College mourns band director, educator Edwin P. 'Doc' Arnold

Grove City College mourns the passing of Dr. Edwin P. “Doc” Arnold, longtime director of Bands and chair of the Music Department.

Arnold, who died Monday, March 16 at age 80, joined the faculty of Grove City College as director of Bands in the fall of 1975. In 1981, Dr. Arnold was appointed chair of the Department of Music and Fine Arts. He retired from Grove City College in August 2013.

During his tenure at Grove City College, Dr. Arnold held several senior administrative positions including assistant dean of the College, executive assistant to the president, vice president of External Affairs, and administrative liaison to the Commission on Higher Education. He also served as Director of the J. Howard Pew Fine Arts Center.

Over his career, he left a lasting impact on thousands of students, the College community, and music education.

Professor of Music Dr. Stacy Paparone ’93 met Dr. Arnold at band camp during her freshman year at Grove City College and worked closely with him as a student. “I was fortunate to have him as trusted advisor and mentor,” she said. “In the western Pennsylvania region, his influence in music education has been vast, as many graduates who were his students stayed in the area.”

“Outside of music education, his impact on the lives of hundreds of band alumni cannot really be measured. He shaped the lives of his band students, especially those in the Wolverine Marching Band, through his leadership and care. No matter how busy he was, he always had time for a conversation and a laugh. The culture he built in the marching band led many of us to form lifelong friendships that still flourish today,” Paparone said.

Professor of Music Dr. Jeffrey Tedford ’00, another former student, now holds Dr. Arnold’s job as chair of the College’s Department of Music. “I had the privilege of learning from Ed Arnold as a student, as an alumnus through many conversations, and lastly as a colleague and friend. ‘Doc’ was instrumental in the development of my confidence and leadership skills and provided so many opportunities for me to grow, even when I didn’t realize it in the moment. It was an honor to work alongside him when I was first hired and I will treasure every conversation we had,” Tedford said.

A Beaver Falls, Pa., native, Dr. Arnold received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Geneva College, Master of Music Education from Duquesne University, and doctorate from the University of Houston. While at the University of Houston, he served on the band directing staff and assisted with the development of half-time performances in the Astrodome.

Dr. Arnold was sought out by bands and orchestras as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator for high schools, colleges, festivals, and Military Ensembles throughout the United States and Canada.

Dr. Arnold was the recipient of numerous awards during his career. He was recognized by the Commission on Higher Education, and with the PA Music Educators Citation of Excellence Award and the Grove City College Campus Community Award. He is past president of the PA Collegiate Bandmasters Association and served as executive-secretary treasurer of the PA Collegiate Bandmasters for over 20 years.

In 2013 Dr. Arnold received the Henry N. Mancini Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to the Musical Enrichment of the Beaver Valley during his induction into the Beaver Valley Musician’s Hall of Fame.

In 2007, Dr. Arnold was elected to an eight-member Board of Directors, for the purpose of founding the International Youth Band of the United Nations. He worked with band directors from around the world to conduct a mass band program for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 2016.

He is survived by his wife Ellen; a daughter Erin ’95 and her husband Joseph M. Pisano ’94; a son Paul ’99 and his wife Heather (Busin ’00); and five grandchildren, Joseph B., Jacob, Ethan, Annie, and John; and an extended family of former students, colleagues, and friends whose lives were forever changed by his mentorship.

Memorial contributions can be made to Arnold Family Band Scholarship Fund at Grove City College, continuing Dr. Arnold’s lifelong commitment to music education and service to others.

Arrangements are being made for a celebration of life service for Dr. Arnold at Grove City College.

Read Dr. Arnold’s complete obituary here.

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