It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our friend and colleague, Robert LeBlanc, emeritus professor of tuba.  He joined the School of Music faculty as professor of tuba in 1966 and also served as a band conductor and chair of the performance division for many years. 

Among his students are James Akins, Fritz Kaenzig, Mickey Moore, Jeffrey Rideout, Jan Duga, Charles Schulz, John Jones, Scott MacMorran, Steven Bryant, and Steven Winteregg.  He retired from Ohio State in 1989 and continued to perform long after with many ensembles, including the Columbus Symphony and the High Street Stompers.

An interesting interview with Bob is posted at:  http://www.iteaonline.org/members/history/oral/oral_hist_proj.php?page=leb - Richard L. Blatti, Professor and Director of the School of Music

Published in The Columbus Dispatch on December 12, 2012:

LeBLANC Robert Taylor LeBlanc, 76, died December 9, 2012 surrounded by his loved ones. He was born August 5, 1936 in Port Arthur, TX and was proud of his Texas and Cajun heritage. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Lamar College in Beaumont, TX and The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He taught public school in Dayton, TX and Oneonta, NY. He played in the Beaumont, Oneonta and Columbus Symphony Orchestras. He was retired Professor Emeritus from OSU in Music. He was the first Tuba instructor at OSU and touched many young lives through his teaching and conducting. He was Music Performance Division Chair, conducted bands and orchestras, played in the faculty Brass Quintet and was a founding member of the High Street Stompers. He was proud to have conducted in Carnegie Hall and played in Lincoln Center. Robert and Arden built a cabin in Morgan Co. with the help of his sons and many tuba players. He coached little league baseball, football and basketball. He was well known as part of Hickory Ridge Kennels which produced Champion Labrador Retrievers and Border Terriers. He had been an officer in COKC and was on the zoning board in Berlin Twp for many years. He is survived by his beloved wife, Arden; and sons, Bob (Hallie) and Jim (MJ); and grandson, Jacob. He loved life and enjoyed his family, music, Mexican food and the Dallas Cowboys. His Cajun humor and gentleness will be greatly missed.  Memorial service on Saturday, December 15 at 1 p.m. at Willow Brook Christian Village Terrace Room. 100 Delaware Crossing W, Delaware, OH 43015.

"I'm ready.........I'm ready to soar."