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Frank Corbi Obituary
USAF during WWII, as a member of the USAF Band at Ellington Field in Houston TX. He toured the surrounding area with a small jazz group to promote war bonds. He completed his education after the war and began
teaching as Tuscarawas Valley High School's band and choral director for 31 years while also performing at wedding receptions, restaurants and clubs in that area. He retired from teaching in 1984.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Alice Mae Sibila, in 1982, and his sister, Alda Petitti, in 1997.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Mercer Corbi; sons, Michael and Chris Corbi; daughters, Mary Alice Biclawski and husband, Randy, Lisa Elliott and husband, Ray,
all of the Stark/Tuscarawas County, OH area. Stepchildren include, Tricia Welsh and husband, Jay Sloan of Chatham County, NC, Jeff Welsh of N. Canton, OH, and Julie deMello, of Amman, Jordan. Grandchildren include, Timothy, Melissa and Jaden Corbi, Renee and Brett Elliott, and Sean,
Sara, and Alex Welsh, all of Ohio, and Julia Sloan of Chatham County.
Frank and Carol moved to Cary, NC in 1984, when Frank began sitting in with local jazz musicians to let them know he was available for jazz gigs, and soon formed his own quartet. He continued playing professionally until 2008, and was known and loved by many jazz musicians in this area. Frank had legions of fans and friends wherever he lived and whomever he met.
A funeral mass will be held on Monday, January 18, at 10 a.m. in St. Michael's Church in Cary, and a reception celebrating his life will follow at Georgio's Restaurant, close by the church.
A memorial service also will be held at the Trinity Church in Bolivar, OH. A date and time is to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Frank requested donations be made to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, Attn: Accounting, 3808 Tarheel Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609 and Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Condolences may be made to www.apexfuneral.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Frank Corbi
Julie (Cappillo) Vega
February 9, 2010
My deepest sympathy to all the Corbi Family. I cannot help but smile with fond memories as I look at the photo of this wonderful person who has touched the lives of so many. During clarinet lessons, he would always start out with asking how things were with school, friends and family. With a genuine interest and caring demeaner, he always made it more than just a lesson in music. He had an infectious personality that carried over his love for music and made being in band a highly chosen school activity, as proven in the numbers. Mr. Corbi retired my junior year, and my last year of band just wasnt the same. He will be forever in our hearts and minds. Thank you for sharing him with us.
Naomi Opphile
February 2, 2010
Mary Alice, Chris, Mickey and Lisa,
You have my deepest condolences. Frank was one of a kind. A great neighbor and friend. We all shared a time of growing together.....an unmatched time and place. He will be missed so.... but his memory will live on in all of us. Words cannot express my heartfelt sympathy for you all. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Greg Opphile
February 2, 2010
Mick, Chris, Mary Alice, Chris and Lisa..
With the passing of your father, please accept my deepest sympathy. Mr. Corbi was all that has been recognized of him. Caring, inspirational, talented, hard-working, understanding and more. I was the lucky one to have experienced all of that but, more importantly, I got to spend many years with all of you, Alice and Frank there on Parkview Drive. The Labor Day block parties beginning with a golf outing at Wilkshire Hills....great food and laughter...ending in a one-sided softball game - kids vs. parents - at Ft Laurens Park. Whiffle ball games in your backyard. Broken windows. Foot races. Music. Tears. Scraps. Ping pong. Your dad loved it all. He loved to laugh and appreciated a good joke. He offered great advice to me when my father passed away so young. He was the greatest of neighbors and a great friend to me and my family. His impact and memory will be with me forever. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Lisa (Lundenberger) Ousley
January 30, 2010
Chris, Mickey, Mary Alice and Lisa, You are in my thoughts and prayers.Over the years since getting to be in the T.V. Band there have been to many times to count that I have thought about your dad and things he taught us, as everyone knows more than just music. On different occasions I remember him saying "There is always something you can give someone and you will always get something back in return, A SMILE." You dad will always smile in our hearts and minds. Take Care.
