 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: oboeblank
Date: 2006-06-26 02:33
Some of you may know that John Mack is in ailing health.
He has a golf-ball sized tumour on the memory side of his brain and the cancer is spreading. He will undergo surgery next friday.
If you have ever been around Mr. Mack, you know that he loved teaching and imparting the wisdom he learned from Tabuteau to the next generation.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-06-26 02:41
Yeah, I just read Lani Spahr's message on the IDRS list. What a shame! Mr. Mack is one of those folks you just kind of thought would be around forever.
I've never met him, but I guess I will be a Mack "grand-student", since my teacher studied with him.
We were blessed to have him this long.
Susan
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2006-06-26 03:19
My son was lucky enough to have John Mack as his woodwind coach while he was studying with Frank Cohen at CIM. John's stories of working in the woodwind section with Marcellus are priceless.
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Author: doublereeder2
Date: 2006-07-01 13:58
Mr. Mack had surgery Friday afternoon and the doctors were very pleased they were able to get all the tumor. As of this morning, he is still in intensive care.
Greenlimeoboe - Mr. Mack's father was a Presbyterian minister.
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Author: Shelley
Date: 2006-07-04 05:12
I have to say that I heard him in recital in 1998. I cannot remember what he played, but his tone was overcome with a static fuzziness that did not clear throughout the entire evening.
Afterwards, he remarked to my teacher that "Gee, I'll never do that again!!!"
I wasn't sure if he meant the recital, the pieces, or what, but it was pretty clear that his solid, beautiful, worshipful (?) otherworldly focused sound was not going to last much longer.
Man, I wish I had taken a lesson from him. I heard a rumor that it was $100 and I just didn't have the dough. Nor did I think I was even deserving of a lesson from him.
If I had, I probably would've quit! (So much work to do...so much work to do...so much work to do...)
Cincinnati, OH
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Author: greenlimeoboe
Date: 2006-07-06 20:25
I dont know if this is true or not but i have heard through the grape vine that with the surgery now Mr. Mack may only have 6-12 months left to live!! Do any of you know if is this true?!
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-07-06 22:29
Greenlime --
My understanding is that Mr. Mack's health status is very, very precarious at this point, and has been for some months. The tumor created a major cognitive disorder, and he had been living in a care center and was not always aware of his surroundings. I have been led to understand that, while his recent surgery may prolong his life somewhat (within the window you describe), it was not expected to improve his cognitive functioning.
This is indeed a very sad, even heartbreaking, situation.
Susan
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Author: greenlimeoboe
Date: 2006-07-07 07:08
Yes it is and thank you for your input. This is probably a stupid question to ask, but I assume that he will not be teaching anymore, am I correct on this, and if so who will replace at all of the diferent schools he teaches at?!
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Author: OboeMom
Date: 2006-07-17 20:59
Does anyone have any new information on John's health? My daughter just found out and is crushed that she won't have another chance to study with him.
She was fortunate to get a lesson with him when we were touring colleges last Spring. She learned a lot from him in the hour or so. He even picked up his oboe and did an impromptu duet with her on Handel's Oboe Concerto in G minor.
She will still be considering Cleveland for college in Fall 2007, but will miss John Mack's teaching.
Amazing how someone can have such an impact in only an hour.
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Author: doublereeder2
Date: 2006-07-18 03:59
Dear Oboemom-
The tumor was a glioblastoma. Surgeons were able to remove it but it will ultimately return. He was scheduled to begin radiation treatments today, but I do not know if they began or not. The prognosis is not good as glioblastomas are terminal.
JM has some good lucid times and some foggy ones as well. The oboe community is rallying together in support of our beloved teacher, friend, colleague, and mentor as well as in support of his family. I have known John since 1983 and he is the best performer, musician and teacher I have ever encountered as well as being one of the most intelligent people I have had the privilege to know. I will miss him desperately on many levels.
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Author: OboeMom
Date: 2006-07-18 14:34
Doublereeder2:
Thank you for the update on Mr. Mack's health...and my daughter and I offer our sympathies to you. Having met him, experienced his teaching and playing even for only an hour, we understand the deep impact he had on you and the connection you feel towards him over the last 20+ years.
We would like to send his family a note, sharing how JM influenced my daughter's oboe playing...do you have an idea of the best place to send it? I would imagine CIM would handle forwarding stuff, but not sure.
Again, my daughter is fortunate to have met him and learned from him...her notes on their lesson will be reviewed often, I am sure.
