Joyce Lattanzio Bean (her son, Josh's, tribute is below as well)
I learned about Mr. Trautwein’s passing last Friday. It has taken me almost a week to join facebook and get my thoughts together. I have read people’s posts and cried through almost all – some laughter through tears. As so many before me have mentioned, Mr. Trautwein changed my life. I truly would not be the person I am today without him. He gave me confidence in myself and in my ability to sing and perform. He was a blessing to our entire family. Like my mother, we shared the same birthday. I can not imagine what my life would have been without him.
The time we spent at BBHS was like “Camelot”. Dave Schein did this for all of us. He brought these wonderful, talented teachers together – George Trautwein, Roger Smith, Bill Johnson, Mendelsohn, Metzler, Jones, Tarshis (Peter and Sue), Sue Vince, Gary Cialfi, Van B, Eda Follman Klinger, John Mills, Del, David Press, Zach, Daphne Dewey, Anita, etc etc. Probably as young teenagers, we did not realize the true value of this experience at Blind Brook. Blind Brook was so unique in all aspects.
We did not have an auditorium or theatre; we had an LGI (Large Group Instruction). That was what Mr. Trautwein (Cialfi and Peter) had to work with for music and theatre arts. The room had a stage but other than that, it had nothing else that could even come close to being considered a theatre. Mr. Trautwein worked miracles in that LGI. We did “Joseph”, “The Apple Tree”, “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, “HMS Pinafore”, “The Boyfriend” and “The Telephone” while I was at BBHS. We did concerts and talent shows and we traveled taking the small Consort choir we had on tour. Can anyone remember – I think we only had 4 or 5 men in the first choir – Mark Schecter, Michael Kaplan, Chris Haliburton and Tommy Neilson. Mr. Trautwein gave us all those wonderful experiences and he gave us so much more.
I can remember the LGI was not completed when we moved into the high school. We had to rehearse at 7AM, not a minute later. If you were late, you were locked out. We thought he was kidding, but a few found out the hard way. We stood on the steps between the commons and the cafeteria. Mr. T stood behind the piano, mostly half standing. We did warm-ups first. Sometimes he bent one of us over, told us to relax our jaws, open up – he would twist our heads back and forth to relax the neck. I sometimes still do that today. He drew out the best in all of us, whether there was natural talent or not. He taught us respect not only for him but respect for each other.
I remember before one performance, Mr. Trautwein was running late. His mother and his aunt were accompanying him to the show. Let’s remember, he was not the best of drivers - while leaving his apartment driveway, he did not realize his aunt only had one leg in the car and was not yet seated. He began to move the car forward to leave. His Aunt fell on her back with one leg in the car. Mr. T realized what he had done and began to back up – she screamed “George, are you trying to kill me?” We laughed until we cried when he told us the story.
As Steve Mesh mentioned, a few of us got together at my house to spend some time with George and Michael. George was as sharp as a tack and remembered things most of us had forgotten. He took time with each of my three children and my husband. He remembered things my parents had told him throughout the years about each one of them. I am so happy my children met and spent time with this great man. I always hoped there would be a teacher in each one of their lives that would have the same impact that George had on mine. I realize in his death, that even in the short time he spent with them at my house and at my mother’s 80th birthday, their lives had been impacted by him. I am grateful.
I would also like to thank Michael for taking such great care of George over the years. Michael’s love and dedication made it possible for us to have Mr. Trautwein for as long as we did.
Mr. Trautwein was larger than life and even throughout his debilitating disease he gave us joy and laughter – and cherished memories.
I love you, George. You gave me my voice in more ways than one. You will be with me forever. I know you are watching over all of us.
Comments:
Andrea Ferreira DiMichele
Joyce, when I first heard you sing in my 7th grade 1975 I wanted to be you. I could not believe what came out of your mouth when you sang. You were an inspiration and I know Mr. T was one of the reasons ~ you sang like angel. God Bless you as we all mourn and rejoice in his life.
Joyce Lattanzio Bean
Hi, I am Joyce’s son Josh. When I heard about Mr. Trautwein’s passing I started to cry. I thought Mr. Trautwein was a good music teacher because he taught me some notes and miners at the dinner table. I only saw Mr. Trautwein twice sadly. I won’t forget him. I remember my Mom asked me to go see him for the first time. I was a little shy at the time. Mr. Trautwein looked at my throat and he said I was going to be a bass as a voice. I think he might be right. I was so exited I wanted to see him again. At my Grandma’s 80th birthday I got my wish. I saw him again. Again I was so exited. My Sister was the first to talk to him in my family other than my Mom and Dad. I got to talk to him. He taught me about notes like miners and majors. I think I was lucky to see him when I did and I wish I could’ve seen him one more time. He was an inspiration to me.
