Tribute to Chief
Richard "Chief" Jackoboice, 65, passed away Oct. 17th and was our director of bands for 23 years and director of the university's undergraduate music department. He changed so many of our "lives" during those many memories of Chief yelling "run it back", and "you in the band uniform."
Below are various images, stories from fellow UAMB Alumni and news sources.
Mr. Richard Jackoboice
January 25, 1941 - October 17, 2006
Remember When
Party at Chiefs House!
When chief was a bachelor?
FA? (Fabulous Arranger)
You in the Band Jacket
Chief Stories
The first time I met "Chief" he let me off the hook and I've always been grateful. It was back in the spring of '68, his first year at Akron, and I was a high school kid auditioning for the marching band. I had just had a two hour jazz ensemble concert the night before and was going to repeat the show again that night. Needless to say, I had sore chops. I was getting ready to perform for him when we started to talk. As luck would have it he had been at my concert and gave me a pass. I spent the next four years in the bands and had the time of my life.
Jeffery A. Duffey M.D.
Massillon, Ohio
The band plays on...
University of Akron musicians serenade retired band leader Friday; he dies Tuesday
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
Weds. Oct 18th, 2006
Joy in the midst of great sadness.
Richard Jackoboice was seated in his wheelchair near the front door of his Fairlawn Heights home, surrounded by family and friends Friday night, when a rush of musicians with instruments came pouring down his street.
They stopped in front of his home and began a private serenade designed for him -- the creator and longtime leader of their band, the University of Akron's Zips Band.
They were 156 strong. It was their way of thanking Richard Jackoboice for all he has meant to the university, to music and to the community.
It came just at the right time. Jackoboice died about 10 p.m. Tuesday of renal cancer.
The repertoire included the university's fight song and alma mater, Temptation, a Tribute to Vegas and Happy Together, a 1960s pop song.
``It was the best and most fitting tribute anyone could have done for Richard,'' wife Karin Jackoboice said of the 40-minute concert.
Richard Jackoboice came to UA in 1967, the day after it became a state school. He promised then-UA President Norm Auburn a 100-piece band, which he delivered, then nearly doubled it the second year.
His goal was to build a marching band program in the same tradition of the Big Ten.
``Unless a marching band can offer its members an artistic experience, too, then they have little reason to exist,'' he was quoted as saying in 1969.
``He was amazingly successful at it,'' said Galen Karriker, director of the marching and concert bands. ``He did the same for the concert band as well.... We are extremely indebted to him for his years of service and hard work. He was the right man for the job.''
Director for 23 years
The 65-year-old Jackoboice was director of bands for 23 years and director of the university's undergraduate music department.
He and his wife of 26 years -- the former Karin O'Malley -- were high school sweethearts back in East Grand Rapids, Mich. ``We broke up my freshman year of college because I thought music was more important to him than I was,'' she said. ``So I married my chemistry lab partner.''
After her first husband died in 1979, the high school sweethearts reconnected and were married the following year.
Richard Jackoboice had never married. His mantra had always been, ``I won't marry someone I don't love,'' reminisced his wife, a retired registered nurse.
They have six daughters and 13 grandchildren.
Jackoboice remained a rabid fan of his alma mater, the University of Michigan. Before coming to Akron, he was band director at Cornell University and the University of Minnesota. He also took a yearlong sabbatical while at UA, studying conducting in Vienna.
He retired in 1989. He was approached three years ago by some former students, asking him to serve as conductor of a brass band they wanted to form,'' Karin Jackoboice said.
That gave birth to the Freedom Brass Band of Northeast Ohio. ``He loved that band so very much,'' his wife said. ``And he never took a dime for doing it.''
The band is presenting the Children's Concert Society performance at the Civic Theatre this month. ``Unfortunately, he will not be there,'' said Karin Jackoboice, who plays percussion for Freedom Brass, as well as oboe for the New Horizons Band and the Goodyear Band.
Richard Jackoboice remained active until recently. One Wednesday this month, he drove to UA to rehearse the Shostakovich Festival Overture, his wife said. ``He was to be the guest conductor for the U's symphony that Sunday. But he didn't make it,'' she said.
Concert a tribute
At the start of the concert, Bob Jorgensen, who is assistant dean of the School of Fine Arts and oversees the band programs, talked about Jackoboice and all that he meant to the band.
``The concert was dedicated to him, and he received a five-minute standing ovation,'' Karin Jackoboice said.
Karriker said after the concert that he and Jorgensen talked about going to the Jackoboices' home, and everyone was in agreement. ``We didn't call the police or anything. We just did it,'' said Karriker. He ordered a Ryder truck to haul the 16 tubas and percussion equipment.
Retired UA President Dominic Guzzetta, who led the school during much of Jackoboice's reign, accompanied the band.
The band marched from the Jackoboices' old house at Wolcott and Covington to their new home at the French Quarter.
Dr. Herbert Hanlon of Akron, retired physician and lawyer who serves as booking and publicity agent for the brass band, called Richard Jackoboice ``completely dedicated to music'' and the brass band in particular. ``He did so much arranging and composing of music for the brass band, which saved a ton of money because we didn't have to buy all that sheet music.
``We used to have discussions when he could barely open his eyes and he would always perk up when we were talking about the band.''
Hanlon saw that in his friend's face Friday when UA's band came to call.
``Temptation really drew a response from him,'' Karriker said. ``Although he wasn't able to speak very loudly, you could see it in his face.''
It was his last hurrah. ``By Saturday night, he didn't know any of us,'' said Karin Jackoboice.
History
Richard "Chief" Jackoboice, 65, was our director of bands for 23 years and director of the university's
The current "Ohio's Pride" continues many of the traditions of the fellow alumni of the UAMB. They continue to
The University of Akron Alumni Association continues to sponsor various alumni activities for fellow