Vern Leon Kagarice
CHAUTAUQUA – Vern Leon Kagarice, 71, of Den-ton, Texas, passed on Tues-day, Sept. 16, 2014, at his summer home in Chautauqua, N.Y.
He was born Nov. 23, 1942, in Hutchinson, Kan., the son of the late Leo and Louise (DeGarmo) Kagarice.
Vern was professor of trombone at the University of North Texas and formerly held the same position for 17 years at Youngstown State University in Ohio. He has been a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra since 1979 and has traveled the globe as a clinician and recitalist. Vern enjoyed playing golf, traveling and mentoring thousands of young musicians.
He is survived by his wife, Janet (Harmon) Kagarice, whom he married July 31, 1987, in Hudson, N.H.; daughter, Kari Wallace and her husband, Jeff, of Houston, Texas; son, Kevin Kagarice and his wife, Jennifer Heath, of Portland, Ore.; two grandchildren: Sloan and Tristan Wallace of Houston, Texas; sister, Clydene Sigle and her husband, Red, of Sylvan Grove, Kan.; nephew, Terry Sigle and his wife, Michelle, of Allen, Texas; and niece, Tammy Mitchell of Riverside, Calif.
A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, at 1 p.m. at the Hall of Christ on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra or Hospice Chautauqua County.
To give to Chautauqua: The family requests that gifts be designated to the CSO and directed to the Mary Whitaker Symphony Endowment Fund in memory of Vern Kagarice. Gifts can be sent to the Chautauqua Foundation, P.O. Box 28, One Ames Ave., Chautauqua, NY 14722, or online at www.chautauquafoundation.org.
To give to Hospice Chautauqua County: Gifts may be sent in memory of Vern Kagarice to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750 or at www.hospicechautco.org/ donate.html.