|
Edward C. Bedner, 77, of Boston, MA., formerly of Exeter, Pa. passed away on Wednesday August 6, 2014 at the home of his sister, Jacqueline Namutka, West Pittston.
He was born on October 4, 1936, raised in Exeter, and the son of the late Edward A. and Julia Busha Bedner. He was a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School. He completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate in Music at Boston University with additional piano study at New England Conservatory of Music. He was a professor of music at Berklee College of Music at the time of his passing.
Edward furthered the careers of very gifted students from around the world traveling to many countries doing lectures and recitals at regional, national and international conferences on the music of Chopin, Messiaen, Takemitsu, Chen Yi and others. He did extensive public performances in solo recitals, as an accompanist, on television in the Boston area and as a soloist with local orchestras. He was a recipient of a grant for study at Tanglewood Music Center.
For fifty years Edward generously shared his knowledge and promoted the gift of music internationally through published papers, performing and fine-tuning the skills of his students. Many of his most talented students have continued to further their personal music careers and follow Edwards’s varied and valued traditions of teaching and performing.
In addition to his parents, Edward was preceded in death by his sister Nancy (Bedner) Warren.
He is survived by his sister Jacqueline Bedner Namutka, West Pittston, and nieces, Karol ( Namutka) Anderson, Brigantine, N.J., Leigh Ann (Warren) Fury, Wendy (Warren) Goff, Brielle, N.J., and nephews, Gary Namutka and his wife Julia, Plains, Scott Warren and his wife Suzanne, Jenkins Twp., and numerous great nieces and great nephews, family and friends.
A memorial mass will be held on Saturday at 9:30am at St. Barbara Parish in St. Anthony of Padua Church, 28 Memorial St., Exeter.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be from 8:30am until time of services at the church.
Interment will be in St. John the Slovak Cemetery, Schooley St., Exeter.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Memory of Edward Bedner to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Gubbiotti Funeral Home, 1030 Wyoming Ave., Exeter.
To send the family an expression or an online condolence, please visit www.gubbiottifh.com
|
|
Click the button to generate a printable document containing all condolences submitted
|
Condolence Booklet
|
|
Carolyn Wilkins
|
Posted Wed August 06, 2014
|
|
Ed was a wonderful colleague. Much loved by students and teachers alike. He will be missed.
|
|
Allan Chase
|
Posted Wed August 06, 2014
|
|
My condolences to Ed's family and close friends. He was one of our most highly esteemed colleagues, an inspiring and much-loved former teacher of many members of the faculty of the Ear Training department at Berklee College of Music. Ed's teaching changed the lives of many musicians and will not be forgotten.
Allan Chase
Chair, Ear Training
Berklee College of Music, Boston
|
|
Francesca Tanksley
|
Posted Wed August 06, 2014
|
|
Dear family and friends of Ed Bedner,
I am very sorry for your loss. I am a fellow piano faculty at Berklee, and it has been an honor to know Ed through the years. He was a very kind and gentle person.
God bless you,
Francesca Tanksley
|
|
Rosanne Szymanski
|
Posted Thu August 07, 2014
|
|
To my dear friend Jackie and her family, I am very sorry for your loss. Please know that my thoughts and prayers and with all of you
|
|
Alison Leonard
|
Posted Thu August 07, 2014
|
|
Jackie, Gary, Julie and Karol,
I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like Ed was a wonderful person, his life was certainly full of many accomplishments. My prayers are with you all.
Sincerely, Sunny
|
|
Jane Stachowiak
|
Posted Thu August 07, 2014
|
|
Ed Bedner was beloved by his students and revered by his fellow faculty members. Very gracious man with a big heart for the Berklee students.
|
|
Al Hirschhorn
|
Posted Fri August 08, 2014
|
|
To Ed's family:
I was a colleague of Ed's 1966-68. Ed was a "breath of fresh air". I remember him as a caring, sensitive, gentle man.
I was shocked when I received word from a former 'quintet-mate' from Kingston, NY.
Please accept my heart-felt condolences for your loss.
“Though words can do little to comfort you, I hope thoughts and prayers
will help support you at this time.” (George Sangster)
God Bless,
Al Hirschhorn
Hopewell Junction, NY
|
|
Bob Winter
|
Posted Fri August 08, 2014
|
|
Dear family and friends of Ed Bedner,
I've known and been a colleague of Ed since 1972 and was so saddened by his passing. He was a very well respected teacher here and will be missed greatly by his students and the faculty. I'll always remember our many talks, not only about music, but also about various subjects, including local delicatessens and other restaurants. He will always be in our memory.
Bob Winter
Professor of Piano
Berklee College of Music
|
|
Taewan Logan Kim
|
Posted Fri August 08, 2014
|
|
Dear Edward Bedner
You made me a musician not just pianist,
It was great experience with you
You taught me how to approach music as a musician
I will remember in my entire life about your musical mind
What you gave to me.
Thank you and rest in peace, my hero grandfather.
|
|
gerald siddons
|
Posted Fri August 08, 2014
|
|
I knew Ed for many years at Berklee where I was an instructer and Dean of Students up until 1979. I liked him very much for his quiet unassuming manner ans assigned him to a studio with two small grand pianos which only one other faculty member had. I always thought he might feel out of place at Berklee since he was so well trained while much of the faculty were jazz musicians who had never listened to Brahms, but he seemed comfortable. He quietly functioned with many grateful students. I am three years younger than Ed. I had so much respect for him and wish that I had known him better.
