Robert Russell Fink

Robert (Bob) Russell Fink, Ph.D., and Dean Emeritus of the University of
Colorado College of Music, passed away on December 7, 2024 in Boulder,
Colorado, at the age of 91. He was born in Belding, Michigan on January 31,
1933, to parents Russell Foster Fink, Ph.D. and Frances Thornton Fink. Bob
graduated from Lake Odessa High School in 1951, attended Michigan State
University where he received a Bachelor of Instrumental Music degree, a Master
of Music degree and a Ph.D. in Music Theory and Composition.
Bob is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ruth J Bauerle Fink, Ph.D.; his daughter
Denise L. Missal, retired 4th grade Master Teacher (Dr. Joseph Missal) of
Stillwater, OK; and his son Daniel R. Fink, of Masonville, CO, Solar Technician
and Specialist, Field Engineer, and Instructor at Pueblo Community College. He
is also survived by grandson Dr. Jason Missal (Maggie) of Salt Lake City
(Director of bands, University of Utah); and grandson Jeffrey Missal, Principal
Trumpet, Malaysian Symphony in Kuala Lumpur. His beloved great-grandson,
Paul Robert Missal (age 11; son of Jason and Maggie), also survives him. All of
his immediate family members are musicians, and great-grandson Paul is
beginning percussion study.
Also surviving Bob is his nephew Eric Fink (Nancy) of East Lansing, Michigan,
and numerous grandnephews and grandnieces. He also leaves behind his sister-
in-law Rosalyn Culver and her husband Ted of Saline, Michigan, and sister-in law
Roberta Kelley of Lake Isabella, Michigan. Bob was predeceased by his parents,
his brother, Frederick T. Fink, a nephew Russell Mark Fink, and brother-in-law
Russel Bauerle of DeWitt, Michigan.
Bob's work history began at age 10 where he delivered newspapers all through
middle and high school. He always had a job throughout his college years and
summers whether it was working at the Oldsmobile plant in Lansing, mopping
nursery school floors, summer camp counselor, or working in the
catering/banquet unit at Michigan State University! On one occasion, he
infamously had to tap a banquet-guest gentleman on the shoulder to say, "I'm
sorry sir, I just spilled gravy on the back of your suit jacket. The Manager will be
with you shortly to make reimbursement arrangements for having your suit
cleaned!"
Bob taught at the University of New York at Dunkirk on a one-year replacement
position teaching French horn, then was appointed as the first French Horn
professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan where he also
taught Music Theory and Composition, and conducted various ensemble events.
He ultimately became Chairman of the Music School at Western Michigan
University where he remained for 20 years. During his early teaching years, he
was the French Horn instructor at the New English Music Camp for several
summers. He also played French horn with the Kalamazoo Symphony,
In 1978, Bob was appointed Dean of the College of Music at the University of
Colorado at Boulder, Colorado. He focused heavily on increasing scholarship
availability for music students, exponentially expanding options for their financial
assistance. Deans who followed him continued the scholarship priority. While
Dean, he brought the famous Takacs Quartet to the University of Colorado
faculty from Hungary where they continued to flourish musically much to the
delight of Boulder audiences, while keeping their world-tour schedule intact.
Bob was instrumental in increasing faculty positions and diversity at the
University of Colorado College of Music during his tenure, and highly regarded all
faculty members on the College of Music for their unique musical talents.
Establishing a Concerts Office, and taking over the management of Macky
Auditorium and the Artist Series was another contribution as was the
establishment of the American Music Research Center.
In keeping with his long work history, after retiring as Dean, Bob then joined the
Ombuds Office at the University of Colorado, where he trained and worked for
seven more years as the first Faculty Ombudsperson, working exclusively with
faculty and administrators. So, he was employed consecutively for over sixty-five
years of his life.
Bob was an active member of NASM (National Association of Schools of Music)
where he participated in various organization leadership positions
for several years. He also belonged to several state and regional music
organizations, and was the author of several publications. Bob also has several
music compositions that have been performed over the years. In retirement he
was among the city of Boulder's first Police Oversight Committee members.
A life-long outdoorsman, loving nature, rivers, lakes, mountains and plains, Bob
also loved animals, and once had a pet rabbit who traveled with his family on
road trips, riding on the ledge behind the back seat, to the delight of cars
following them! Bob built the family A-frame cabin in the mountains west of
Loveland where he spent as much time as possible, and where he enjoyed
hiking, fishing, and exploring with family members. Bob built the cabin outhouse
in the driveway of his Boulder residence much to the consternation of neighbors
who knew what it was, but were afraid to ask where he was going to place it!
Initially off-grid, Bob and son Dan eventually put up a few solar panels for some
sparce electricity use at the A-frame, and he rigged up a device where we could
get some minimal TV news by charging some device in Boulder, and carrying it
up to the A-frame and back-only he knew how to make it work!
Bob was devoted to his two grandsons, Jason and Jeff, and devised "Gramps
Camp" for a week each summer during their late elementary and middle school
years, where he taught them every sport known to man, plus fishing, hiking, love
and beauty of nature, with music experiences thrown in as well. The boys loved
it, and enthusiastically talked about it to their friends, whose mothers in
Oklahoma began calling Denise to inquire how they could enroll their sons in
Gramps Camp as well! However, one egregious error Bob made was to teach
Jason and Jeff the basics of gun safety during their late middle school years-
without permission from their parents!
Cremation has occurred under the loving care of In Memoriam Funeral Home of
Broomfield. There will be no funeral. A Memorial Concert to celebrate Bob's life
will occur at a later date, to be announced. With Bob's main focus in his
professional life being the opportunity and wellbeing of students, along with the
financial means to obtain an education in the field of music, remembrance
contributions may be made to the:
Robert R. Fink Music Theory Scholarship Fund:
University of Colorado Foundation
Advancement/CU Foundation
1800 Grant Street, Suite 725
Denver, CO 80203
Atten: charlene.laus@cufund.org
303-813.7905
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