Harris Donald Harris. Donald's lifelong journey peacefully ended surrounded by family and dearest friends on March 29, 2016. Donald Harris was an American composer born April 7, 1931, in St. Paul, Minnesota to the late Barney and Hattie Harris. Donald served as an administrator at the New England Conservatory of Music (1967-77) and as Dean of the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford (1977-88), before becoming Dean of the College of the Arts and professor of music at The Ohio State University (1988-1997). After a thirty-year career as a senior-level administrator in higher education and the arts, he stepped down as Dean and rejoined the OSU faculty in composition. Harris earned his bachelors and master's degrees in composition from The University of Michigan, where he was a student of Ross Lee Finney. He continued his studies with Lukas Foss, Boris Blacher, Nadia Boulanger and Max Deutsch. From 1954 until 1968, Harris lived in Paris where, among other things, he was music consultant to the United States Information Service and produced the city's first postwar Festival of Contemporary American Music. Harris has received numerous commissions, including the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Radio France, and the Cleveland Orchestra, to name a few. He is co-editor of the W. W. Norton publication of the correspondence between Alban Berg and Arnold Schoenberg, for which he received an ASCAP Deems Taylor Award (1989). He was honored with an award in composition from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (1991). A documentary about Harris entitled "Sonata 1957" was produced by Daniel Beliavsky in 2011. It explores Harris' development in mid-20th-century Paris, when pre-war musical thought bridged with post-war experimentation. Donald was honored by The King Arts Complex with a Legends & Legacies award in October 2011. He received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from OSU in June 2012. Harris is past president of The International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD) and served on the boards of BalletMet, Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the Martin Luther King Center. He was currently serving on the board of The Johnstone Fund for New Music. Harris was twice honored with the OSU School of Music's Distinguished Service Award "in recognition of the trailblazing contributions and the dedicated service provided to the music profession and the arts community as a composer, professor and arts administrator." Aside from all the accolades and awards bestowed upon Donald, he will be remembered by most as a genuine, kind man who was a mentor to many. Donald is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn; sons, Daniel Yves (Tracy) and Jeremy William (Aileen); daughters, Leanne Moulton of Amherst, MA, and Kristine (Bob) Phillips of Stratford, CT; grandchildren, Marc, Spencer, Sophia and Amelia Harris, Aubrey Mae Moulton, and Carrie Phillips; great-granddaughter, Marleigh Hope; brother L.R. "Buddy" (Natalie) Harris of Palm Springs, CA.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brother Jim Harris. Arrangements are being handled by the SCHOEDINGER MIDTOWN CHAPEL, 614-224-6105. FAMILY REQUESTS NO FLOWERS. Should you choose, contributions in Donald's memory may be made to the School of Music New Day Campaign Fund #313979 c/o The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, OH 43221 or https://www.osu.edu/giving/guide-to-giving/ways-to-give.html; or The Donald Harris Fund for New Compositions, c/o Columbus Symphony Orchestra, 55 East State St, Columbus, OH 43215; or WOSU Public Media, 2400 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43210. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.Schoedinger.com. Marilyn and her family wish to give special thanks to the staff at Kobacker House, especially Dr. Christine Hudak, and the visionaries whose generosity made Kobacker House a reality. A Celebration of Donald's Life and Legacy will be held Sunday, May 1, at 2 p.m., Weigel Hall at The Ohio State University, 1866 College Rd. N, Columbus, OH 43210, followed by a reception.

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Published by The Columbus Dispatch from Mar. 29 to Mar. 30, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Harris

9 Entries

Florence Lathen

April 10, 2016

Dear Marilyn,
I just heard of the passing of Don. Although I did not know him very long, I know he was a wonderful man that clearly touched the lives of many. My prayers are with you and your family during this very difficult time.

April 3, 2016

Marilyn:

I was very saddened to learn of Donald's passing.
He was a great mentor as well as friend. I learned a great deal from him, and I will forever remember with gratitude his many kindnesses.
My condolences to you and the family.

Steve Metcalf
West Hartford

April 2, 2016

Marilyn, my thoughts are with you.
Stephen Pariser

March 30, 2016

"Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt, nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of party when we meet again! Henry Scott Holland (27 January 1847-17 March 1918), Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford.

The Rev deniray mueller

Lesley Ferris

March 30, 2016

Dear Marilyn, Thinking of you and your family. Donald is remembered fondly for his strong support for the all the arts. Warm regards-- Lesley Ferris

Patricia Fagan

March 30, 2016

Deepest Sympathy Jeremy.
Patricia David Laura Fiona

Christopher Purdy

March 30, 2016

Dear Marilyn: I will always be honored by Donald's friendship, and yours. This is a sad loss for music, and heaven's gain. Much love

Karen Peeler

March 30, 2016

Marilyn and Donald's family: My love and deepest condolences to you in the loss of this wonderful man---the world is a good bit poorer with his passing, but he has left a legacy that will survive us all! I am glad he is no longer suffering. Don hired me for the School of Music at OSU, and always was so supportive and kind. Even in poor health, he made the effort to attend my wedding two years ago---something I shall never forget! Unfortunately, I am out of town May 1 and cannot change my plans, but my heart and very best wishes will be with all of you as you celebrate Don's life, legacy, and wonderful creativity. I am so glad I have known him.

March 30, 2016

Dear Marilyn and family,

Don will always live on in my memory as a thoughtful, kind and empathetic man. His immense talent served the music world well and I remember fondly working with him on his songs a number of years ago.

He will be missed. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and your family.

Sincerely,
Eileen Davis

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