Dave Buck

Family Linda and I were married in San Jose 53 years ago. We were introduced by my closest friend, Marilyn Means, who was Linda’s big sister in Tri Delta Sorority at the University of the Pacific. Linda was a freshman and I was a senior. After graduating from UOP, I completed my Masters and Doctorate degrees in Conducting at the University of Washington under my mentor, Stanley Chapple (Leonard Bernstein’s first teacher). Linda completed the equivalent of a Masters degree in piano performance. In 1970 we moved to Rhode Island where I started my teaching career at University of Rhode Island. Linda also taught piano there. We spent every summer and Christmas holidays (for 20 plus years) with her parents who lived in Los Altos across the street from the 1st fairway of Los Altos Country Club. Our daughter, Debbie, was born in 1971, and our boys Jonathan (AKA Jon B) and Kevin followed in ‘74 and ‘75. In 1976 we returned to live in Altadena, CA. I taught at CSULA and retired early in 2002 mainly because of conducting in Europe and Asia. This past year we moved our residence to Big Bear Lake, CA. We live in a beautiful residential area in our 4 bedroom house.

Children

Debbie Buck
Was the First Violinist of the Lark String Quartet for 13 years.  The Lark was one of the world's greatest quartets and has 13 CD's to its credit.  She lives in New Jersey.  She is the director of the Chamber Music Program at SUNY Purchase.

Jonathan Buck
 AKA Jon B, is a world famous recording artist with seven CD's to his credit.  He has been nominated for 2 Grammy Awards.  He is a prolific song writer.  Two of his CD's have gone Platinum.

Kevin Buck
is a brilliant cellist with appearances on the Leno Show, and the Emmys, but has turned to skiing for a living.  He is a PSIA Certified ski instructor and has worked at such schools as Dear Valley, Mammoth, Copper Mountain, NorthStar, and now at Snow Summit which is within walking distance of our home in Big Bear Lake.

Childhood memories

As I write this I am remembering my long term friends and '62 classmates from my Campbell Grammar, Cherry Lane, Rosemary days through high school (1944-1962). On 3rd st. there was Donnie, Gary Hartsell, Tommy Waggle. Heading south were Kurt, Kathy (yes, I chased you home), Janey Clarke, Dickie, Margie, Alan Titus, Brent Decker. On Cherry Lane were Susan, Anne, Sally, Adda, Terry, Linda Rouse, Barbara, with Jim Beyer, Johnny Short, Johnny Ezzie, Marty Linane, Bob Lara, Jerry Cunha, Lloyd nearby. Near the Campbell Bridge were Marilyn, Carolyn, Kenny Gordon, Eleanor, Bill Rice. Out in the Saratoga area were Gordy, Lonny, Bruce, Dave, Brenda, Larry and Trish, Linda Arii, Jim Uyemura, Glenda, Mike Smith, Terry Kawafuchi, Betsy. On Carlyn and nearby were Bradford, Jeff, Cynthia, Sharon Murty, Lynda, Sharon Morton, Hooter, Sparky (got his name from the freckles he had in grammar school), Jim, Walt, Johnny Little. The Winchester kids I remember were Joe, Vonda, Joe Cefalu. And I’m not sure where these friends lived: Grant Deem, Judy Cobb, Judy Clever, Jeanne Gault, Shelley, Diane Johnson, Jim Mazzio, Gail Perry, Diana Runner, Larry Elizondo, Judy Angus, Joanne, Wayne Bridges, Barbara Hollis, Betsy Lassen, Lynne Stoops, Carolee, Jeff Goodere, Joyce, Lynne Creighton, Monty, Bob Haliwell, Willie, Jeff Stephenson. Each one of you played a significant role in making me who I am and I cherish the memories of each of you. And I am sorry I haven’t mentioned so many others of you, but I have put this list together almost entirely from memory.

