Rhinebeck – Arthur Parris, 91, of Rhinebeck, NY, formerly of Millbrook, NY and Ann Arbor, MI, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2015 at the Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck.
Born on March 3, 1924, in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late Nathan and Anna (Wasserman) Parris. Arthur married Joan Weisman and she predeceased him in 2013. He was previously married to Nina (Gumpert) Parris.
He attended Temple University and the University of Michigan before enlisting to serve in United States Army Signal Corps during WWII. Upon his return from service he attended the Julliard School of Music, the Paris Conservatory, and ultimately received a doctorate in music history from Bryn Mawr College.
For many years he was a Professor of Performance Piano, Music History, Music Theory and Ethnomusicology at Westchester State College and then Eastern Michigan University. He was a highly-regarded piano teacher to students of all abilities and accomplishment at the Settlement Music School and other venues. He served as Vice President of the Gray Panthers, was on the board of directors for the Baby Book Club (now Children’s Literacy Network) and active in many other political causes with a focus on social and economic justice. Despite various health challenges in later years he maintained a strong optimism about life and made the most of each day.
He is survived by his two sons; Carl (Ann Moring) Parris of Rhinebeck, NY, and Thomas (Victoria Tamas) Parris of Shelburne, VT, his stepson; Sam (Nancy Crown) Weisman of Manhattan, NY, his step daughter; Sarah (Gary) Otteson of Anaconda, MT, his grandchildren; Daniel (Ruxi Radu-Radulescu) Moring-Parris of Albany, CA, Riana (Eric) Justusson of Queens, NY, David Tamas-Parris of Burlington, VT, Noah Tamas-Parris of Shelburne, VT, Sadie Malaby of South Orange, NJ, and Joseph Weisman of Manhattan, NY, and his great grandson; Theodore Moring-Parris Justusson. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his sister, Vivian Hayes.
Funeral services will be held 2:00pm Monday, October 26th, 2015 at 91 E Market St, Rhinebeck, NY. Burial will be at Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla on Tuesday, October 27th, 2015 at 10:00 am.
Memorial donations may be made in Arthur’s memory to the Children’s Literacy Network (www.childrensliteracynetwork.org).
