David Eagle Obituary
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.
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Shoshana Kaye
August 15, 2022
I remember Dr. Eagle fondly! I was a music major at the University of Minnesota and David Eagle was my 'flute jury' judge, along with his wife, Elaine. Both David and Elaine were my biggest role models, always helping me and encouraging me to strive for excellence as a musician. I remember Dr. Eagle would ask me to play very intricate scales in all sorts of keys---on the flute, and as a result I have become an accomplished flutist. His wife, Elaine, was my primary flute teacher and she encouraged me every step of the way! David Eagle was patient and so very talented, and I will do my best to continue his legacy of greatness.
David & Sid, what a hoot!
September 14, 2009
David & Sid, what a hoot!
Barbara Lamb
September 14, 2009
Dear David,
This year has painfully slipped away. There have been so many times when I have wanted to tell you something that had happened but you were not there.
I miss your smile, your wit, your knowledge and your sense of fair play. You cared about and helped so many.
Thank you for all you taught me, I am a better person for having known you. You will be forever in my thoughts.
Elaine, Barb & David in San Antonio
September 5, 2009
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Catherine Cunningham, Barb, David & Elaine
September 5, 2009
Jim Jaranson, Barb & David in Albuquerque
September 5, 2009
David & Barb in San Antonio
September 5, 2009
David & Jim Gavigan in San Antonio
September 5, 2009
David & Sue Gabel
September 5, 2009
David, Sue Gabel & Barb
September 5, 2009
David Loved the Kittens
September 5, 2009
Sue, Sid and David at the Cabin
September 5, 2009
David & Barb in New Orleans with the Cook
September 5, 2009
Monica Smith (Pincus)
August 15, 2009
I'm so sad to learn (only today) of David's death last September. I was Elaine's student at the U of M in the mid-1970's, and was privileged to be coached and mentored by David as well. His brilliant musicianship and sharp intelligence will remain with me forever. I was just at the enormous National Flute Convention in New York City (where I have lived for the past 25 years) and everywhere I turned I saw and heard things that brought to mind David's witticisms ... Elaine, if you read this, you'll know what I'm talking about. I'm so sorry for your loss. He was one of life's treasures. My love to you.
David Consulting with Pearl Flute Executive
July 29, 2009
David the Comedian
July 29, 2009
David & Barb at the Arcade Studio in Chicago
July 29, 2009
David and Barb with friends at a concert
July 29, 2009
Cliff Ware, David and Richard Zgodava just before a concert
July 29, 2009
David the "Monster" Scaring the Cunningham Kids
July 29, 2009
David listening to his favorite LPs
July 29, 2009
mom, Almira, David and brother Richard at home
July 6, 2009
David with his favorite flute
July 6, 2009
David and his dad and mom in Minneapolis for Christmas
July 6, 2009
David and his mother Almira in Crookston, MN
July 6, 2009
David at the he 4th of July Party, 2008
July 6, 2009
David and Merle Evans, conductor of the Ringling Bros. Band
July 6, 2009
David Boating
July 6, 2009
The Young Musician
July 6, 2009
David as a Toddler
June 18, 2009
David at Midwest
June 18, 2009
Winston Morris & David at Midwest
June 18, 2009
David at 4 years
June 18, 2009
Joanne Thompson, Claire Grady & David, on the school newspaper,1947.
June 17, 2009
Regency Trio Brochure; David, Sandra & Barb
June 17, 2009
The Regency Trio; David, Sandra & Barb
Barbara Lamb
June 17, 2009
David, Eileen, Elaine & Jim-Italian Village, Chicago
June 17, 2009
David
June 17, 2009
David at the Iowa Flute Fair
June 17, 2009
Groucho David
June 17, 2009
David at the Lake
June 17, 2009
Another Birthday Party
June 17, 2009
David & Winston in Chicago
June 17, 2009
David & Winston Morris
June 17, 2009
David's Birthday
June 17, 2009
David at 4 years
June 17, 2009
David & Paul Brissey
June 17, 2009
David & Barb
May 21, 2009
Gail Olszewski
November 6, 2008
Dear Barbara,
I was so sorry to hear about David's passing. Over the years I had accompanied many of David's students. I loved working with him - his wit, candor and intelligence were second to none. He and I became good friends, and I always appreciated his encouragement and support. I'll really miss him. He was a uniquely wonderful presence in the world.
Best regards,
Gail
Barbara Lamb
October 17, 2008
David William Eagle, 79 years; flutist, teacher, mentor, author, arranger and dear friend lost his battle with the many diseases that ravaged his body, on September 16, 2008. His life began in Crookston, Minnesota, the eldest of 2 sons born to Almira Uggen Eagle and E. William Eagle.
