Longtime local musician, former Ithaca teacher dies
After suffering a recent heart attack, a longtime former Ithaca teacher and well known local musician has died.
Bob Crist of Ithaca passed away Monday at the Cleveland Clinic. He was 72.
Crist was born in Jackson in 1947 to parents Robert and Virgina Crist. He graduated from Para Western High School and Central Michigan University with a degree in music education.
Crist served two years in the U.S. Army as a musician touring the southwest performing for troops and in officer’s clubs.
He began teaching in the music department at Ithaca-juniorsenior High School in the early 1970s before retiring after more than 30 years of service.
Crist was well known for his skills on the piano but could play a number of instruments.
He performed throughout the area at local senior centers, nursing homes, community functions and weddings.
Crist also served as musical director for the Ithaca Presbyterian Church and the Gratiot County Players. He was currently working on the group’s next play, “Mama Mia.”
“He created dozens of bands and dixieland combos, one of which played for several years on the Chesaning Showboat,” said former coworker Claudia Mcloughlin.
She first met Crist when
both were students at CMU, where he played piano during various events at her sorority.
“Bob spent hours at my folks’ home having dinner, playing cards and having jam sessions as other kids showed up,” Mcloughlin said. “Bob invited me to be a counselor at band camps a few times and a chaperone on band trips to New York City over the years.
“His house was always a hangout for kids interested in music. For years you would see two, four, five cars in the driveway and live music of all kinds poured out of the doors and windows of his little house.”
She noted that Crist “was like a brother to me.”
“But as I read Facebook tributes I learned he was a buddy, best friend, mentor and Uncle Bob to more people than you could count,” Mcloughlin said. “He was simply remarkable and inspirational. He may be gone but for several generations of IHS students, he will never be forgotten.”
One of those Facebook posts came from 2003 IHS grad. and former Crist student, Curtis Anderson, who’s now a professional Christian music artist and worship leader in Tennessee.
“A couple of years ago, I was about to send Bob a private message to let him know that I often tell stories about him during radio interviews, of his impact on me and the Ithaca community,” Anderson wrote. “I decided instead to post it on his wall, then I got to watch that post be flooded with others’ loving words to him. Hearing of his passing today I’m especially thankful things like that happened for him to see while he was alive.”
He added that Crist, “helped shape me musically, gave me the freedom to push against the grain and encouraged my break-the-norm ways.”
“Ithaca itself wouldn’t be the town it is without Bob Crist,” Anderson continued. “He’s a lesson on impact. In a tiny little town in Michigan, without any kind of fame or huge notoriety, he impacted thousands of lives that have gone on to impact thousands of others around the world. And I, for one, am grateful.”
Lifelong friend Randy Miniard, 62, another IHS graduate, was with Crist when he passed away.
“I’m heartbroken,” Miniard said. “We’ve been best friends for a long time. I’m also heartbroken for all of the people who touched his life and he touched theirs.
“I’ve had an outpouring of support from people who were worried about me because they knew of our friendship. I just tell them to look in the mirror because he felt the same way about them.”
He also wanted to let people know that there will eventually be a memorial service held for Crist, but due to the coronavirus pandemic it likely won’t be until May or June, or whenever it’s one again safe to have large gatherings.
The family is being served by Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Crist’s honor can be made to the Ithaca Band Boosters to use for band camp scholarships or the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation.
Those who would like to share memories or leave condolences for the family can go online to www.bardenfuneralhome. com