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Beloved Music Educator Joe Sugar Passes Away
Sugar came to C.W. Post in 1990 and joined the School of Visual and Performing Arts as an adjunct professor in the Department of Music. His lifelong love of music education and performance spanned 50 years and he touched the lives of countless students and music enthusiasts of all ages. Prior to joining the Department of Music at C.W. Post, Professor Sugar was director of bands at Indiana University, Matawan High School, Upsala College, Bethpage High School, and Hewlett High School. A tireless advocate for the advancement of music education, Professor Sugar began his career as a trumpet and string bass player in bands that assisted major stage and recording artists including Eddie Fischer, Billy Eckstein, Vic Damone, Dianne Carroll, Bobby Rydell and Henny Youngman, and recorded for MGM, Fox, and London Records. Throughout his prolific career, Professor Sugar served as president on many prestigious and professional organizations including the Nassau Music Educators Association (NMEA), New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education (NYSCAME), Music Educators National Conference Eastern Division (MENC), and the New York State Council of Music Teacher Education Programs. He also was an honorary lifetime member of Suffolk County Music Educators Association (SCMEA) and recently concluded a long term appointment as NYSSMA Government Relations Coalition Chairperson, where he was a driving force in promoting advocacy for music education in schools. He continued to serve on the NMEA Advisory Board, where his presence and advice was of great benefit to all who had the honor of following in his footsteps as NMEA President. In May 2008, Professor Sugar was honored with the C.W. Post Adjunct Faculty Recognition Award for Outstanding Service to the Students and the Department of Music. In August 2008, Professor Sugar and his wife, Clara received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Long Island-based Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts for extraordinary leadership and dedication to maintaining high standards of teaching and service. In 2007, Professor Sugar was the singular recipient of the 2007 Retired Band Director Award from the New York State Band Directors Association. In addition, the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) history book was dedicated to the Sugars for their years of faithful and dedicated service to music education and the music students of New York State. Professor Sugar earned a B.A. in music from the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University and a M.A. in music from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. He also received a Diploma in Music from Bergen Junior College, an SME (Professional Diploma) from Teacher’s College – Columbia University, and administration certificates from Hofstra University. Professor Sugar is survived by his wife of 53 years, Clara and two sons; Thomas, a music teacher in the Hewlett-Woodmere Public School District, and Robert, the Head Equipment Manager at the C.W. Post Campus Athletic Department and three grandchildren, Joanna, Danielle and Summer. “Professor Sugar has enhanced the impact of music education, securing its reputation as essential to nurturing the creative spirit of young people throughout the State,” said Dr. Jams McRoy, chairman of the C.W. Post Department of Music. “His absence will be profoundly felt by us all and we extend our deepest condolences to the Sugar family.” Services: In lieu of flowers, the Sugar family requests that donations be made to NYSSMA: Posted: November 4, 2009 |
Joseph R. Sugar, an esteemed adjunct professor of music education at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and a state-wide leader in the music education community, passed away November 1, 2009 from complications associated with leukemia. He was 80 years old. | Long Island University | C.W. Post Campus |