David was born into a musical family. His mother and all of her brothers were musicians and David’s father played the trumpet as well. From the time he was small, he was interested in music. He would sit on the steps and listen to his mother at the piano as she coached singers and played chamber music. It was hard for him to get to sleep hearing the beautiful tunes wafting up the steps from the family music room.
As a youngster, David would find older kids in the neighborhood that played instruments and would conduct them with a tree branch. He studied piano with his mother and violin with a local teacher. He was thrilled to finally get a musty old flute as a teenager and that became his life’s instrument. He said he chose it because “all of the cute girls played the flute.” David had a music teacher, Ted Thorson, who positively influenced his music career. Thorson, realizing David’s quick mind, challenged him at every turn.
During his teenage years, David spent hours listening to records with his mother. She also made sure that he got to hear all of the best musicians who came to Grand Forks and even took him to concerts and the opera in Minneapolis.
When David came to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota, as a pharmacy student and a music student, he studied flute with Emil Opava of the Minneapolis Symphony. He also studied with Harold Bennett, principal flutist, of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. David introduced himself to Bennett as a great admirer and was invited to take a lesson. David had found a friend in Harold and each year when the Met came to Minneapolis, David would take a lesson or two, the cost, a corn beef sandwich and a beer. The lessons would prove invaluable.
David counted among his friends many flutists of renown and had a grand time playing duets with them when they came to town. He would also seek them out at the yearly flute convention.
David loved all types of music. He listened to singers, violinists, cellists, flutists, pianists and more, knowing that he could become a better musician by doing this. His appreciation for music had no bounds. He was a beautiful player, the love he had for the music was evident in every performance.
His father was a pharmacist, and David practiced that profession for 13 years before deciding that he really wanted to make music his life. He returned to the University of Minnesota where he received a Ph.D. degree in Music History in 1977. His dissertation, A Constant Passion a Constant Pursuit: A Social History of Flute Playing in England 1800-1850, became required reading for flute majors at many colleges and universities both here and in the U.K.
David became an adjunct professor of flute at the U of M school of music and was mentor and friend to many students in his nearly 30 year tenure. His students came from all over the United States and the world including China, the U. K., Africa and Qualalampur. His former students are teachers, musicians, lawyers and doctors.
During David’s last years he saw the onset of many diseases. He was courageous and did everything possible to fight against them. He was in the hospital sixteen times in the last 14 months and his body became too tired to fight anymore.
Although he is no longer among us, his gentle touch, sweetness, dry wit and exuberant laughter will live on. Life is better because of him and will be empty without him.
Barbara Lamb, 2008
David, Julie and at the Como Park Band Shell
October 12, 2008
Nephew, Robert Cunningham and David
October 12, 2008
David and Sue Gabel
October 12, 2008
David and His Flute Students
October 12, 2008
David at the San Diego Zoo
October 12, 2008
David the Prankster
October 12, 2008
David, Daryl & Barb
October 12, 2008
Sydney Zeitlin and David
October 12, 2008
David & Hjelmer
October 12, 2008
David as Santa Bear
October 12, 2008
Take Five Quintet-Julie, Bob, Marv, David & Max
October 12, 2008
Paul Brissey, Barb & David at the Lake
October 12, 2008
David at the State Fair
October 12, 2008
Barb, David & Elaine
October 12, 2008
Jim and David in Hong Kong
October 12, 2008
David and Barb
October 12, 2008
The Pharmacist Days
October 12, 2008
David With His Mom & Dad
October 12, 2008
Maestro!
October 12, 2008
David and His Dad
October 12, 2008
David's mom and brothers, Art, Clarence & Elmer
October 12, 2008
The Alchemist
October 12, 2008
Prom Night
October 12, 2008
Brother, Richard and David
October 12, 2008
Dad, Bill and David
October 12, 2008
David in the Backyard Pool
October 12, 2008
Mom, Almira and David
October 12, 2008
Sweet Boy
October 12, 2008
Baby Boy
October 12, 2008
The Consumate Performer
October 12, 2008
Raymond Dunham
October 12, 2008
Barbara,
I am so sorry to hear of David’s passing. He will leave a big hole for all of us who knew him.
When I do think of him a number of his stories come to mind. He had a terrific sense of humor and a very sharp wit. Naturally, he catered to musical stories and he knew a lot of them.
He insisted that the only time he played with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra was when their regulars couldn’t play the piece! They would call him in.
He would go into almost convulsions telling the story of Arthur Feidler, the Boston Pops guy. He was here to conduct a concert at Lake Harriet. Naturally, the program would be a selection of Classical Big Time hits. The Minneapolis tympanist was a little out to lunch at the concert. The previous tympanist had written the last line of the music on the top of the next page because it was a bad turn, at a bad time. Of course you had to be privy to this information, which this guy wasn’t and he blithely hammered out the written line---again. Arthur turned red, green and stark white!
