Death Notice

Dr. Fred Willman, 72, of St. Louis, Missouri, Professor of Music and Education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, died April 16, 2013, following a long battle with cancer.

Willman was vocal music director at Odebolt-Arthur Community Schools from 1965 to 1967.  People may remember the musicals "Carousel" and "The King and I" which were performed by the high school when he was director.

Thanks to Barb Votrobeck for sending in this clipping
from the May 22, 2013 issue of The Mapleton Press.

On-line obituary from Coe Exchange

Music Education Professor Fred Willman Obituary

Fred Willman, Founders Professor of Music and Education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, died April 16 following a long battle with cancer.

Willman’s long and distinguished career began at UMSL as an assistant professor in 1974. He was named an associate professor in 1978 and full professor in 1987. Throughout his career he was recognized for his innovative curriculums for elementary and middle school general music methods courses. His publications include journal articles, two solely authored books, nine jointly authored textbooks, choral music and computer software.

Willman’s first love was teaching and he did it very well. In 2003 he was named a Distinguished Teaching Professor and received the title of Curators Professor in 2005. According to Clark, his students were devoted to him. Tens of thousands of students across the St. Louis region and beyond have benefited from his teachings.

Willman was named to the Missouri Music Educators Association Hall of Fame in 2012. A UMSL Daily story at the time quoted Robert Nordman, the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor in Music Education and chair of the music department.

“Dr. Fred Willman’s half century of extraordinary work in music education — nearly four decades at UMSL — have resulted in continued high praise from K-12 music teachers throughout Missouri and across the nation,” Nordman said. “Among these teachers are those who earned their BME or MME at UMSL and were among Fred’s students, as well as hundreds of others who learned from Fred’s many presentations at professional conferences.”

Contributions to the Fred Willman Music Education Scholarship Fund can be sent to: University of Missouri–St. Louis, 1 University Blvd, St. Louis, Mo. 63121, Attn: Maura Wuellner, 440 Woods Hall. The Department of Music will observe a moment of silence at its regular Friday Seminar Recital May 3.