Kim Douglas, a loving wife, devoted mother, daughter, sister, and friend, who loved the Lord, her family, and her Church family, passed away on September 19, 2021, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by living Christ centered lives to the fullest. However, her love of life does not end with her death. Kim’s caring spirit and generous heart will forever be emulated by those whose lives she touched. Kim was born June 30, 1959, in Akron to Barbara and the late Frederick Ayers. She completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music Education degrees at the University of Akron. Before retirement, Kim took tremendous pride in the Akron Public School system and the students she taught. As an educator, she shared her passion for learning with thousands of students by finding creative ways to enrich the lives of children over her 35 years of teaching. She truly was a selfless individual who contributed sound advice for years in the educational setting. Being a mentor teacher was but one example of her contribution to the educational system. In addition, her unique skills were often sought to lead local and district musical programs like May Festival and Carnegie Link-Up. Aside from teaching, the simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Kim. She truly loved and cared for her family, friends, and others. Her pleasant personality was contagious and inviting to everyone she met. She enjoyed: nurturing and watching her daughters grow up to be beautiful women, participating in family events, catching up with friends, hosting small group bible studies, and planning vacations. Her hobbies included gardening with the North Canton Garden Club, sending morning messages of encouragement to family and friends, creating silk floral arrangements, cooking, having coffee with friends, and playing cards. She also had a special place in her heart for her three fur babies: her cats.

Besides her mom, Kim is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, Robert “Bob” Douglas; daughters, Kaitlyn (Caleb) Rinehart and Colleen (Tyler) Hill; sisters, Cheryl (Lance) Schmidt and Kara (Greg) Louk; as well as many loving nieces, nephews, and friends. Kim will be deeply missed by family, friends, and those she met and touched during her lifetime. A special thank you to the health care staff at Mercy Medical for the outstanding care given.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 23, 2021, at Schermesser Funeral Home, 600 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron, Ohio 44319, with Pastor Randy Vandemark officiating. Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will take place following the service on Thursday at Hillside Memorial Park. Memorial contributions can be made in Kim’s name to the North Canton Garden Club, 5869 Carlew Street NW, North Canton, Ohio 44720 or to Paws and Prayers Pet Rescue, P.O. Box 67166, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 44222-7166.

Aug. 17, 1937 – Sept. 2, 2021

Michael David Nascimben’s musical roots were deep.

“Music was a huge part of Mike’s life and when listening to him play you could tell it came from his soul,” said Sylvia Nascimben, his wife of 54 years.

Dr. Nascimben, a saxophonist, longtime music arranger and high school and college music teacher, died in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital after a brief hospitalization. The Williamsville resident was 84.

“He was primarily a classical saxophonist but he played all genres of music,” his wife said. “He could play jazz or ragtime in a bar and delightful church music.”

Dr. Nascimben performed with the West Point military band in President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural parade, was a conductor and longtime member of the American Legion Band of the Tonawandas and, with various groups, performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Shubert Theatre and on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

He was born Michael John Gatti in Buffalo and spent his first four years in a foster home in South Wales, before being adopted by David and Fortunata Nascimben of Dunkirk.

In their home, he listened to opera and started playing accordion, “a popular instrument in Italian families,” said Sylvia Nascimben. As a child, he played at weddings and other celebrations.

“After receiving information on Michael’s early life from Catholic Charities, we found that it was evident that he had a love of music as a baby,” his wife said. “Many years later, when we connected with his birth family, we found musical talent in that family.”

In his parents’ home, he quickly learned Italian, their first language. His wife said, “He was highly intelligent and picked up Italian in no time at all.”

Dr. Nascimben took up the saxophone in junior high school, his wife said, because “he wanted to play in the band and the teacher said they needed a saxophone player.”

He graduated from Dunkirk High School in 1955 and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from SUNY Fredonia in 1959.

The same year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a member of the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, where he was principal saxophonist. He was also a founding member of the West Point Saxophone Quartet. He was honorably discharged in 1962.

After one year of teaching music in Olean, Dr. Nascimben was hired as a music teacher in the Niagara Falls school district in 1963. He taught there until 1968, as instrumental music instructor at LaSalle Senior High School.

He and the former Sylvia Cowe married on Aug. 19, 1967, in Riverside Presbyterian Church in Niagara Falls.