Although, David was a very good musician, it was his ear that would astound me. On his visits to the office, I would be sure to have the FM classical station on. Upon starting our work, David would recite the work, composer and the orchestra or artist. One day, he was puzzled. He said the flute sounded like the New York Philharmonic flutist, the clarinetist undoubtedly was the Boston clarinetist and the oboe was Chicago all the way. He declined to name the orchestra, as he ordinarily would identify, because of the mismatches. When they announced the recording at the end, the orchestra was identified as one put together for this recording only---a kind of all-star group. David was right!
He certainly will be missed---just a remarkable, talented great guy.
Ray
Memorial Guests
October 6, 2008
Barb, Liz & Dad
October 6, 2008
Sarah West & Patrick O'Brien, Moderator
October 6, 2008
Sarah West & Barb
October 6, 2008
Nick & Jeanie Gaudette with Barb
October 6, 2008
Dick Haines, Ole & Helen Loing
October 6, 2008
Gaudettes with Sandra Haines
October 6, 2008
Sarah West & Chris Gomez
October 6, 2008
Joy Otten Isakson and baby boy
October 6, 2008
Lowry, Elaine and Mary Jane Smith
October 6, 2008
Patrick, Elaine and Eileen
October 6, 2008
Friend Jerry Farrell & wife
October 6, 2008
David William Eagle Memorial
October 6, 2008
June & Sue Gabel
October 6, 2008
Memorial Book David William Eagle
October 6, 2008
Dawn Baker
October 1, 2008
I was a music student at the University of Minnesota in the seventies and was one of so many students that were nurtured and guided (in some cases rescued) by David Eagle's teaching and encouragement. He helped us navigate music history, illuminated the obscure and the confusing, and always made us laugh. His irreverence and humor cushioned the terror of jury exams and he could always be counted on to do the unexpected. I'll never forget the time he wrote on the comment sheet for my clarinet jury that "my skirt was too long." He helped us relax and we always played better because of it. We knew he was our friend and that he would help us make our way through the labyrinth of an education at the university. He was an inspiration and I am so grateful to have known him. I send wishes for healing to all of his family and friends. Peace to you David
Jim Jaranson
September 30, 2008
I met David more than thirty years ago, when I took flute lessons from him at the University when I was a resident in psychiatry. We became friends and had great times playing flute ensembles, duets and more. There were lunches at Greek restaurants and dinners at Italian ones.
When I bought my cabin near his on Martin Lake, we often had meals together
with friends, pontoon rides, and boat parades. And then there were the
Flute Conventions, including the one in Minneapolis in 1990, when David and Elaine invited some of the top flute players to my townhouse near the Hyatt in Minneapolis. There were many memorable times. And this is what I prefer to remember instead of his suffering in recent years. Jim Jaranson, MD
David was one of the smartest, wittiest, and most enjoyable people I have
known. On July 4th he came to my cabin for his last trip to Martin Lake. I
will truly miss him.
Patrick O'Brien
September 29, 2008
Remarks in Remembrance of David Eagle
by Patrick O'Brien
It is good to have lived a rich, full life. It is better to have shared that life with so many friends, students and loved ones.
In the Fifth Century B.C., the Greek tragic poet Euripides said:
“When good men die their goodness does not perish,
But lives though they are gone.”
And popular author Nelson DeMille finished his recent novel, Up Country with this thought:
“The journey home is never a direct route; it is, in fact, always circuitous, and somewhere along the way, we discover that the journey is more significant than the destination, and that the people we meet along the way will be the traveling companions of our memories forever.”
All of us who have been touched by David Eagle’s warmth, humor, talent, love, wisdom and music will carry his spirit forward joyously with us from today.
In closing, let me say to David’s spirit and to everyone here a word I learned from someone whose teachings touched me very deeply.
In India, when people meet and part, they say Namasté. Namasté means that I acknowledge that place in you where the entire universe resides, that place of love, of light, of truth, of peace. That place where, if you are truly in that place in you and I am truly in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Namasté!
Steve & Jeannie Casalenda
September 28, 2008
Barbara & Elaine
My family and I are deeply saddened with the news of Davids passing. We were so very fortunate to have met you through the restaurant and looked forward to those evenings that you would come in. His quiet demeanor and wonderful sense of humor were such endearing qualities. We enjoyed listening to the Regency Trio play over the sound system at the restaurant. We feel fortunate to have known David and honored that you phoned us to tell us of his passing. Unfortuantely Jeannie and I will not be able to attend todays celebration of his life but we will be present in spirit. We will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
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