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Author: doublereeder2
Date: 2006-07-18 15:46
OboeMom-
Please email me, I will send you the address. I do not want to broadcast it.
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Author: aboboe
Date: 2006-07-18 19:57
Curious as to where the information was posted on the IDRS list. Saw it on one of the early posts on this topic and wondered where you saw it.
As a student of Mr. Mack's, I too would like to say that he will be greatly missed by students, CIM faculty, orchestra collegues and the many people who met him, however brief the interaction. I met him when I was fourteen and was enthralled by his beautiful playing and resolved to attend CIM someday. Nine years later I finally got there and was estatic to have the opportunity of weekly lessons-something I had only dreamed of. I am absolutly heartbroken when I think of younger students who will not have a chance to hear him play, hear him sing a phrase or scrape on their reeds. I already miss the Mr. Mack that I know and love but continue to pray that he will be comfortable and surrounded by his family and friends as he is now.
Thanks to everyone who is reaching out to support him and for all your prayers.
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Author: sylvangale
Date: 2006-07-24 02:27
This letter from Rick Mack was on the IDRS list today:
Quote:
Dear friends it is with regret and sorrow that I write this. My father,
John Oboe Mack, passed away today. He was surrounded by his family,
listening to a Marlboro cd, and watching Tiger Woods win the British Open.
I could not think of a more appropriate scenario.
The family appreciates everyone's wishes, prayers, and help along this
difficult journey we have gone through. You have all been extra ordinary
(as my dad recently put it). Please know we tried to comfort him in every
possible sense and his suffering is now over. Information will be sent
out
soon about when the viewing will take place and where.
I have one personal request - see that his teachings continue in their
truest form. He was a man of amazing talent, character, and drive not to
mention a loving husband and father. Hold to that and pass it on. God
bless!
Yours respectfully,
Rick Mack
Regards,
Stephen
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Author: prp9071
Date: 2006-07-25 06:42
My son had the good fortune of being in an ensemble coached by John Mack for the past 6 semesters. We were told we would be lucky if he got one semester with Mack. His group was looking forward to studying with Mack again this next fall.
When I got the call about his death, my son was quite upset. My thoughts and prays are with the family and with all those who will no longer have the good fortune of his incredible musical insight, his jokes and his unique way of getting the very best out of musicians.
Although I am not a musican, I hope I can pass on that your community now has a responsibilty to pick up where he left off, and to try to continue in his footsteps. Our success or failure is not judged by the buildings named after us, but by the memories in the hearts and minds of men (and women). I'd guess Mack was very successful.
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Author: doublereeder2
Date: 2006-07-25 13:22
This is in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. I love the picture, that is so JM!! It is a wondeful article for our beloved teacher and friend:
http://tinyurl.com/fdg54
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Author: ChrisArcand
Date: 2006-07-25 23:19
I do play with an oboist who had only one lesson with John Mack - she followed Mr. Mack's health issues throughout the past weeks. Although I myself do not know a great deal about John Mack, my friend made it clear to me that even those people that only met him once (or at all!) truly appreciated him and his work, and thought of him as a true friend. He must have been quite a man to leave such an impression upon these people.
God Bless you, Mr. Mack
"Never take no for an answer from an inanimate object" -Mr. John Mack
Chris Arcand
Clarinetist
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Author: wrowand
Date: 2006-07-26 17:33
Here's the obituary in today's NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/26/arts/music/26mack.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=login
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Author: doublereeder2
Date: 2006-07-26 19:05
Thank you for posting the NY Times link, wrowand. It is a great article for a remarkable man.
CL
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Author: wrowand
Date: 2006-07-26 19:52
Well thank *you* for telling me about it in the first place!
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Author: oboeblank
Date: 2006-07-27 01:00
I spent a couple of minutes reading all of the articles that have now been written in newspapers about Mr. Mack, while listening to his recording of the Mozart quartet. The second movement never seemed so beautiful and bitter-sweet to me as it does now.
I don't want this to be so maudlin so here is something that I came across that I thought was wonderful...
This is from his commencment speach given at the Cleveland Institute of Music-
"Art is a beacon and music happens to be our special beacon. (I wonder if there is a relationship between the words beacon and beckon?) Music most assuredly does sustain us, and beguile and nourish us. What kind of void would be in its absence? Not a pretty thought. So it falls to us to do what it is that we can do. Our contributions to the cause of music can take so many forms and go in so many directions."
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