Dr. Nascimben returned to school at the University of Michigan, where he earned a master’s degree of music in wind instruments and a doctorate of musical arts in saxophone performance and was a teaching assistant in the band program. At Michigan, he was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, a national music honor society, and Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band fraternity.

He taught at the University of Texas at Austin from 1971 to 1977, then returned to Western New York, where he worked in the City of Tonawanda school system from 1979 to 1999, including as instrumental music director at Tonawanda High School.

He taught music at Daemen College in the late 1970s and at the University at Buffalo, Erie Community College and SUNY Buffalo State in the late 1980s. He also directed the Niagara Falls Concert Band for years.

In 1958, he began arranging music, completing more than 300 transcriptions for saxophone quartet and other ensembles.

He joined the American Legion Band of the Tonawandas in 1962, and served as conductor in 1985. He was also assistant conductor, principal saxophonist and appeared as saxophone soloist.

He performed regularly with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and appeared with symphony orchestras throughout the United States.

As a member of the Amherst Saxophone Quartet, in 1980 he met renowned ragtime pianist and composer James Hubert “Eubie” Blake. Dr. Nascimben arranged many of Blake’s tunes for saxophone quartet, and in 1981, the quartet recorded 14 of Blake’s tunes on its album, “An American Classic: James Hubert Blake.” The quartet performed at both Blake’s 100th birthday and his 1983 funeral.

The quartet played on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in 1985.

Dr. Nascimben was also a founding member of the DaCapo Saxophone Quartet and belonged to the Erie County Wind Ensemble, Buffalo Swing, the Clearwater Community Band and other groups. His music was recorded by MCA, the Musical Heritage Society and Mark Records.

Dr. Nascimben was a longtime member of the Music Educators National Conference and the New York State School Music Association.

A member of Clarence Presbyterian Church in Clarence and Anona United Methodist Church in Largo, Fla., he enjoyed playing bridge, pinochle and euchre.

“Michael was a reserved man, but had many close relationships,” his wife said. “He enjoyed quiet times, but was also very comfortable on stage performing for a packed house. He always was relaxed in performances.”

Besides his wife, Sylvia Nascimben, Dr. Nascimben is survived by two sons, David Michael and Peter William Nascimben.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery in Silver Creek.

A Celebration of Life is planned for next summer at the Clarence Presbyterian Church.

Jamie Brust, 44, passed away Sunday, August 8, 2021. Jamie was born July 7, 1977 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Alan McCormick and Rhonda “Downey” McCormick. Jamie was a longtime resident of Carthage, Missouri and a member of Fairview Christian Church.

Jamie was united in marriage to Brian Brust, October 20, 2007 in Carthage, Missouri; he survives.

Jamie is survived by her husband, Brian Brust; one son, Caden Stevens of Joplin, Missouri; two brothers, Steve McCormick and wife, Janna, of Miami, Oklahoma and Cody McCormick and wife, Dana, of Carthage, Missouri.

Jamie is preceded in death by her parents, Alan and Rhonda McCormick.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, August 12, 2021 at Ulmer Funeral Home Chapel.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at Ulmer Funeral Home.

Contributions may be made to Carthage Humane Society in care of Ulmer Funeral Home.

Kenneth G. Bloomquist
December 29, 1931 – August 6, 2021

NORTHPORT – Kenneth G. Bloomquist, 89, of Northport, passed away peacefully Friday, August 6, 2021, at home, with his loving wife, Ann, in his arms.

Ken was born Dec. 29, 1931 on the family farm in Boxholm, Iowa the son of Arvid and Alma Bloomquist. The family moved to Boone, Iowa in 1944, where Ken excelled in the music lessons that would become the foundation for his life’s work.

Ken attended the University of Illinois, where his talent as a trumpet player flourished as the solo cornet in the top band, a member of the symphony orchestra, and performer with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His trumpet teacher at U of I, Mr. Haskell Sexton, was the director of a church choir in Champaign, Illinois and he “gently” encouraged his students to sing in his choir to bolster the male sections. It was in the choir that he met Annie, his wife-to-be. They were married on February 14, 1954 in Champaign, IL.

Ken graduated from the U of I in spring 1953 and was immediately drafted into the Army, serving until 1955 when his professional career in music began. He was first a high school band director, then moved on to Professor of Trumpet and later Director of Bands at the University of Kansas. While at KU he started a Brass Choir that became a highly renowned and sought-after performing group. In 1964 the Brass Choir, toured Southeast Asia for a four-months representing United States in the Cultural Presentations Program.

