Herbert Ballantine Gladstone

A kind professor at Reed College.

I was lucky enough to be one of Herb Gladstone's students at Reed College in the mid-'70s, and came away with an indelible impression. He radiated a love of music, and told me how he'd started out as a sax player before going legit; he let me conduct the Reed College Orchestra for a Christmas Concert; he had me over for a gourmet dinner; he was just a great guy. I'm so sorry to hear he has passed away.

In the 1950s and 60s Reed College was a very musical place, thanks to Herb Gladstone. He was a genius at organizing diverse musical activities that involved volunteer singers and instrumentalists recruited from the students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the college. He also encouraged students to organize their own musical events. Reed's music department was tiny, but Herb attracted volunteer musicians from all fields of study.

George Alderson (Reed 1963)

Although my chosen field was mathematics, no courses I took at Reed had a more lasting effect than those I had from Herb - music history and analysis, Bach, Beethoven and Wagner. He said "All lines lead up to Bach, but none lead from him," and "I respect the 9th Symphony the most, but I really like the 4th." It was much later that I joined the wine celebrations. I still have a bottle of Ch. Latour 1970 hidden in my cellar, purchased via the "Medical Friends of Wine" that I will consume in...

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. May the peace of God that excels all thought (Philippians 4:7) bring you comfort during this most difficult time.
Sincerely,

Herb was a gentle soul with a deep knowledge of music history. He was my teacher at Reed College between 1957 and 1961.
Jon H. Appleton
Arthur R. Virgin Professor of Music Emeritus
Dartmouth College