Peter Gries
Peter Arnold Gries passed away at the Seattle Hospice Hospital on 20 November 2018, at the age of 79 from pancreatic cancer. Peter was born in Flushing New York, on 26 April 1939. Peter's wife of 39 years, Peggy (Margret), was present as he took his last breath. Peter is survived by his daughters, Ann Gries Slaughter and Amy Gries, older brother Christian (June), his twin David (Elaine), his younger brother Daniel (Jen), Ann's husband Jed, and their two children, Toby and Clara Slaughter.
Peter was a gentle man and a gentleman. He was a musician, a poet, performer, actor, and a beloved husband and father. He always had a smile for whomever he met. He loved helping people, be it giving them a music lesson, critiquing their writing, changing the oil on their car, or fixing a faucet. Whether it was a member of his family or someone he had just met, he never missed an opportunity to impart wisdom and render assistance.
Peter received his DMA from the University of Oregon and began teaching in the Music Department at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, in September 1974. He retired 36 years later, having served as Chair of the department from 1999 until his retirement in 2010. Peter devoted much of his life to both students and faculty at CWU, and to promoting the arts and music education in Ellensburg, the state, and beyond. His work earned him several teaching awards: In 2003 the Ellensburg Arts Commission paid homage to his 25-year commitment to community theater and musical presentations by naming Peter a City Arts Treasure. In 2006, he was inducted into the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) Hall of Fame, and in 2009 they named him Music Educator of the Year.
In all this, it's important to note what made Peter different from many others who are experts in their fields. This difference was his desire for everyone to feel supported and welcome. Mutual trust, honesty, respect for others, the desire to help others where needed -these are the traits that make a department great, and traits that Peter himself personified. He said once: "I'm proud of helping to create an atmosphere in the department that's welcoming and supportive. There is a great generosity among the faculty and the staff. The students love studying here, and they're supportive and encouraging of one another. Any institutional entity takes its cues for the environment from the head guy, so I take great pride in our department's atmosphere-it's a family of 300. That's the mark I want to leave." It is a mark he left not only on CWU but on all those who knew him.
Peter took no greater pleasure in life than seeing the people around him thrive. He saw the best in people, his community, and in the world. He will be remembered for his humor, wit, kindness, his love of beauty and music, and his true generosity of spirit. Please join us for a celebration of Peter's life on Saturday, December 15th at 1:00 pm at First Lutheran Church, 512 N Ruby, Ellensburg WA.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Daily Record on Nov. 30, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Peter Gries

13 Entries

Lisa Lanza

November 20, 2022

Thinking of Peter and all of his family today. Thanks for being a part of my life! - Lisa

Audrey (Bedinger) (Short) Steele

June 6, 2022

I was one of Peter Gries' students when he taught chorus at Roosevelt Junior High in Port, Washington. It was both of our first years at Roosevelt and both share great enthusiasm for music. He introduced me to French Jazz, which I still love. He was an inspiring teacher. I'm not surprised he went on to inspire so many young people in his career. Thanks Mr. Gries!

K.J. McElrath

December 3, 2020

Among the many teachers I have had over the course of my ongoing musical education (yes, now in its 50th year), there are three that have had the most powerful impact and influence on me, as a performer and as a composer.

Dr. Gries is one of that lofty (in my heart and mind, at least) triumvirate.

Few music students are fans of theory. I was among the majority - until studying under Dr. Gries' tutelage.

Dr. Gries' approach reminds us that, in ancient Rome and Greece, music was taught as part of the mathematics curriculum. It was studied as a science as much as it was practiced as an art.

And in retrospect, it is no surprise that Dr. Gries' twin is a mathemetician.

Dr. Gries not only presented music theory in a way that was actually comprehensible to theory-disliking students such as I, and not only made it clear - it made me appreciate the mathematics and underlying structure of music.

To this day, composing music (yes, I'm still at it) for me is more like putting a puzzle together or building a model. I hear wonderful patterns and order in music that I suspect not many people really appreciate (fans of Dr. Peter Schikele would).

In short - Dr. Gries turned me into a music theory geek - and I am mighty happy that he did.

One other thing bears mentioning is that Dr. Gries did me as a composer an incredible honor (as did the other two of the triumvirate). He appropriated a composition I did as part of a theory assignment demonstrating all possible resolutions of the common-tone diminished seventh chord modulation. I seem to recall this was an assignment and challenge that he presented specifically to me, understanding my attraction for early 20th Century American popular song and ragtime.

