Ralph B. Lewis

Ralph B. Lewis passed away on Friday, January 28, 2011 at 80 years of age at Arbor Hospice, Ann arbor. He was born in Laramie, Wyoming on September 5, 1930. He held a Bachelor of Music with Honors, University of Wyoming, 1952 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, 1958. Subsequently, he was a Postdoctoral Scholar in Choral Music, Harvard University, Summer, 1959, and a Post-doctoral Scholar in University Administration, center for Higher Education, The University of Michigan, 1964-5, as a Carnegie Corporation Fellow. He was appointed an Assistant to the Dean, Rackham School of Graduate Studies, 1969 and a Professor of Music Theory, 1969. He served as the Associate Dean, University of Michigan Rackham School of Graduate Studies, 1969-1977 and the Chairman, Department of Music Theory, University of Michigan, School of Music, 1979-1998. He became a Professor Emeritus, in May 1998.

He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the summer while in his home in Bay View, Michigan he was also a member of Cross in the Woods, Indian River, Michigan. With his wife, he was the co-founder of the Ann Arbor Camerata, the professional resident chamber ensemble of Ann Arbor. He is survived by his wife, Gloria DeFeo Kitto Lewis; his stepsons, David Kitto, Washington D.C. and Peter Kitto, Saline, Michigan; his daughter-in-law, Theresa Vanderwaerden Kitto; his grandsons, Michael James Kitto and Andrew John Kitto; his brother Terry B. Lewis, Highlands Ranch, Colorado and his sister, Laura Logan, Whitehall, Michigan; and his three children, Kevin Lweis, St. Paul, Minnesota, Melanie Lewis Johnson, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Gwendolyn Lewis countryman, Marine, Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor are requested by his family to the following three institutions: St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 530 Elizabeth Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104; Cross in the Woods, 7078 M-16, Indian River, Michigan 49749, or Ann Arbor Camerata, (AAC office: 2 Jefferson court, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103)

The funeral will be at St. Thomas the Apostle Church on Friday, February 4, 2011 at 3:30pm. There will be a visitation in the church from 1:30 – 3:15. Burial will be at Sunset Cemetery Flint, Michigan. www.muehligannarbor.com