Malcom W. Lewis

Lewis, Malcom W.

Ithaca: Malcolm W. Lewis, Jr., 89, musician, teacher, and beloved father, died on December 15, 2014 in Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca, NY. He was born on November 14, 1925 in Cuba, NY, a son of Malcolm and Thelma (Windsor) Lewis. Malcolm graduated from Cuba High School in 1941 and entered Ithaca College. His college education was interrupted when he was drafted to serve his country during WWII in Communications for the 10th Naval Division in Puerto Rico. Honorably discharged, he returned to Ithaca College to complete his education, receiving his B.S. in Music Education, and a B.M. and M.M. in Music Composition. He did post-graduate work in music theory and composition at the Juilliard School of Music and New York University. After teaching in Montana, where he was president of the Billings Art Institute and the music representative for the Montana Institute of the Arts, he returned to Ithaca in 1962 to teach class piano, music theory, and music composition at Ithaca College; he was especially proud of the two courses he designed and taught: The Analysis of 20th-Century Music and Music Composition for Non-Majors. From 1965 to 1969, he was the tour leader for the Ithaca College Study Aboard Summer Music Tours in Europe. He retired from Ithaca College in 1988. Malcolm was a commissioned composer for the Susquehanna Symphony and The Society for New Music (Syracuse). Dorn, Ensemble Music, Augsburg Press, and Tap have published his compositions for piano, orchestra, percussion ensemble, band, vocal and choral music, and chamber ensembles. His compositions, which have been recorded on Redwood, Golden Crest and MMC, have been performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Over the years, he studied sculpture at the Clay Club (now Sculpture Center), painting at Cornell University, and art at the Eastern Montana College of Education. A gourmet cook, art connoisseur, history buff, and raconteur, Malcolm will be missed by all with whom he had contact. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carol (Gibson) Lewis, his children, Nigel, Lhney Lewis-Steiner and husband Joshua, and York; grandchildren Jasmyn and Cody Lewis, Juliette Steiner; sister Mary Vause (Greenville, NC), brother James (Sioux City, IA), and many nieces and nephews. His sister Patricia Michaels predeceased him. The family would like to offer a special thank you to the staff at Cayuga Ridge for all the compassionate care and comfort given to Malcolm. The family will celebrate his life on December 20, 2014 at the Unitarian Church of Ithaca from 1:30-4:30 pm, with a musical performance at 3 pm of some of his compositions by a small ensemble from the Society for New Music. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Society for New Music (438 Brookford Rd., Syracuse, NY 13224), Unitarian Church (306 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca, NY 14850), or Gadabout (737 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850).