Rest in Peace

On a personal note, I remember Geoffrey Rutkowski, former principal cellist of the Santa Barbara Symphony, who has died aged 78.

A charming, gentle and enormously talented individual, Geoffrey joined the music faculty at UCSB in 1968 until his retirement in 2013 as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

He played all over the world, including two seasons with Zubin Mehta, Colin Davis, Riccardo Muti, and Mstislav Rostropovich at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence.

Geoffrey, who was with the symphony from 1968 until 2011, completed his tenure five years later, serving under five conductors. He was also a board member of the Ensemble Theatre Company.

His wife, Joan, is a longtime board member and former chair of Opera Santa Barbara, and a founding member of the board of directors of the Granada. She has also had a distinguished career as an opera singer, giving master classes in the U.S., China and Taiwan.

Geoffrey’s presence will be much missed.