Bill Earl

Death date: Aug 12, 2017

Bill Earl, age 96, a retired music teacher of Gaithersburg and Rockville High Schools in Montgomery County, MD (retired 1977) and long-time resident of Sussex County, DE, passed away Saturday, August 12, 2017 at his home in Rehobo Read Obituary

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Jane Proctor

387w ago

Mr Earl, I am so saddened to hear of your passing but know you lived a beautiful, full, enriched & loving life. God's getting a good soldier in you. You gave me a great gift at a time when I was at my lowest growing up. After suffering abuse in my young life my music lessons with you were an anticipated highlight each week. You saw my potential, gently nudged my creativity and praised my efforts in such a way that I started feeling better about myself. You were a great soul put here on this earth with boundless energy to do good thru your music and kindness.

Susan Geiger

402w ago

I only recently stumbled on this sad piece of news. I was a GHS class of '67 member.
Mr. Earl was not only my chorus teacher and musical muse, he was also later the teacher of my students at Woodley Garden where I taught kindergarten. He was
an AMAZING man and an inspiration as a model for living.
God bless the family in this loss.

Susan Schlager Geiger

Rina R. Maimon

424w ago

To the family of Bill Earl,

May music and memories fill the void left by Bill Earl's passing. I recall Mr. Earl's boundless energy at RHS '68-'71, his love and passion for music and his zest for life. He impacted so many of us, his former students. In fact, his musical influence is one reason why I too love to share my passion for music with students of the next generation (current and older generations too)!

My heartfelt condolences to the family, extended family and friends.
Rina

Charles Tasca

425w ago

A gentle soul, a warm heart, and always with a story to tell or a song to share. Our cherished memories will always include our times spent on the porch with Bill. His last words to me were "until we meet again." Yes, Bill, we miss you so much now, but we will meet again.

Love, Chuck and Elmer

Janet Thompson Manuel

425w ago

So many memories from my years at GHS. Was a real inspiration in the lives many. Janet Thompson Manuel. (Class of 1953)

Robin Clendaniel

425w ago

Haide, I'm so sorry to just hear of Mr Earl passing. I hold his friendship close to my heart. I feel blessed to have had met him and I enjoyed his piano playing and singing. May God bless you with peace knowing he is singing with the angels.
Sincerely, Robin Clendaniel and family.

Gary Thompson

426w ago

When I think of Bill, as I often do, I can’t help but finish my thoughts with a big “Thank You.”

He was an uncanny musical talent, a great educator, and an enthusiastic guide to music’s possibilities beyond the classroom. I am not alone in saying that my life was re-directed, and truly enriched, by knowing Bill Earl.

My deepest condolences to Haide, Heide, Lori and families. May the music of your memories be filled with beautiful cadenzas.

Gary Thompson, RHS Class of ‘73

John J Rausch

426w ago

Bill Earl was my music teacher at Rockville HS. He encouraged us musically, and in many other ways. I remember him more fondly than any other teacher. We got a dose of discipline learning to march Patterns Of Motion on the football field. "Hup, Hup, Ready, Ho! A perfect 8 to 5 every time!" He put together the Pep Band. He got several of us to start a dance combo, which was a great experience in learning to work with others like a team. He gave us something to be proud of when we marched in the Rockville Memorial Day Parade. We had some fun as we performed in the Stageband. He enriched our appreciation of music history with films about Glenn Miller, Eddie Duchin, Buddy Rich, etc, and our country with trips to Niagara Falls & Chicago. His enthusiasm was boundless encouraging us to be creative in trying to teach us basic music theory. We weren't always that nice to him but I think he forgave us for being disrespectful teenagers. My parents loved to dance to his music combo, The Nightingales, and for many years they'd drive to wherever he was playing to hear him. Donna and I saw him in Rehobeth a couple years ago and before we left, he had handed us song sheets and we were all sitting around the piano and singing the good ol' tunes. It was truly a blast from the past that left me with a warm feeling. I was hoping to visit again but I will just have to be satisfied with the trove of good memories he bestowed on us over many years. Our Love and sympathies to his lovely family. He was wonderful gem of a person and truly one of a kind.

Donna and John Rausch
RHS Class of 1973

Pat (Chrobot) Baker

426w ago

I never had Mr. Earl as a teacher since I was in band at GHS, but I remember his positivity and his smile, and especially his showing us Love he Eddie Duchin Story which had a deep impact on my life. May Haide and his family take comfort in knowing how deeply so many of us were affected by his acts of kindness and how those memories stay with us.

L. Augustino

426w ago

To the Family of Mr. Earl,

I am so sorry for your loss. I had Mr. Earl as my music teacher near the end of his MCPS career at Beverly Farms ES. He was my first introduction to choral music, and it is a love of mine that continues to this day. I will always think of him every time I recite the US States in alphabetical order. If it weren't for him teaching us "Fifty, Nifty, United States", I would never be able to do this. Of course, I have to sing them in alphabetical order. LOL. He was truly loved, and will truly be missed.

Laurie (Bennett) Augustino

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