In 1970, Ken accepted the position of Director of Bands at Michigan State University, later becoming Director of the School of Music. Ken was the recipient of professional honors too numerous to name, but among his most treasured were admission to the National Bandmasters’ Association Hall of Fame and President of the American Bandmasters Association (ABA). An honor bestowed on only 55 conductors in history, including John Phillip Sousa, was his induction into the ABA Conductors Hall of Fame.

Ken retired from MSU on December 31, 1993 and began his unofficial second career as a guest conductor, clinician and lecturer around the world. He was tapped for multiple years to conduct at Musashino Music Academy in Tokyo, the most prestigious music school in Japan.

He and Annie moved permanently to their vacation home on Lake Michigan in Northport, Michigan in the spring of 1994. They soon realized that they would “flunk” retirement again and became immersed in the development of the musical community in Northport, creating a year-round community band and choir and devoting much of their time to realizing the dream of a performance venue, the Northport Community Arts Center, now the Northport Performing Arts Center, that was built by the community as an addition to the Northport Public School.

Ken loved to travel, to enjoy good food and wine, and to read. He considered having his family and good friends around him the most important thing in his life. He wrote, “My wife, of over 60 years, is my soul mate and best friend in every way. I wish I could live another lifetime because I want to know what’s coming ahead in the world of technology, travel to other galaxies, cures for life threatening illnesses, world relationships, etc. etc. etc. Alas, I guess I’ll have to look down from above, or maybe up from below, to find the answers to these questions.”

Ken is survived by his loving wife of sixty-seven years, Ann Murphy Bloomquist; his children, Leslie (Russell) Knopp, Laurie (Mario) Perez, Daniel (Bonnie) Bloomquist; a sibling, Gary (Beverly) Bloomquist; his grandchildren Chelsea (Jerry) Krueger, Allison (Nathan) Spoelhof, Katie (David) Dewey, Rowland Perez, Ciara (Walker) Glass and Christian Perez, Breanne (Brian) Cremean, Ian Bloomquist, Leah Bloomquist, and great grandchildren Finnegan, Ellie, Brooks, Dylan and Finn.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and related unknowns, a fitting memorial and celebration of Ken’s life will be announced at a future date.

Memorials may be directed to the Kenneth G. Bloomquist Scholarship at Michigan State University.

Angelia “Angie” Sue Murphy caring wife, loving daughter, sister, Aunt, and best friend to everyone who knew her passed away Saturday, July 31, 2021 due to complications from Covid-19 at the age of 46.

Angie was born January 11, 1975 in Stuttgart, Arkansas to Larry and Belinda Williams. Angie graduated from Clarendon in 1993 and then went on to attend the University of Arkansas, Monticello for music where she met and married David Murphy. In 2005 they moved to Tulsa where she worked around 12 years for Walmart.

She was an active member of Cross Pointe Assembly of God Church where she sang in the Choir and was part time church secretary. She will be missed by so many friends and loved ones!
She is survived by her Loving Husband of 24 years, David Murphy of Sapulpa, OK, her mother Belinda Williams of Clarendon, AR, Brothers: Gary Williams and wife Brandie of Trumann, AR, and Allan Williams and wife Charolette of Hickory Plains, AR; Two Nephews: Ronnie Johnson and Dawson Williams; Five nieces: Marleigh Murphy, Cassandra Murphy, Emilie Williams, Chloie Williams and Addyson Williams.

She was preceded in Death by her father, Larry Williams.

Graveside services will be Friday, August 6, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Eudora, Arkansas.

Donald P. KOCHENDORFER, Age 97, of Kettering, OH, went to be with the Lord on Sunday June 27.

Preceding him in death were his father, Paul; his mother, Mabelle, and infant daughter, Angela. He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Mavis; son Gary of Kettering, OH; son Gregory and daughter-in-law Cynthia of Naples, FL; granddaughter Nicole and great-grandson Connor and great-granddaughter Lilliana of Lake Orion, MI; granddaughter Amy and husband Adam of Estero, FL; granddaughter Laura and

husband TJ and great-granddaughter Arabella and great-grandson Preston of Perrysburg, OH.

Don was a member of Fairhaven Church, Centerville, OH, for 51 years and sang in the choir for 43 years.

