Milton Mann

Mann, Milton
Husband, father, grandfather, uncle, musician, teacher, businessman and lover of life, passed away peacefully January. 4th at age eighty-six. At his side, as always, was his beloved and adored wife of fifty-six years, Cheri. Milton leaves behind his much loved children; Lori Erenberg, Brian, Robert, Jonathon, Leslie and Eden Mann, Steve Snyder, and his pride and joy; Grandchildren, Victor and Ilya Erenberg, Josh and Gabe Mann, and Leyla Clark. Born in Chicago on June 6, 1916, Milton moved to Boyle Heights with father Hyman, mother Ida and brother Phillip in 1919. He began playing the piano and accordion at age three. At sixteen he began performing on the weekly CBS radio show, "The Jewish Hour". At seventeen, working in the movies, he became a favorite at the Hollywood parties of Errol Flynn. Milton, an early proponent of health food and bodybuilding, developed a powerful body and mind, through vociferous reading, keen observation of others and rigorous self-discipline. During WWII Milton served in the Army Air Corps. He later performed with The Paul Whitman Orchestra, Riders of the Purple Sage, Sons of the Pioneers and Spade Cooley and became a staff arranger at CBS. In 1947, after marrying Cheri, in a whirlwind romance, Milton decided to concentrate on teaching music. He and Cheri opened the Milton Mann Studios in Santa Ana, California, and began raising their family. Their studios grew to twenty-one and their children to four. For more than thirty years Milton employed hundreds of teachers and sales and office personnel. During these years, Milton trained many top accordionists, led accordion bands, wrote countless student compositions and arrangements and organized magnificent accordion concerts. After retiring, he continued teaching privately up to the last months of his life. Over the last sixty years, thousands of students, have gained a love of music and the accordion through his tireless and inspired teaching. Many of these students, some very well known, have become family to him. Milton also leaves behind his beloved sister in-law, Miriam Mann, and nephews, nieces and cousins Michael, Marilyn, Barbara, Mark and Joey and countless other beloved family, friends and students. Services will be held at 10 AM Wednesday, January 8, 2003 Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, Tanach Chapel, 5950 Forest Lawn Dr., Burbank, CA 90068.