April 20th 2006 the music world lost the chance to meet the next Mozart. Robert was the most insanely gifted musician I have ever met in my life. A triple major who started college so early he couldn’t drink until grad school, I knew him as a fellow student, friend, accompanist, student of my father, and just someone to admire. I don’t know many people who wrote a symphony for a girl they had a crush on in 5th grade.
Chris was a handsome, hilarious, kind-hearted singer. He made women melt when he sang. I still remember him stepping up to the mic at my brother’s wedding reception. It was an instrumental big band and he sang Sinatra that made you swoon.
When my parents moved to Indiana, Robert and Chris went too. They did their undergrad with my dad at BGSU and their graduate work at Indiana studying with new teachers but spending their free time in my father’s office. When my dad got stage 4 cancer, my mom told me that Robert and Chris would take turns walking him to the car, while the other sat and comforted her.
Two great guys. You are missed.
http://music.indiana.edu/about/remembering-friends/index.shtml
andrea lee bishop 