In memoriam: Robert Heinrich

Robert Heinrich, 75, passed away August 19 at his home in Daphne, Alabama.

Heinrich was active in the New York freelance scene from 1958 to 1966. In January of 1966 he joined PanAM Airways for training and stayed with them until PanAm went bankrupt at which point he joined United Airways. He retired as a Captain with United in 2005.

He was a founding member of the American Brass Quintet in 1960 and later joined the New York Brass Quintet in 1964. He was particularly noted for his “high” trumpet playing in Baroque music and his recording of J.S. Bach’s Cantata No. 51 with soprano Judith Raskin is greatly admired by trumpeters to this day. Bob Heinrich was a member of the original pit orchestra for Fiddler On The Roof and performed with a number of chamber orchestras and new music ensembles during his short but very successful career in New York.

He is survived by Beverly, his wife of 55 years, two children, Warren of Reno, Nevada, Wendy of Bend, Oregon and three grandchildren.

From Allan Dean:

On a personal note, Bob and I went to the Manhattan School of Music together. Bob as a freshman and I had transferred in from Iowa. We worked our way through school playing in Bernie Witkowski’s polka band. I was best man at Bob and Beverly’s wedding 55 years ago. I was soon drafted into the Army but Bob had started a family and did not have to serve. When I came back to New York in 1963, he was already very busy with the American Brass Quintet and free lancing. When he joined the New York Brass Quintet in 1964, he walked me into the American Brass and when he left the business to begin commercial flying I took his place in the New York Brass Quintet. He certainly was instrumental in getting me started in New York. He was a wonderful musician and a great friend. Beverly has asked that Bob’s musician friends give a free lesson to a young player to honor his memory.

Source: Allan Dean, professor of trumpet, Yale University, Hartford, Connecticut