Bruce Bellingham, professor emeritus of music, died suddenly of a heart attack on Jan. 3. He was 71.
Bellingham was known for his love of music; his enthusiasm for performing stand-up bass in jazz ensembles and with orchestras; his passion for all things Victorian; and his desire for people of all ages to participate, perform in, and be educated about music.
He joined the faculty of the Eastman School of Music in 1968, and came to UConn as a professor of music history in the School of Fine Arts in 1974. He retired in 2003.
He was an active member of the New Britain Symphony, the Amphibian Jazz Ensemble, and the Viola de Gamba Society, and was chairman of the Hop River Chamber Music series.
A long-time patron of the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts and a founding member of its volunteer organization, Co-Stars, he extended his support through many programs, especially the Jorgensen Outreach for Youth (JOY!). With his wife, Deborah Walsh Bellingham, he received the Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2009.
Bellingham also helped audiences to develop a greater understanding of the classical milieu through more than a decade of pre-concert talks at Jorgensen.
In addition, he taught at the Center for Learning in Retirement at UConn and the Adult learning Program in West Hartford, and continued to write scholarly articles about music.
Jorgensen Director Rod Rock says “the entire Jorgensen community will miss his warmth, his expertise, and his deep commitment to the arts.”
David Woods, dean of the School of Fine Arts, says, “Bruce was a major force in the cultural life of the Storrs and Willimantic communities for many years. We will remember his wit and the engaging conversations we had with him over the years at concerts and recitals. He will be deeply missed.”
Donations may be made in Bellingham’s memory to the UConn Foundation-Jorgensen Director’s Fund, Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, University of Connecticut, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs, CT, 06269-3104, or to the Willimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association at 202 Lewiston Avenue, Willimantic, CT 06226. For an online memorial guestbook, go to the Potter Funeral Home website.
A musical memorial service to celebrate Bellingham’s life was held at the Storrs Campus on Jan. 10.