Gerald Siddons
|
|
Larry Bethune
|
Posted Tue August 12, 2014
|
|
I will miss Ed. He was my first Ear Training teacher (1967) and Counterpoint (1968) teacher. He was so patient with us all. He worked for me for a few years when I was chair of ET. I talked with him every week for the last few years as he taught in the piano lab across from my office. One of the "constants" you could rely on over the past 48 years. Leaves a hole in my life. I am so happy so many loved him.
|
|
Patty Shultz/Warriner
|
Posted Tue August 12, 2014
|
|
Jackie,
I am sorry to hear of the loss of Edward. However, it must warm your heart to know how many lives he had touched along the way. Looks like he had a life well lived. Please know that I am praying for you and your family during this difficult time.
With heart felt sympathy,
Patty
|
|
Cheong Leong Chuah
|
Posted Fri August 22, 2014
|
|
Dear Ed and family,
Today, I heard about the passing of my professor, friend and mentor, Ed Bedner. I am saddened by the loss of this wonderful and gentle soul. Ed was my piano professor for most of my college years at Berklee College of Music. I was so blessed to be one of this many students. He is so generous with his time and advice. We had lessons lasting 3 hours long when it was only supposed to be an hour long. When we were not discussing music, we would be at Chinatown eating yummy filet of sole, cherry stone clams in black bean sauce, and other delicious Asian cuisine. We would discuss many things about life and food. Ed has a boyish smile that warms your heart. It certainly warmed mine.
Although we have kept in touch sparingly throughout the years, Ed was fondly thought of frequently. My fellow friends and I will miss him dearly. He is now somewhere better and is probably sharing his love of music to those around him. May he rest in peace. To his family and close friends, I offer my deepest condolences.
Chuah Cheong Leong.
Chair, Music Program
Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, CA
|
|
Pat Englehardt
|
Posted Sat August 23, 2014
|
|
I am deeply saddened by the news of Ed's passing. Professor Bedner was, and always will be my dearest mentor. So many have been touched by this graciously humble, kind, and gentle soul. I still treasure those memories of Ed visiting my home country of Malaysia where he presented lecture recitals, enthralled the music students and teachers, while enjoying the local cuisine and culture.
I last met up with Ed during a medical trip to Boston for my post stem-cell transplant following my diagnosis of amyloidosis. Ed had visited me at the Hope Lodge during my treatment, and we would head down to chinatown for Malaysian food. It was such a treat.
My deepest condolences to Ed's sister and family for their loss. Ed has touched so many, and his legacy will live on, his music always in our hearts.
Rest in peace, dear teacher and friend.
|
|
Chen-Chen Ho
|
Posted Sun August 24, 2014
|
|
Dear Ed:
I am Chen-Chen from Taiwan. Hope you remember me. I studied with you from 1993~1995 at Berklee. You were a great teacher and dedicated the passion of teaching. I learned so many piano techniques from you. You gave me “the nutrition of music” to enrich my music life. All students from Taiwan miss you so much. We send our loves and blessings to the heaven where you live now. Hope you’ll receive our love. We remember that you loved Chinese cousin so much. We cherish all the memories of you at Berklee.
Sincerely,
Chen-Chen Ho in Taiwan.
|
|
ed troiano
|
Posted Wed September 03, 2014
|
|
My favorite and most important professor at college. I offer my sincerest condolences and prayers. He has helped me out infinitely and will be missed by many.
|
|
John Amaral
|
Posted Mon September 08, 2014
|
|
When I came to Berklee as a student in 1970, I had Ed with Modus Novis.
I was struggling but he was a great help with an encouraging attitude and humor. At times self-deprecating. This made him a good and successful teacher.
I still remember his voice then.
As a teacher, I would run into him at Berklee and he always had a good word.
I feel doubly fortunate because recently I was able to get a pupil I care about to take two semesters of his atonal eartraining.
Thanks, Ed.
|
|
Rui Zhong
|
Posted Mon September 08, 2014
|
|
I studied with Ed this spring and the summer before it. Ed was a genius of music. He taught one of the toughest and most advanced ear training courses at Berklee College of Music, but I had some of my best time at school with him. Patiently but cleverly, he took me on a journey to explore the works of great modern composers such as Edlund, Hindemith and Webern. His cold jokes and silly laughs fit so perfectly with his wig and cane.
I am so shocked and sad to learn that I can never see Ed again. Please accept my most sincere condolence.
Rui, a student of Ed
|
|
Yuka Hamano Hunt
|
Posted Thu October 30, 2014
|
|
Dear Ed and his family
I was in Japan last summer when Mr. Bedner passed away. I just learned of it today.
I value my studies with him very much. He was an amazing teacher who was always passionate about music. I learned so much from him. Thank you Ed.
|
|
John Armstrong
|
Posted Fri November 14, 2014
|
|
It was with great sadness that I learned today of Ed's passing. Ed was my teacher from 1974-1977 and transformed my playing and thinking in many ways. He will forever be one of my strongest influences. May he rest in peace.
|
|
Megan West Phillips
|
Posted Sun July 17, 2016
|
|
I just read about Ed's passing. What a wonderful and kind man. He was my sight singing teacher at Berklee, way back in the 1960's He had the patience of a saint to put up with my sight singing and the "movable do". He made me laugh at myself with all my mistakes and yet he was never critical in his pointing out my many, many mistakes. God Bless you Mr Bedner and thank you for all your help.
|
|