He was a graduate of Hebron High School, Hebron, OH. He also graduated from The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and member of Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma, National Engineering Honoraries. He played in the Ohio State Marching Band for four years with membership in Kappa Kappa PSi, National Music Honorary. More recently, he played in the OSU Alumni Marching Band for 35 years.

During World War II he fought for our country in Europe with the 102nd Division of the U.S. Army receiving the Bronze Star. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. He took great pride in wearing his WWII uniform at various commemorative events.

He was an engineer at General Electric, Crosley, Frigidaire, and Delco Products Division General Motors. He held many U.S. Patents.

The family will greet friends on Saturday, July 3, 2021, at 10:00 am, for one hour, prior to funeral services at 11:00 am at Fairhaven Church, 637 E. Whipp Rd, Centerville, OH with

Pastor Jim Futrell. Internment at David’s Cemetery, 4600 Mad River Rd, Kettering. Arrangements by Tobias Funeral Home – Far Hills Chapel.

If desired, donations suggested to The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA www.nationalww2museum.org. Online condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.

Sarah Elizabeth Fitzgerald, age 38, of Aberdeen, Maryland passed away on April 3, 2021 at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born in Akron, Ohio, she was the daughter of Larry and Cheryl Lynn (Swires) Lambert and wife of 15 years to Scott Nathaniel Fitzgerald. She was a 2000 graduate of Dulaney High School and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Towson University. She was a Northeast District Governor for Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. Sarah played the clarinet and ran cross country in High School. She enjoyed photography, cooking, music, and reading.

In addition to her husband and parents, Sarah is survived by her son, Nathaniel Milo Fitzgerald; sister, Amelia (Mark) McMahon; and nephew, James McMahon.

The family will host a celebration of life at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Humane Society of Harford County, 2208 Connolly Road, Fallston, MD 21047.

Herbert D. Hannum, Jr. passed away on March 15, 2021. He was born October 12, 1923, in Jefferson – Ashtabula County, Ohio, to Herbert D. and Cora (Pinks) Hannum. His father was a two-term Ashtabula County Sheriff 1923-1927 after having been Chief Deputy from 1910-1923. Mr. Hannum was employed as County Detective and Probation Officer from 1927-1930 when he joined Cleveland Electric Illuminating as Chief of the Property Protection Division retiring in 1952. His Grandfather, William Pinks, was a Director of the Middlefield Banking Company, Middlefield, Ohio, as it commenced business September 6, 1901, and became an Ashtabula County Commissioner from 1920-1922. The historic and beautiful Octagon house in Windsor, Ohio, owned by William and Addie (Lampson) Pinks, sat on one of the finest farms in Ashtabula County. Herb Jr. was born at 25 W. Walnut St. and grew up in that house in Jefferson. He graduated in 1941 from Jefferson High School as Vice-President of his senior class. When he was 6 years old, his parents took him to Cleveland to see the 1929 National Air Races and he was especially excited to see Charles Lindbergh in a parade down Euclid Avenue. After graduation, he led his own orchestra and was playing at The Swan in New Lyme when he was offered a position to travel in the U.S. with the nationally known Charlie Agnew band as a Drummer. World War II offered him another opportunity. He joined the Army and trained at Fort Eustis, Virginia, Camp Polk, Louisiana, and then to the Army camp at Fort Dix, New Jersey, awaiting orders. He shipped out from the Port of New York on the Queen Mary, outfitted as a troop ship, to eventually dock in Scotland. He served with the 386 Anti-aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion in the European Theatre and received 5 battle stars for the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Ground Combat. After the war, he was a Drummer with an Army Air Force Show Band in Europe. He earned a B.A. degree in 1949 and a B.S. degree in 1950 from Ohio University and received the University Fund Award for Independent Study. He was initiated into the Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity. He was an Industrial Engineer with McCall Printing Company, Dayton, Ohio; Chief Industrial Engineer for McCall Mid-Atlantic Division in Glendale, Maryland. At the close of that plant, he returned to Dayton to eventually become Chief Industrial Engineer for Dayton Press (formerly McCall Corp). When Dayton Press closed, he joined Standard Register Company and retired in 1996 as Senior Industrial Engineer. He was preceded in death by sister, Dorris O’Neill of Jefferson, Ohio; brother Cecil Hannum of New York; and brother-in-law, Larry Woolery. He is survived by wife, Barbara (Woolery) Hannum; son Gary; stepdaughter, Susan; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. There will be no services at Herbert’s request. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.gebhartschmidtparramore.com