Robert Shechtman, 1939-2002

Robert Shechtman, longtime professor of music at Grand Valley, died suddenly of a massive heart attack on December 4.

Shechtman joined Grand Valley's music faculty in 1971 after touring Latin America and playing in Europe and throughout the East Coast as a jazz trombonist. Since then he has taught almost every class in the Music Department, most recently composition and introduction to music literature courses. He was keenly interested in the creative aspects of music and its evolution, and his students caught his excitement, said Kurt Ellenberger, director of jazz studies and a friend of Shechtman's.

'You never knew what he would come up with. He was always controversial and lively and had an interesting take on things. I think the students really picked up on that; they had fun and learned to look at things from many different perspectives,' Ellenberger said. 'Bob was a creative spark in our department who can't be replaced.'

Shechtman wrote music for a wide variety of media. His honors include the New York Composers' Forum Award, the Kurt Weill Prize for Composition, and successive ASCAP Composers' Awards. He formerly directed the jazz studies program at GVSU and held a black belt in karate.

An outstanding jazz trombonist who once played with John Coates, Jr., and Vinnie Burke, Shechtman continued to perform throughout Michigan and the Midwest. In recent years he was a regular Saturday night musician at Porto Bello in Grand Haven.

When Blue Lake Public Radio learned the sad news, jazz host Lazaro Vega responded by playing Shechtman's recordings throughout the night. Vega later reported that the switchboard was flooded with calls from listeners dismayed to hear of Shechtman's death, said Ellenberger.

'There's a tremendous outpouring from the community as well as the Grand Valley faculty,' Ellenberger said. 'Bob's going to be terribly missed on many fronts.'

Shechtman, an alumnus of Sarah Lawrence College and Rutgers University, was 63. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, two grown children, and one grandchild.

The family will receive friends Saturday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service, 4291 Cascade SE at Kenmoor. A tribute to Bob's life will be Sunday, December 8, at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Vicky's Pet Connection, PO Box 624, Ada, MI, or Paws With A Cause, 4646 S. Division, Wayland, MI 49348.