January 29, 2010
Chris and the rest of the Corbi family, my heart and prayers go out to you. I only knew Mr. Corbi for a relatively short time. But as a fellow teacher, I didn't need to know him long to know what a concerned and caring person he was. As I read through all the tributes to him, I thought how comforting it must be to know he was so loved and respected. God bless.
Jane Hadley
Cathy Mottice
January 27, 2010
To the Corbi Family: My thoughts and prayers are with you. Your father was well loved. We would of done anything for him. Sorry for your loss.
Roxie (Murphy) Long
January 27, 2010
Mr. Corbi taught me so much more than how to read notes on a sheet of paper. He taught me to have pride in the uniform, to be proud of the school I was representing and to be respectful. That little tiny practice room in Mineral City school was the start of many years of musical enjoyment with Mr. Corbi. He will be missed and will never be replaced in our minds and memories. My sympathy to his family.
Shirley Charton Lewis
January 26, 2010
My sympathy to the family and friends of Frank Corbi. Mr. Corbi was a dedicated musician who showed passion for what he loved and I have always felt honored to be a part of that on a small scale. So many good memories of band trips, concerts, hearing the crowd cheer us on at football games and the county fair as we started the St. Louis Blues. Some painful memories too, such as being very tired after working for hours in the hot sun, thinking we had the show down to perfection, and then hearing “one more time”! He made us want to be the best and for that I thank him. I can still remember him calling us out using a title: “Miss Charton…”--you knew you hadn’t lived up to his expectations. Then too, there was that exasperated tone in his voice when he said “Peee-ple”! I still remember one fall Friday evening when I was in the 7th grade and an alternate in the high school band. He didn’t think we knew the show well enough for the game that evening. We lined up cars around the perimeter of the lot to the south of the Bolivar Grade School, turned on the head lights and we practiced until we had to board the bus to go to the game, arriving after it had started. He was committed to excellence and it showed. In the days before I-77 was in, Frank would drive me home after practice since my house was on his way home to Canton. As a shy preteen, he would ask lots of questions to draw me out as I sat there in the front seat with a coronet case on my lap. So many good memories of a life well lived and of a teacher who taught us so much more than music.
January 26, 2010
Mickey, Mary Alice, Chris , Lisa and Carol. Your father and husband was a great friend of ours. Frank and I have shared maney good times together when he played for Jo-Ann and I at the Zoar Hotel. That was when the Zoar Four and One got started. Frank and his group left behind a legacy of music that will never be foegotten. Those Sunday's in the Beer Garden and the Wednesday nights in the Dinning Room at the Zoar Hotel has gone down in Jazz history and I will never forget them. You are all in our prayers and thoughts. Let me know if I can be of any help. Dick and Jo-Ann Lebold " The old Zoar Hotel owners"
Pete & Brenda James
January 24, 2010
Mickey, Mary Alice, Chris, and Lisa -- There are no words to describe the deep sense of loss that we each feel. Your dad was an amazing man - a person who taught us compassion, respect, joy -- and Music as well!! He impacted countless lives in ways that only God knows about. Thank You for sharing him with all of us and please accept our deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers!
Jennifer Kirk
January 20, 2010
He came into the coffee shop where I used to work at least 2-3 times a week, and we always had lively discussions about music (I'm a musician, too!), life, and politics (with me of the right-leaning persuasion and Frank of the left!) and lots of laughter. Whenever I'd hear his jazz group play, I'd always request Dave Brubeck's "Take 5" and he would happily indulge me. Frank was like a grandfather, and I will miss him always.
Jerry Weber
January 19, 2010
Chris, Lisa, Mick and Mary Alice,
You and your families are in my prayers. I just want to thank each of you for sharing your dad with all of us. Mr. C. is on a very short list of wonderful people who played a major role in shaping my life, and for that, as well as for his musical brilliance he shared with us, I will be forever grateful. God Bless you.