Joshua Bean
I learned about Mr. Trautwein’s passing last Friday. It has taken me almost a week to join facebook and get my thoughts together. I have read people’s posts and cried through almost all – some laughter through tears. As so many before me have mentioned, Mr. Trautwein changed my life. I truly would not be the person I am today without him. He gave me confidence in myself and in my ability to sing and perform. He was a blessing to our entire family. Like my mother, we shared the same birthday. I can not imagine what my life would have been without him.
The time we spent at BBHS was like “Camelot”. Dave Schein did this for all of us. He brought these wonderful, talented teachers together – George Trautwein, Roger Smith, Bill Johnson, Mendelsohn, Metzler, Jones, Tarshis (Peter and Sue), Sue Vince, Gary Cialfi, Van B, Eda Follman Klinger, John Mills, Del, David Press, Zach, Daphne Dewey, Anita, etc etc. Probably as young teenagers, we did not realize the true value of this experience at Blind Brook. Blind Brook was so unique in all aspects.
We did not have an auditorium or theatre; we had an LGI (Large Group Instruction). That was what Mr. Trautwein (Cialfi and Peter) had to work with for music and theatre arts. The room had a stage but other than that, it had nothing else that could even come close to being considered a theatre. Mr. Trautwein worked miracles in that LGI. We did “Joseph”, “The Apple Tree”, “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, “HMS Pinafore”, “The Boyfriend” and “The Telephone” while I was at BBHS. We did concerts and talent shows and we traveled taking the small Consort choir we had on tour. Can anyone remember – I think we only had 4 or 5 men in the first choir – Mark Schecter, Michael Kaplan, Chris Haliburton and Tommy Neilson. Mr. Trautwein gave us all those wonderful experiences and he gave us so much more.
I can remember the LGI was not completed when we moved into the high school. We had to rehearse at 7AM, not a minute later. If you were late, you were locked out. We thought he was kidding, but a few found out the hard way. We stood on the steps between the commons and the cafeteria. Mr. T stood behind the piano, mostly half standing. We did warm-ups first. Sometimes he bent one of us over, told us to relax our jaws, open up – he would twist our heads back and forth to relax the neck. I sometimes still do that today. He drew out the best in all of us, whether there was natural talent or not. He taught us respect not only for him but respect for each other.
I remember before one performance, Mr. Trautwein was running late. His mother and his aunt were accompanying him to the show. Let’s remember, he was not the best of drivers - while leaving his apartment driveway, he did not realize his aunt only had one leg in the car and was not yet seated. He began to move the car forward to leave. His Aunt fell on her back with one leg in the car. Mr. T realized what he had done and began to back up – she screamed “George, are you trying to kill me?” We laughed until we cried when he told us the story.
As Steve Mesh mentioned, a few of us got together at my house to spend some time with George and Michael. George was as sharp as a tack and remembered things most of us had forgotten. He took time with each of my three children and my husband. He remembered things my parents had told him throughout the years about each one of them. I am so happy my children met and spent time with this great man. I always hoped there would be a teacher in each one of their lives that would have the same impact that George had on mine. I realize in his death, that even in the short time he spent with them at my house and at my mother’s 80th birthday, their lives had been impacted by him. I am grateful.
I would also like to thank Michael for taking such great care of George over the years. Michael’s love and dedication made it possible for us to have Mr. Trautwein for as long as we did.
Mr. Trautwein was larger than life and even throughout his debilitating disease he gave us joy and laughter – and cherished memories.
I love you, George. You gave me my voice in more ways than one. You will be with me forever. I know you are watching over all of us.
Comments:
Andrea Ferreira DiMichele
Joyce, when I first heard you sing in my 7th grade 1975 I wanted to be you. I could not believe what came out of your mouth when you sang. You were an inspiration and I know Mr. T was one of the reasons ~ you sang like angel. God Bless you as we all mourn and rejoice in his life.
Joyce Lattanzio Bean
Hi, I am Joyce’s son Josh. When I heard about Mr. Trautwein’s passing I started to cry. I thought Mr. Trautwein was a good music teacher because he taught me some notes and miners at the dinner table. I only saw Mr. Trautwein twice sadly. I won’t forget him. I remember my Mom asked me to go see him for the first time. I was a little shy at the time. Mr. Trautwein looked at my throat and he said I was going to be a bass as a voice. I think he might be right. I was so exited I wanted to see him again. At my Grandma’s 80th birthday I got my wish. I saw him again. Again I was so exited. My Sister was the first to talk to him in my family other than my Mom and Dad. I got to talk to him. He taught me about notes like miners and majors. I think I was lucky to see him when I did and I wish I could’ve seen him one more time. He was an inspiration to me.
Joshua Bean
