Bernard Portnoy

Bernard Portnoy Orchestral Clarinetist Bernard Portnoy, retired principal clarinetist with several major symphony orchestras, died in Marin County, CA, on December 2, 2006, two days before his 92nd birthday. "Port," as he was known to friends and family, was born in Pittsburgh, PA, to parents, Jacob and Rebecca Portnoy. Portnoy left home at age 15 to accept a scholarship to the Curtis Institute for Music in Philadelphia. Following graduation from Curtis, his career blossomed, including principal clarinetist with the Kansas City Philharmonic under conductor Karl Krueger, the Pittsburgh Symphony under Fritz Reiner, and the Philadelphia Symphony under both Leopold Stokowski and Eugene Ormandy. During World War II, Portnoy joined the Merchant Marines in New York. After the war, he joined the Cleveland Orchestra as principal clarinetist under George Szell for six years. Portnoy then returned to New York where he played with the NBC Symphony under Arturo Toscanini and accepted free-lance assignments including recordings for Victor, Columbia, Vox, Capitol and M.G.M., as well as for television and motion pictures, Broadway shows such as "My Fair Lady" and "Kismet" and stints with the WOR Mutual Broadcasting Orchestra and Pablo Casal's Orchestra. In spite of his career demands, Portnoy found time to teach, first at the Curtis Institute during his tenure with the Philadelphia Symphony and later at Juilliard School in New York for 12 years. In 1968, he became Professor of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he spent the next twenty years. In 1987, Portnoy moved to California and settled in Larkspur. He was invited to join the prestigious Bohemian Club of San Francisco and Russian River, where he participated in many musical events over the years. Port was married twice and is survived by three children: a daughter from his first marriage, Josie Fisher of Wynwood, PA; and two sons from his second marriage, Carey Portnoy of Tucson, AZ, and Richard Portnoy of Southern California. He is also survived by his brother Dr. Joseph Portnoy, retired Cantor of Temple Emanu-El, and one niece and four nephews.