Judy Furbee-Koonce
January 19, 2010
I remeber my first drum lessons at the Bolivar grade school and from there Mr Corbi was a mentor, someone you didn't want to disappoint because you respected him. I worked for him in the band office and as a babysitter to his children every Saturday night. Thanks for the memories of marching band,all the football games and competitions (which TVHS usually won) God bless the Corbi family. Judy Furbee-Koonce
Jerry Sibila
January 19, 2010
Mickey, Mary Alice, Chris, Lisa,
My thoughts and prayers go out to you at this rough time. It is so hard to loose a parent, but the sorrow will pass and you will just have those found memories. You are all in my prayers at this time.
Bonnie (Boyd) Stuck
January 18, 2010
What a great man. One of my favorite teachers. Because of his guidance and teaching I still have a great love of music and yes, I still play my horn. My best memories of TVHS are from band. My sister Becky and I still like to tell the old stories and laugh. I think he is high stepping now to the St. Louis Blues!
Jon Teuscher
January 18, 2010
As many others have written, this man made a positive impact upon the lives of countless children. For me, it was one-on-one saxophone lessons in a small room at the Mineral City grade school. Mr. Corbi would have lunch and tap his foot and recite the tempo as I squeaked my alto sax, all at th same time. I still play the same horn and often think of the man who brought music into my life.
Connie/Bob Schaap
January 18, 2010
Our deepest sympathy to Carol and your Children and family. It was a pleasure knowing you, so glad you came to my yard sale all those years ago. You were a delight to be with and we so enjoyed the recording sessions and all the times we came and watched you and the guys play. Rest in Peace my friend. We will miss you. Your music will always be a part of our lives....love always Connie and Bob
Rockie (Handrich) Sours
January 18, 2010
My sincere sympathy to the family of Frank Corbi. He truly touched many with his gift of music. I have fond memories of my TVHS band days. I still smile when I think of starting the halftime show with the traditional St. Louis Blues and ending the annual Christmas concert with Sleig Ride. His music will live on.
Becky (Dalton) Border
January 18, 2010
My deepest sympathies to the Corbi family. I will never forget the good times (and hard work) that was put into every halftime show at TVHS and what a wonderful man Mr. Frank Corbi was. My prayers are with you.
January 18, 2010
Mickey, Mary Alice, Chris, and Lisa,
My deepest sympathy to you and your families. I will never forget all the joy and fun I had in band at TVHS and what a GREAT man your Dad really was. My thoughts are with you as you go through this rough time.
Lynn (Wernecke) Bailey
Katie Robinson
January 18, 2010
My deepest sympathy to all of Mr. Corbi's family. He was a fantastic talented teacher and a gracious, kind human being.I came from a rather large family with very little money. We had one instrument to share among 3 girls. Mr. Corbi carried my horn from the high school to the elementary school for every lesson. He never forgot to bring it and always remembered to take it back to the high school so my oldest sister could use it for her band class.TVHS had the best swing band when he was teaching.Thanks for sharing your love of music and teaching me about working hard to achieve your goals.
Doug Largent
January 17, 2010
Carol, we are so sorry for your loss. We will miss Frank so much. I still vividly remember the first time I met Frank 15 years ago - we were playing music together, and I could barely keep up with him! He gave me so much love and encouragement over the years, and I'm so thankful that I knew him.
Love, Doug + Nancy (and baby Jessica)
Joyce (Sibila) Middleton
January 17, 2010
Mary Alice, Lisa, Chris and Micky,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Uncle Frank was a brilliant man - he gave me a couple tapes of his band and I ran across them not too long ago. It brought back so many memories. I know the sorrow you have right now but the memories will bring you joy. God Bless you.
