Grove City College released a statement mourning the death of Dr. Edwin P. “Doc” Arnold, longtime band director and chair of the Department of Music.
Arnold, who died on Monday at age 80, joined the faculty of Grove City College as director of bands in the fall of 1975. In 1981, Arnold was appointed chair of the Department of Music and Fine Arts. He retired from Grove City College in August 2013.
During his tenure at Grove City College, Arnold held several senior administrative positions, including assistant dean of the college, executive assistant to the president, vice president of external affairs and administrative liaison to the Commission on Higher Education. He also served as director of the J. Howard Pew Fine Arts Center.
Professor of Music Stacy Paparone met Arnold at band camp during her freshman year at Grove City College and worked closely with him as a student.
“I was fortunate to have him as (a) trusted advisor and mentor,” she said. “In the western Pennsylvania region, his influence in music education has been vast, as many graduates who were his students stayed in the area.”
Professor of Music Jeffrey Tedford, another former student, now holds Arnold’s job as chair of the college’s Department of Music.
“I had the privilege of learning from Ed Arnold as a student, as an alumnus through many conversations and lastly as a colleague and friend. ‘Doc’ was instrumental in the development of my confidence and leadership skills and provided so many opportunities for me to grow, even when I didn’t realize it in the moment,” Tedford said. “It was an honor to work alongside him when I was first hired, and I will treasure every conversation we had.”
A Beaver Falls, Pa. native, Arnold received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Geneva College, Master of Music Education from Duquesne University and doctorate from the University of Houston. While at the University of Houston, he served on the band directing staff and assisted in developing halftime performances at the Astrodome.
Bands and orchestras sought out Arnold as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator for high schools, colleges, festivals and military ensembles throughout the United States and Canada.
“Outside of music education, his impact on the lives of hundreds of band alumni cannot really be measured. He shaped the lives of his band students, especially those in the Wolverine Marching Band, through his leadership and care,” Paparone said. “No matter how busy he was, he always had time for a conversation and a laugh. The culture he built in the marching band led many of us to form lifelong friendships that still flourish today.”
