Edward Philip Diemente

Edward Diemente, composer and long-time Hartford resident passed away on Saturday, December 29th. He was born in Cranston, RI and spent his early years in New Britain, CT. He attended Boston University for two years and then enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942 and was trained as an aerial gunner. Upon discharge in 1946, Edward continued his education at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford and received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1948. After completing his Master's degree in music composition at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, Edward was appointed to the faculty of the Hartt School in 1949. During the next 40 years, he served as Chairman of the Composition and Theory Department, Director of the Institute for Contemporary American Music, and Director of the Electronic Music Studio. When he attained the rank of Professor, the Hartt School had become part of the University of Hartford. Honors Edward received over the years included the Larsen Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Hartt Teacher of the Year, and Member of the Inaugural Class of the Hartt School Hall of Fame, the last in 2017.Throughout the U.S. and internationally, major artists have performed Edward's orchestral, chamber, choral, and electronic works. The Hartford Symphony, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, the New York Brass Quintet and other groups, premiered and presented his compositions. For 13 years, Edward also served as the organist and music director at the Cathedral of St. Joseph where he composed and arranged much of the music supporting the liturgy.Eleanor Marchesseault Diemente (1925-2010) was his beloved wife of more than 60 years. Children include Deborah Diemente of Easthampton, MA, Eric Diemente and his wife Carolyn of Wesley, AR, Judith Hamilton and her husband Robert of Chester, CT and Palm City, FL, Greta D. Sibley and her husband Daniel Kelm of Easthampton, MA and Sarah Flint and her husband Brian of Fernandina Beach, FL. Daniel Diemente, Tara Lewis, Morgan Boes, Francis and Lyndsey Hamilton, Emily and Carmen Flint are his seven grandchildren. Cade Lewis and Owen Diemente are his two great grandchildren.Those who wish to honor Edward may donate to his scholarship fund for composition students at Hartt College, University of Hartford by check or online. By check: made payable to the University of Hartford, with Edward Diemente Scholarship Fund written in the memo line and sent to this address: Office of Institutional Advancement, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117. Online donations can be made on Hartt's online giving page here: https://www.anchoronline.org/advancement-services/hartt-school/donate Donors should select "Other" in the Designation Box and then a new box will appear where they can write in Edward Diemente Scholarship FundA funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on January 19 at Church of Saint Peter Claver, West Hartford. Reception follows.