Dr. Arthur Norris, psychiatrist, bassoonist and former officer
of the I.D.R.S. [Vice President 1972, President, 1973] died of
leukemia on Sept. 12, 1992, just short of his 55th birthday, in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, and
two children, Chris, his son, and Madeline, his daughter.
I first met Arthur in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin,
Madison, where he first introduced me to the beautiful world of
the French bassoon via recordings and his own playing. He studied
the French system bassoon with Cecil James in London and divided
his time playing both French and German instruments with a number
of musical organizations, including the Milwaukee Civic Orchestra
and the Concord Chamber Orchestra.
As a practicing psychiatrist he was Medical Director at the Milwaukee
Psychiatric Hospital, and at the time of his death he was in private
practice.
An early member of I.D.R.S. he helped draw up the constitution,
and served as the first vice president elected in 1972 in Ann
Arbor, Michigan. He assumed the presidency when Edgar Kirk resigned
in 1973.
The I.D.R.S. mourns his loss, and I personally will miss Arthur
as a dear friend, a fine bassoonist and a true lover of the French
bassoon.
Ronald Klimko