well from Jr. High at Magee, even though I was in the band, not the choir. His love for music and the students flowed through the whole music department. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Teresa (Myles) Mitchell
March 20, 2009
I will miss him dearly. It's been over 20 years since I had seen him, but it seems like yesterday. He was the kindest soul I have ever met. He was loved and will be missed by many. I worked the stage crew with him at Magee 79-81. I have always thought about him over the years and was saddened to here of his passing. My condolences to his family and thank you for sharing him with us for so many years.
Angie Simmons Strebe
March 20, 2009
I resemble that remark. I say that often and think of Mr. G every time. I regret that I live 1 1/2 hours away and haven't seen the family since Sue's wedding. As always MR. G has a way of making me want to be a better person and take care of others better. He will always be a part of me. My love to Jeni and Sue and their families.
Jack and Michalyn Erickson
March 17, 2009
We knew Bob "Gabe" from our years at Rincon High School band and orchestra. He was an outstanding musician, even then. As a friend, Bob was strong, quiet, caring and steady, and it is obvious he remained that way. We are so sorry for his family's loss, and just hope that all the love and memories coming from those who knew and loved him will somehow help ease the pain. We'll miss him.
Brian Simmons
March 16, 2009
Mr. G was not just a teacher, he was a great friend and mentor. I am a junior high school teacher because he had such an impact on my life and I want to try and do the same for my students.
Karen Wilsey
March 16, 2009
Tucson and the world of music education was greatly enriched by the talent and of love shared by Bob. He was my teacher, my friend, my mentor, and later my colleague in music both at Magee and later together with our Summer Show Choir. He taught me more than any college degree ever did. I will miss him very much. My love and prayers to Jeni and their beautiful family.
Nan Vizedom
March 13, 2009
I worked with Bob at Magee Middle School for a short time. It didn't take long for me to see what a truly kind and generous man he was. He shared his love for music, the children, and was always willing to help a fellow teacher. Not only was he a remarkable and gifted teacher, he was also a wonderful person. My deepest condolances to his family.
Cary Benjamin
March 11, 2009
Mr Gabriel will always be remembered as one of my teachers from Jr, high at Magee who really stood out. He had passion about everything he did. I remember being part of the stage crew and the attention to detail. I remember having his class as well as having him for a home room teacher who taught with great character, humor and class. My prayer are with the family during this time
Kathy Kennedy
March 11, 2009
To Mr. Gabriel's Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers and love go out to all of you. His love and passion for music will live forever. He was truly exceptional. He was my teacher, my believer, my role model, my friend and one of the best men I've ever known. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful man with all of us. I still sing today because of him.
Love,
sean oliver
March 11, 2009
I feel very fortunate that I was in town and was able to see Bob before he went to be with our Father in Heaven. He was not only a great music teacher, father and husband, but an all around nice guy. For many of us he was our Mr. Hollands Opus!
He believed in many of us before we thought to. Thank you Jeni, Scott and Susan for sharing him with us for so many years.
Craig and Sandi Plotner
March 10, 2009
Music education and the community-at-large has lost a beautiful friend. While our paths crossed only occasionally over the past many years, we have always held Bob in highest regard. Our kids were 'Pioneers' and Craig was in the Mikki Greco Band (in the 70's) as well as being a fellow choral director. Remembering back to his first heart scare (that we knew of)....he shared with us his need to reduce his stress because his primary reason for living was his family...and he wanted to be there for them for as long as possible. What a testimony to his life!
Maria Sottosanti
March 10, 2009
Dear Jeni, Sue, Rick & family,
I just read about your husband's/father's death from Rick's facebook page. It saddens me SO much and brings tears to my eyes. He was such a nice guy, a pleasure to talk to and as you know, Danielle adored him as a teacher. Now I read they both shared the same birthday. I am going to miss seeing him and talking to him at get-togethers sooo much. He sure was a fighter, until the very end. No matter what he was going through health-wise, he always smiled, enjoyed the moment, and adored his grandchildren. I hope the kids are coping okay, as they all loved him dearly. Faith, friends and family will help you through and someday his fond, joyful memories will prevail.
