Beloved teacher dies
A FORMER local violinmaker and Geelong Grammar teacher has been remembered as a “tremendously creative” and loving man.
Robert Ditterich was a much-loved father and grandfather, and a teacher and housemaster at Geelong Grammar.
He worked at the school between 1983 and 1995.
Mr Ditterich was also a professional string instrument maker, and had a workshop in Newtown, where he worked making and restoring instruments.
“I’ve always loved making things,’’ Mr Ditterich told the Geelong Advertiser in 2011.
He began making instruments in 1992 as part of a three-year apprenticeship of sorts, and learnt his craft from two German instrument makers and one English, the Addy reported in 2011.
“Dad was a tremendously creative man, a loving father and grandfather and a man with great dignity and integrity,” Robert’s son, Nicholas, said.
“As a teacher and housemaster at Geelong Grammar he was universally loved by his students.
“He had great sensitivity, especially to the musicians who used to buy and repair their instruments through his business.”
Mr Ditterich lived in Geelong between 1983 and 2015, when he moved to Metung in Gippsland.
He died of cancer, surrounded by family on Saturday, August 18, aged 65.
He was the beloved husband of Julia, who he was married to for about 45 years, and father of Nina, Shelley, Nicholas and Tristan.
His funeral will be held at St John’s Anglican Church, Stirling Rd, Metung today from 2pm.