Richard E.

Serbagi

Gifted Director And Musical Mentor

Richard E. Serbagi, 77, of Newtown, beloved husband of Jing Han, died November 23 in Danbury Hospital, after a long illness. He was born in Belmont, Mass., a son of Grace Ellis Serbagi and Midhat Serbagi. He graduated in 1951 from Brighton High School in Brighton, Mass.

An extremely gifted cellist, Mr Serbagi graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music. He went on to enjoy a long and successful career as a professional cellist performing with such orchestras as the Puerto Rico Symphony, the American Ballet Theater Orchestra, the Utah Symphony, and the 7th Army Symphony Orchestra, where he also served his country in the United States Air Force.

After a debilitating injury leaving him unable to perform, Richard obtained a master’s in music education from Western Connecticut State University in 1980, and began another long career in music education. He was the director of orchestras for the New Canaan Public Schools from 1980 until his retirement in 2005. He taught elementary, middle, and high school strings and left an indelible mark on hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to enjoy successful careers in music.

But Mr Serbagi’s passion for music was best found in his baton. For more than 25 seasons he conducted the Concert Society Chamber Orchestra, an orchestra comprising New York’s finest musicians.

Besides his love of music, Mr Serbagi was an avid golfer, and was a member of the Newtown Country Club where his name can be found as a winner on many tournament boards.

He is survived by his wife; stepdaughter, Rebecca; three brothers, Midhat and his wife, Susan, of Carmel, N.Y., Russell and his wife, Liza, of Andover, Mass., and Roger and his wife, Nadine, of Gloucester, Mass.; several beloved nieces and nephews; and hundreds of friends on and off the golf course, at New Canaan High School, and in the orchestra pit.

A memorial service honoring his life will be held Friday, December 4, at 11 am, at St Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to the Richard E. Serbagi Memorial Music Scholarship, New Canaan High School, 11 Farm Road, New Canaan CT 06840.

The Newtown Bee      November 27, 2009