Kayte (Teuscher)Smreck
January 17, 2010
To Chris and all the Corbi family, my sincere sympathy. What a legacy Frank Corbi leaves . . . so many young people have been touched forever by his music, his example, and his guidance. My avocation of music is due to his wonderful mentoring. I'll never forget being the soloist in "The Night Before Christmas" or being his band secretary. Yes, so many have mentioned "St. Louis Blues" . . . no one who's ever been part of the TVHS band will ever forget that tune! Thank you for your influence, Frank! God blessed you with so many talents and you've shared them with thousands . . . He will reward you well. We will miss you, but you will always be a part of each of us!
Cathy Rosemond
January 17, 2010
To the Corbi Family,
My heartfelt condolences to you and all the friends he acquired over the years. I was privledged to have had the pleasure of hearing him play saxophone many times over the years at The Matthews House and other venues around town. He was all of our "favorite" as we worked together at special events. I will treasure the memory of Frank sitting on his stool in the piano room, with a big smile on his face, always a kind word to offer anyone that happened to come by. He was well known for wearing his handsome beret in the winter and straw hat in the summer while easing the jazz tunes out of his sax like he was 50 years his junior. Over the past few years, we would meet for coffee at Caribou Coffee from time to time, to catch up and I would always walk away feeling lucky....to have a friend like Frank.
He inspired all of those he came in contact with including me. To be yourself, be your best and be open to the opportunities that come your way. He will live on through sharing his music with us all.
Cin cin Frank, for the privledge.
Regards,
Cathy Rosemond
Sharon Keifer
January 17, 2010
Mary Alice, Mick, Chris and Lisa, My deepest sympathies to you and your families. Mr Corbi was truly and inspiration in many of our lives. What an honor to have been a small part in the life of man so rich in so many things. The band of angels will be playing a bit jazzier with his influence. He will be missed.
John Walker
January 17, 2010
To the Corbi family,
Mr. Corbi was such a positive influence on me during my high school years. He always had a kind and caring disposition. He encouraged me to stick with something and that's stayed with me through life. It's true that teachers can have a lasting impression on their students and Frank Corbi embodied that. My condolences to all of his family.
Ron and Cathy Sibila
January 17, 2010
Micky, Mary Alice, Chris and Lisa,
We will so miss Uncle Frank. Oh the memories of the great family reunions and all the fun we had - even though our High Schools were rivals for so many years. You are so in our thoughts and prayers! Will never forget going to the clubs to hear Uncle Frank and Chris play. God Bless you all!
Nancy (Gordon) Wyatt
January 17, 2010
My sympathy to the entire Corbi family. Tusky Valley was so privileged to have Mr. Corbi for so many years. What a great talent. He was my favorite teacher ever and I have many many fond memories of his teaching and friendship.
Chris Berens
January 16, 2010
To Mickey, Mary Alice, Chris and Lisa you have my deepest sympathy. You have lost a terrific father and may the memories live forever.
For our community we have lost a legacy and one that can't be beat. Mr. Corbi will live in my heart forever whether it is in my memory of marching band, concert band, dance band, pep band and yes, even German band. I learned so much and those memories are etched forever. Thank you Mr. Corbi for sharing your love of music with all of us at TVHS. Play St, Lous Blues one last time for all of us until we meet again!
Thomas Studer
January 16, 2010
Mr. Corbi not only taught music, voice, diction etc, he fostered into me a positive attitude and a deliberate work ethic i still carry today.
My deepest sympathy to the Corbi Family. Saint Louis Blues will be just a bit bluer without him.
With Mr. Corbi it was always about the sound. Way cool sound.
Kelly Gray
January 16, 2010
Mr Corbi was a class act. Thank you for making my 4 years in YOUR band at TVHS the best.
Class of 85
Anne Harper
January 16, 2010
Oh my. I don't know where to start. Mr. Corbi had a powerful influence on my life in more than the music arena. I am so sorry for your loss. In some small way, it is shared by the hundreds of students he mentored.
