Obituary: Northwestern Music Professor Bennett Reimer, 81

Bennett Reimer, 81, the John W. Beattie Professor of Music emeritus at Northwestern University, died on November 18. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Sally and brother Norman, and is survived by his beloved and devoted life partner of 27 years Elizabeth Hebert, daughters Jan Ellen and Terry, nephews David and Jacob, sister-in-law Catherine, and by a great many cherished friends, colleagues, and students. 

Bennett was known around the world as a leading philosopher in the area of music education. His book, "A Philosophy of Music Education" was the first if its kind in the world-wide field of music education, called by Frank Callaway, President of the International Society for Music Education, “The most influential book on music education of the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st. Author of some two dozen other books and over 150 published articles and chapters, his thoughts were attended to by hosts of professionals and professionals-in-training in colleges and universities around the globe. Bennett was guest lecturer, advisor, workshopper, and project director all over the United States and Canada, and in many countries around the globe. In 1985 he established the Center for the Study of Education and the Musical Experience at Northwestern University, a weekly research forum for music education doctoral students and faculty, ongoing to this day. 

Bennett was the recipient of several professional honors: an honorary doctorate from DePaul University, the Distinguished Service Award from the State University of New York at Fredonia (his undergraduate alma mater), the Kulas Endowed Chair at Case Western Reserve University, the Senior Researcher Award from the U.S. National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Legends of Teaching Award from Northwestern University, the President’s Award from the Illinois State Music Education Association, a Special Issue of the Journal of Aesthetic Education “Musings: Essays in Honor of Bennett Reimer" (1999), and induction into the NAfME Hall of Fame. 

Bennett was blessed with a lifetime full of loving family, friends, colleagues, students, and acquaintances who provided endless satisfactions, delights, wisdom, and support throughout his long and adventurous life. As he often expressed it, Bennett felt that his life had been a privileged and fulfilled one, for which he was deeply grateful. 

This obituary was reprinted with permission of Donnellan Family Funeral Home.