Richard Arthur Maddy

INTERLOCHEN — Richard Arthur "Dick" Maddy, 82, of Interlochen, died Thursday afternoon, Aug. 3, 2006, at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Born Dec. 24, 1923, in Richmond, Ind., he was the son of the late Joseph E. and Marie C. (Nangang) Maddy. Richard's father, Dr. Joseph E. Maddy, was the founder of the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

He studied percussion, and was officially enrolled as a camper at Interlochen Arts Academy from 1938 to 1942. Richard graduated from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Ga., where he was a boxing champion and a band musician. He later boxed professionally, and coached Golden Gloves youth competitions.

He served four years with the 9th Army Air Force in World War II, as a radio operator and waist gunner aboard the B-26 Marauder, a low-level bomber wing based in England. Among his many missions, he participated in the bombings in support of the D-Day landings in Normandy. He performed many missions with distinction. He was awarded 13 air medals; 12 bronze oak leaf clusters; a silver oak leaf cluster for taking enemy fire while in action; a Distinguished Flying Cross; and the Purple Heart, when he was shot down and wounded behind enemy lines.

After being honorably discharged from the Army Air Force as a Master Sergeant, he married, started his family, and attended the University of Michigan, receiving his Bachelor of Music Education degree and teaching certificate.

He organized and taught orchestra, band and choir in Kingsley. Mr. Maddy also owned a chain of music stores in Ann Arbor area.

He apprenticed as a violin maker, combining his artistic and musical talent with his love for working with wood, and created many beautiful, rich-sounding violins, violas, and later, bows. Through his 50-plus years of running the Interlochen string instrument repair shop, he became a master violin and viola maker. He created a narrow-necked viola that made it easier to reach all the notes. His violas were particularly prized by musicians.

He later taught industrial arts in Saginaw and Mackinaw Island. From 1963-1966, Mr. Maddy relocated permanently to Interlochen to work with his father to establish the Interlochen Arts Academy. Dick served as Comptroller of the National Music Camp and Interlochen Arts Academy, which opened its doors successfully in 1962. In his later years, he devoted himself to making instruments full-time, organizing a school instrument rental and repair business that served Interlochen, the Traverse City school district and surrounding areas, as well as clients from around the world. He had the pleasure and honor of rebuilding a Stradivarius violin that called upon all his skill as a fine musician and master violin maker.

Richard enjoyed a long career as a tympanist and percussionist, serving the Ann Arbor Symphony, the Traverse Symphony, and playing in all of the Interlochen orchestras from the age of eight. He also played in the jazz ensembles at the University of Michigan. He was a fine artist as well, enjoying and appreciating works of all genres.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Gwendolyn "Wendy" Maddy of Rapid City; son, Richard Jack Maddy of Traverse City; four grandchildren, Lisa, April, Benjamin and David; four great-grandchildren, Nathan, Nicholas, Louis and Armando; one great-great-granddaughter, Jasmine; and one brother, Joseph Maddy II.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Marion Maddy and Jeanne Maddy Gilbert Helding.

Friends may call Wednesday, Aug. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at the funeral home, with The Rev. Ron Sinclair officiating. Military honors will follow under the auspices of the Cherryland VFW Post #2780. Following cremation, burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

In remembrance of Richard, memorial contributions may be directed to the Interlochen Center for the Arts, for orchestral music and art scholarships. Envelopes may be obtained at the funeral home.

Arrangements were made with the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.