January 16, 2010
January 16,2010'You are in our thoughts and prayers' You were our neighbor for a little more than 14 years, Its been a joy knowning you and Carol,We will miss not seeing you. Love. Emily&John
Susan Ladrach Van Bibber
January 16, 2010
It was a wonderful experience to be a part of that great Tusky Valley Swing Band and I have many fond memories. None of it would have been possible without Mr. Corbi. He made the band what it was and he shared his talents as a musician with each one of us. The heavenly band sounds a little sweeter now. God Bless and comfort each family member as you mourn his loss.
sandy kopp
January 16, 2010
I had Mr Corbi all through 5th grade band til highschool.I can always remember him asking how I sold so much band candy when I was in Jr High...my thoughts go out to all of his family in knowing how much of an impact he has on the students of Tusky Valley and the residents of Tuscarawas County.
Warren Ackerman
January 16, 2010
To the Corbi family, Mick, Chris, Mary Alice, & Lisa my thoughts & prayers are with you. I have many memories of your dad & your family. He & Mr. Smith made the band at Tusky Valley something to be proud of. It has never had close to the same success after he retired. All of us old students of his miss what he brought to the band & the school. May you all take comfort in his success & the respect he had. His smile, and even his scowl (when we deserved his scowl for misbehaving) will always be etched in my memories.
Lisa Geers
January 16, 2010
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. What a great man - he filled a great space here on this earth - one that can never be filled. I have so many wonderful memories - from grade school and spending the night with Lisa, to all the band trips - and what an AWESOME band we had under Frank, clear through working Jazz Sundays at the Zoar Hotel in the 80's. The slide show of photos and the article in the Canton Repository were just wonderful. Will see you all at the local memorial service up here.
Debbie and John Barr
January 16, 2010
On behalf of the New Philadelphia High School Music Department (Ohio) we send our sincere condolences to the Corbi Family with their loss. He was a truly gifted musician and kind, caring person. Blessings ~
NPHS Music Department
New Philadelphia, Ohio
(Deborah Barr- Music Secretary 1979-2007) for Cheryl Graham & Staff
BARBARA HAMMERSLEY
January 16, 2010
TO THE CORBI FAMILY YOU HAVE ALL OF OUR SYMPATHY. THE HAMMERSLEYS FROM BOLIVAR & CENTERVILLE, OHIO TAKE CARE.
Pam Dummermuth-Koch
January 16, 2010
My thoughts and prayers to the family. My greatest memories of high school are of being in marching band with Mr. Corbi. He had such a gift for music and he shared it will all of us. The students at Tusky Valley were so fortunate to have a great band director. It was such a thrill to have him come back to Tusky Valley and direct our alumni band in 1993. St. Louis Blues have never been the same since you left TV. RIP Mr. Corbi
Amy McLamb
January 16, 2010
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you Carol and your families. I've never known anyone like Frank and I know I never will again. The Lord has a great horn player, story teller, and joke teller too! We love him always, and will miss him dearly.
Amy McLamb
January 16, 2010
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you Carol and your families. I've never known anyone like Frank and I know I never will again. The Lord has a great horn player, story teller, and joke teller too! We love him always, and will miss him dearly.
Brenda (Franks)Neading
January 16, 2010
To the Corbi family, You all have my deepest sympathies, Mr. Corbi was one of a kind. TVHS band has not been the same since he retired. I am so honored to say I learned from one of the great musicians, I have many great memories from my band days. My prayers are with you all.
La Vonne Chumney
January 16, 2010
From the time we started on flutaphone at Mineral City, all the way to High School Band, Mr. Corbi - your love of music and teaching made it more enjoyable for me to learn to play saxaphone. Gods gift to you was music. Thank you for sharing, teaching and encouraging others to play. His music will live in my heart.
Barb Berens
January 16, 2010
To The Corbi Family, my deepest sympathy. You have to know how much Frank taught so many of us and how much we all loved him.
To YOU, Mr. C., Thank You for all you taught me from 4th Grade through graduation and even beyond. And for your patience and sense of humor. You truly impacted my life forever.
PLAY ON with ALL the GREATS in HEAVEN
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