Graham
Graham Grubb
d. January 27, 2014
Graham Grubb, 78, Greensburg educator and musician, died peacefully on January 27, 2014. He grew up in Trafford, Pa., where his music-loving mother encouraged his musical pursuits. In high school, Graham studied trombone with Mattie Shiner. He graduated from IUP with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music.
Graham influenced and inspired countless young musicians during his 36-year career as a music teacher with Greensburg Salem School District, where he held the positions of Chairman of the Music Department; Elementary, Junior High School and Senior High School Band Director; Elementary Vocal Specialist; and Director of the Middle School Choirs. During this time he earned a master's degree in music from Duquesne University.
With a growing family to support, Graham supplemented his teaching salary with many part-time jobs, all of them involving music. Early in his career, he taught private instrumental lessons. His family recalls many evenings when the strains of trombones, trumpets, and clarinets wafted up from the basement of their Greensburg home.
Graham served six years as the director of the Irwin Male Chorus, a men's choral group that performed sacred concerts and produced a variety show every spring. He was also musical director of the Johnstown Jazz Big Band Workshop, a group dedicated to playing traditional and contemporary big band jazz.
For 30 years Graham owned and operated an audio recording business known as Grubb Associates Recording. GAR specialized in location recording of public school, church, college and university groups as well as doing production work for radio commercials and advertising agencies. He taught his kids the meaning of work by taking them with him on these "gigs." His sons hauled and set up the recording equipment, while his wife and daughter would sell records or tapes at the door.
Graham was a member of bands all of his adult life, including leading the Bobby Dale Orchestra and his own 16-piece big band, The Graham Grubb Orchestra. This band traveled the tri-state area and performed for a variety of special events, clients and dances.
Graham was a natural athlete, playing basketball in high school and college and an avid golfer throughout his life. You could find him on the golf course every summer during his teaching years and nearly all the time after his retirement. He was proud to have played many of the best courses in California, especially Pebble Beach.
Graham passed on his passion and appreciation for music, creative spirit, business sense and love of the game to all three of his children. In them, and in the thousands of students he taught, the hundreds of fellow musicians he performed with and led, and the countless listeners he entertained, he leaves a lasting legacy.
Graham is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ellen Grubb; his brother David Grubb and wife Carol; daughter Kathy Grubb Dwyer and husband Richard; son Robert Grubb and wife Joni; son Paul Grubb and wife Debbie, two grandchildren, Rae Ann and Lukas Dwyer; niece Amy Grubb; sister-in-law Joan Freeman; and niece Debbie Dalton, husband Robert and great-niece Abby.
Friends are invited to celebrate Graham's life at a memorial service on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at 1:00 pm, at the First United Methodist Church of Greensburg, 15 E 2nd St, Greensburg, PA 15601. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Pittsburgh Musicians' Union, Local 60-471, American Federation of Musicians, 564 Forbes Ave., Suite 1003, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, Heartland Hospice, 3520 Route 130, Bldg. 3, Irwin, PA 15642 or a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Tom DeGregory and Heartland Hospice for their care and support.
Terence L. Graft, funeral director, entrusted with the arrangements. For online condolences and information, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.
Friends are invited to celebrate Graham's life at a memorial service on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at 1:00 pm, at the First United Methodist Church of Greensburg, 15 E 2nd St, Greensburg, PA 15601.
Graham influenced and inspired countless young musicians during his 36-year career as a music teacher with Greensburg Salem School District, where he held the positions of Chairman of the Music Department; Elementary, Junior High School and Senior High School Band Director; Elementary Vocal Specialist; and Director of the Middle School Choirs. During this time he earned a master's degree in music from Duquesne University.
With a growing family to support, Graham supplemented his teaching salary with many part-time jobs, all of them involving music. Early in his career, he taught private instrumental lessons. His family recalls many evenings when the strains of trombones, trumpets, and clarinets wafted up from the basement of their Greensburg home.
Graham served six years as the director of the Irwin Male Chorus, a men's choral group that performed sacred concerts and produced a variety show every spring. He was also musical director of the Johnstown Jazz Big Band Workshop, a group dedicated to playing traditional and contemporary big band jazz.
For 30 years Graham owned and operated an audio recording business known as Grubb Associates Recording. GAR specialized in location recording of public school, church, college and university groups as well as doing production work for radio commercials and advertising agencies. He taught his kids the meaning of work by taking them with him on these "gigs." His sons hauled and set up the recording equipment, while his wife and daughter would sell records or tapes at the door.
Graham was a member of bands all of his adult life, including leading the Bobby Dale Orchestra and his own 16-piece big band, The Graham Grubb Orchestra. This band traveled the tri-state area and performed for a variety of special events, clients and dances.
Graham was a natural athlete, playing basketball in high school and college and an avid golfer throughout his life. You could find him on the golf course every summer during his teaching years and nearly all the time after his retirement. He was proud to have played many of the best courses in California, especially Pebble Beach.
Graham passed on his passion and appreciation for music, creative spirit, business sense and love of the game to all three of his children. In them, and in the thousands of students he taught, the hundreds of fellow musicians he performed with and led, and the countless listeners he entertained, he leaves a lasting legacy.
Graham is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ellen Grubb; his brother David Grubb and wife Carol; daughter Kathy Grubb Dwyer and husband Richard; son Robert Grubb and wife Joni; son Paul Grubb and wife Debbie, two grandchildren, Rae Ann and Lukas Dwyer; niece Amy Grubb; sister-in-law Joan Freeman; and niece Debbie Dalton, husband Robert and great-niece Abby.
Friends are invited to celebrate Graham's life at a memorial service on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at 1:00 pm, at the First United Methodist Church of Greensburg, 15 E 2nd St, Greensburg, PA 15601. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Pittsburgh Musicians' Union, Local 60-471, American Federation of Musicians, 564 Forbes Ave., Suite 1003, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, Heartland Hospice, 3520 Route 130, Bldg. 3, Irwin, PA 15642 or a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Tom DeGregory and Heartland Hospice for their care and support.
Terence L. Graft, funeral director, entrusted with the arrangements. For online condolences and information, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.
Friends are invited to celebrate Graham's life at a memorial service on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at 1:00 pm, at the First United Methodist Church of Greensburg, 15 E 2nd St, Greensburg, PA 15601.
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