Memorable Episodes

1) In 1969-70 the University of Washington and UC Berkeley were the two leading campuses in the west actively protesting the current government.  The strategies that had evolved to combat the government were generally physical and often violent.  This political upheaval was set against the civil rights movement of Martin Luther King, who advocated peaceful, civil disobedience.  I was asked to come to a meeting of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) chapter of the UW.  I was introduced to an SDS leader from Berkeley who had come to Seattle with another SDS "leader", Mario Savio, to organize a 10,000 man march on the downtown.  His name was Tom Hayden.  My sponsor for this meeting was Jerry Pritchard, a DMA candidate in flute performance and one of the leaders of SDS at UW.  They asked me to be the "President" (my terminology) of SDS at UW. My interview took place in the cellar of a house near the campus.  There were probably 30-40 protesters all sitting cross legged in a circle around   Tom , Mario (an idiot), Jerry, and me.  There was a lot of smoke, a mixture of grass and cigarettes and the room was darkly lit.   Tom   and Jerry (ha! ha! this is not meant to be a joke, but I've never put the two names together before, and I can't help chuckling) were trying to convince me that violent activity was needed to make the changes in society they wanted.  I think you know that the SDS was a very liberal organization founded upon socialist principles.  I responded that I would not participate in any violence and that, while I was sympathetic to much of their cause, I thought another way of protesting would work more effectively.  I told   Tom  to his face that if he wanted to make any real change that he should cut his hair, put on a suit and tie, and run for political office.

2) I was invited by Wolfgang Wagner to participate in the Bayreuth Festival in 1991 (I think). When I walked into the Festival office to introduce myself, the office staff turned and stared at me as if seeing a ghost (including Frau Tout, who terrorized the other managers in Europe [she was the Exec Secretary]). Frau Tout immediately walked into Herr Wagner’s office and within the minute they returned together. When he looked at me he got a huge smile on his face and offered me his hand. This stunned me as he was notoriously nasty. After shaking hands he excused himself while the staff continued staring at me. As I turned to leave I saw a huge painting of Richard Wagner. As strange as it sounds he and I looked almost exactly alike!

3) I must apologize at last for the speech that I gave to the student body assembly when I ran for student body president. Beforehand, Gordy, who offered to speak for me, and Mr. Miller begged me not to speak because I was incoherent. I had driven 18 hours straight through from Salt Lake City in order to speak, arriving only a couple hours beforehand. I don’t remember one word of that speech, but I have been told that I grossly insulted Carolyn Archibald, and the entire Senior class (to the point that many dislike me to this day). So, I want you to know Carolyn that I regret that speech very much. You have always had my great respect and I value our long friendship. And I apologize to all those I insulted.

4) Do not drive in Asia! Especially in Taipei, Seoul, or anywhere in China. Conducting there over a span of several months introduced me to life threatening car/pedestrian chaos. In Hangzhou commercial drivers carry envelopes of money to throw at the pedestrians they hit. In Pusan the streets are very narrow with doors opening directly onto the road where cars travel 40 mph (with no stop signs!). My driver in Shanghai only knew one speed...faster than everyone else!

5) I am often asked why and when I decided to be a conductor. So, when I started high school I had played tuba, and violin for Mr. Tonini at Campbell Grammar. He had recruited me to Pacific Music Camp for the summers of ‘57 and ‘58. I returned subsequently for four more years. (BTW my roommate was always my buddy, Jim Carter.) It was there that I developed my love of music. Until then athletics had dominated my life. While I loved sports, by the time I finished our sophomore year I knew that I wanted to be a conductor. Fortunately we had an outstanding music program at Campbell High. Larry McCommas, and Bill Perkins supported and encouraged my love of music for which I am ever grateful. When I took off my cleats after my last Los Gatos football game (1961) I knew I would never play another organized sport in my life, and I haven’t. 6) In 1966 my brother, Bucky (Dick), and I started a wine business in San Jose called European Wine Selections. It was featured in the then new magazine, Wine Spectator, with the photo of him standing in front of stacks of French Burgundies from 1947- 1962. The comment in the article that stands out in my mind is that we were trying to sell wine by mail order...very skeptical in its appreciation of what we were doing. When we sold the company we had 17 distributors in the US! Ha!

Hobbies

Dogs (see LindarLabradorRetrievers.com), skiing, golf, hunting, fishing, music (of all kinds), travel, languages, wine, cooking.

In Conclusion

I wish we could all meet once more before too long. (BTW my mother passed in August at the age of 108 years. She remembered many of you vividly. And I think some of you remember her as well.) My years at Campbell High remain indelible in my mind. I miss you all.

Side note from Lynda

I was curious to see the similarities between Dave and composer Richard Wagner. I can see why they stared at him, it's an amazing likeness.

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