I was imaginitive enough to title it "Common Tone Dimished Rag."

He was so pleased with that work that he used it as an example for other students.

I hope it was helpful as well as entertaining.

Finally, Dr. Gries finally instilled in me a fine appreciation for the principle that music instructors had been vainly trying to drill into my head since I was ten years of age: "Learn the rules so you understand how to break them properly."

Back in 1995, I did incidental music for a stage production of the play "Dracula." It was a rush job - I also incorporated Bartok, Ravel, Dvorak - and a diabolical, dissonant, positively satanic reharmonization of a Bach chorale. Every possible rule the J.S. Bach passed down to us, I went deliberately against in order to produce something I think would have been extreme even for Schoenberg.

Of course, when I asked Dr. Gries for suggestions, he replied, "Just write the way you usually do" (LOL)

Anyway...Thank you, Peter, for your sharing your muscial knowledge and wisdom, for Schenker(!), for a deeper appreciation that music is as much science as is it art.

Say "Hi" for Scott, George and Wolfie for me... :)

David Swanson

January 10, 2019

My condolences to the family. I will cherish the memories of Peter, Clinton White and myself when we attended the Seattle Men's Chorus concerts and many 5th Avenue productions. Peter was a Renaissance man if ever there was one. His presence will be missed by many.

Reuel Lubag

December 12, 2018

(Shared on Facebook - CWU Jazz Alumni Page)
Peter Gries was truly was a Renaissance Man. He wasn't only a musician, but he was extremely gifted mechanically and with engineering. Did you know he built a solar heating water system for the house and also put in a special sump pump in the foundation because the house had a creek running underneath? There's also the special secret bedroom he built in the dormers in the attic too. Pretty amazing and cutting edge at the time he built it, pre-Green society.

Over the years, I was always surprised to learn something else about him and some new idea or concept from him. He was always so gracious and supportive of others and will be truly missed. Even though I studied piano, and composition with him as an undergrad, I actually got to know him better as I got older and was coming back to CWU or Jazz In The Valley as a clinician at the school or performer. He always made me feel welcome and we had some opportunities to visit and share. I feel very blessed to have had that time with him. He was truly an inspiration.

I do hope my schedule and the weather will allow me to attend his celebration of life service this weekend. I want to relay my prayers and condolences to Peggy, the girls, and his extended family. RIP, my friend. I look forward to seeing you again someday at that great concert in the sky.

Dwayne Johnson

December 8, 2018

My deepest sympathy to the family. Good memories of playing my violin in the Christmas Eve services at the Ellensburg Lutheran Church during the early 1980s. Peter would organize and orchestrate these wonderful events with his amazing musicianship. There was always a large crowd and it was a blessing to the community.

Dwayne Johnson (Medford, OR)
CWU 1985

Lisa Lanza

November 30, 2018

Sending love and peace to Peg, Anne, Amy and all of Peter's family. Appreciating this beautiful man and all he shared with us.

November 30, 2018

I Loved working with Peter in "1776" at VMT in 2014.

Janet Shields

November 30, 2018

Sorry to hear of Peter's passing.

Jen Geyer

November 30, 2018

So sorry to hear this. While I didn't know Peter very well, my daughter was in a few musicals that Peter was also a part of. He was always kind and fun to interact with. Sorry for your loss.

Barbara Williams

November 30, 2018

Peter and Peggy lived across the street from my mother, Bonnie Marsh. When Ann and Amy arrived, the girls played with Bonnie's grandchildren. She treasured the family's presence in the neighborhood and in her life. I think of those times with delight and gratitude. Peter was a trusted friend. The family, favorite neighbors.
To Peggy, Amy, Ann and her family, I extend my deepest sympathy for the loss of Peter. Sincerely, Barbara (Marsh) Williams.

Heather Moll (formerly Reger)

November 29, 2018

Dr. Gries was my first piano professor at Central. I transferred mid-year (in January of 1996) from a very close knit community at EDCC and I instantly felt at home in my lesson. I learned so much over the years from Peter (and also from Peggy) about musicianship and being a quality human being. He has impacted thousands of us and his legacy will live through us all. I'm sending love to Peggy and all of Peter's family as they experience this loss.

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