Much love,
Aunt Maria
Debi (Hart) Oebker
March 9, 2009
I loved Mr Gabriel for everything he was. His sense of humor, love of music, and his passion for sharing it with us. I was a Music Maker forever changed by him. Truly by Gods grace I had the fortune of re-connecting with him 2 months ago. I discovered that his Grandaughter is one of my daughters dear friends. I let him know how much I appreciated him, I thank the Lord for the opportunity. He loved Animal from the Muppets. I bought a puppet in the 7th grade of Animal and still have it. Even a greater treasure now. Thank you to his family for sharing him with us. We loved him so. The angels in heaven are rejocing and singing praises for his arrival.
Larry Nichols
March 9, 2009
I had the pleasure of working with Bob back in the early 70's at Magee Junior High. As the school librarian, I was also in charge of video taping most of the choir's performances. If you closed your eyes, you would never guess that you were listening to a junior high school choir! Bob and Mari Bell brought the music from the souls of those kids.
Susan (Gabriel) Marshall
March 8, 2009
We are searching for former students who plan to attend the memorial service on March 22 at 2:00 at Tanque Verde Lutheran Church. Our family would like to honor Bob's passionate career as a choral director by having former students and fellow musicians join in singing I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing and I Believe In Music. Please contact [email protected] who is helping to organize this.
Jenny (Haupt)Engstrom
March 8, 2009
I will never forget when Mr. Gabriel came to my Mechanical Drawing class at Magee (1976)and took me into the hall to tell me that I was trying out for Pioneers. Scared me to death, but I will be forever grateful. I have been singing ever since, and it is the greatest joy of my life. Thank you Mr Gabriel.
Mike Suba
March 8, 2009
During the years of my formative education in Tucson, I was fortunate to have many teachers that encouraged and inspired my desire to learn and gave me confidence to pursue any goal that I could set for myself. Of all these wonderful educators, Robert “Bob” Gabriel was probably the most influential teacher that I ever had the privilege to learn from. I was introduced to Bob in 1971 by Mari Bell, my seventh grade music teacher at Magee Junior High School. Bob and Mari were in the process of encouraging and selecting students to participate in several choral groups that they were forming for the subsequent year. There was a shortage of boys interested, or willing, to participate in any choral music group at that time. However, Bob and Mari’s enthusiasm and encouragement overcame my initial reluctance to participate and I enrolled for the choral music class the following year.
I soon discovered that following year how wonderful being a part of a choral music group could be, performing in both the Concert Choir and Ensemble choral groups. Bob’s direction and excitement at introducing his students to various types of choral music was infectious for all of his students. There was lots of hard work in preparing for the many concerts that our choral groups performed at during that year, but everyone always had fun and enjoyed singing at these performances. Our choral groups performed at the Magee cafeteria/auditorium to enthusiastic “standing room only” audiences of family and friends. Even today, when I hear a version of a piece of music that we performed so many years ago, my memory takes me back to those wonderful concerts.
I am certain that I am like many of the students that followed my eight-grade year at Magee in having wonderful memories of Bob Gabriel and the music programs that he and Mari Bell developed. These music programs flourished over the years under their enthusiastic guidance.
As outstanding a teacher and choral director that Bob was, he was an even better friend. My friendship with Bob continued for another 39 years until his untimely passing on February 21st. Although I am quite saddened that I will not be able to have lunch with my dear friend again, I am grateful knowing that this man brought so much inspiration and joy to the many thousands of students that he taught and directed at Magee, and to the many audiences that enjoyed the performances of the choral groups that Bob directed. We are all so fortunate that this man came into our lives, and he will be missed.
Rachel Atwood (Tenny)
March 8, 2009
Mr. Gabriel, was not only a great teacher he was a good counselor. He got me through some rough times in junior high. God Bless Mr. Gabriel and his wonderful family.
Betty Craig
March 8, 2009
Bob and I performed together in the Mickey Greco Trio for about 10 years. He was one of the nicest and most genuine human beings I ever met. We hung out together during our musical breaks, and he always sopke so glowingly of Jeni and his children. He was a good, good friend.
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