| Graduation Year | Faculty |
| Date of Passing | May 17, 2019 |
| About | John R. Schactler passed away peacefully on the morning of May 17, 2019 in our family home, where he had lived for 55 years. He was born in 1924 in Yakima. His musical life began as a bugler in Yakima’s Boy Scout Troop 1. Dick graduated from Yakima High School with the class of 1941 ½. He served in the Army Air Corps during WW II, playing trumpet in the band from 1942-1945. He met Carolyn Campbell while attending WSC. They were married in 1948 and both graduated with degrees in music in 1949, Dick with Cum Laude recognition. He went on to earn a Masters Degree from the prestigious Eastman School of Music and then taught award-winning high school bands at Grandview, Mt. Tahoma, and Eisenhower. In the ‘70s he served as Vice Principal at Lewis & Clark and Franklin Middle Schools, retiring from the schools in 1981. Dick played in the Yakima Valley Community Band for more than 60 years and directed the band from 1987 to 2007. He was principal trumpet in the Yakima Symphony Orchestra for more than 40 years. He performed in countless groups over the decades, including Sophisticated Swing and Yakima Brass Quintet. He taught private trumpet lessons until he was 88. For most of his career he was in high demand for dance jobs, musicals, church events, and a large variety of concerts and shows. He was active in the WMEA and was President of the local Musician’s Union for many years. Dad enjoyed Upland Bird hunting with his four boys when they were growing up and especially loved fishing of all kinds. He also served as Scout Master for his sons’ Boy Scout Troops. A Master Gardener, he was extremely proud of his large flower and vegetable gardens and worked tirelessly to keep them flourishing. All his life, music was the most important thing to him. As Dick used to say, “It’s all about the music!” Throughout the decades his fellow band members, young and old, revered and remembered him. For his 75th birthday his family surprised him by bringing together more than 50 former students, who brought their instruments for a reunion concert. Upon his retirement as director of the Community Band, he was honored by the Yakima City Council proclaiming August 8, 2007 as Dick Schactler Day. His beloved musicians wrote on a farewell plaque to him, “You have given so much of yourself over so many years – for the love of the unity and tradition of the bands, the music and interaction of the people that surround you. We thank you and extend to you our greatest reward – respect. We admire you, the institution you represent, and the inspiration you have instilled in each and every one of us.” Dick was preceded in death by his brother, Robert, his parents, Roy and Marie Schactler, granddaughter, Alexandra, and grandson, CPT Aaron R. Blanchard. He is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Carolyn, and six children: Fred, Bruce, John, David, Laura, and Linda; 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. A celebration of life will be held in early summer. Information about the event will be available soon at www.jrsmemorial.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Yakima Valley Community Band, P.O. Box 9742, Yakima, WA 98909. |
