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STANLEY NEWMYER SHUMWAY was born in Omaha, Nebraska on February 19, 1932, and was raised and educated in the small town of Lyons, Burt County, Nebraska. His parents were Lorin L. and Helen Newmyer Shumway. He worked on the family farm and enjoyed the security of growing up in a happy and secure environment, surrounded by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. He graduated from Lyons High School in 1950. That summer he traveled to Paris, France with a youth group.
In the fall of that year, Stan enrolled at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He majored in music and in five years earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees. He was active in many musical activities. As a trombonist, he participated in the Concert and Marching Bands, University Orchestra, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, National Guard Band and several small ensembles. For three years he was trombone soloist with the NU Concert Band on annual tours around the state. He was an assistant in music theory as an undergraduate, and later he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant in brass instruments. He was president of the band and also of the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha. With the latter he organized and directed a male glee club that performed around the city and the university.
He married Janice Ann Fullerton in 1954. Jan, an accomplished pianist, developed a fine career as a performer and teacher. They were to have five beloved children. The oldest, Steven, died in 2000. All five earned degrees from KU and four of those degrees are in music. Those four went on to earn advanced degrees and pursue successful careers in music.
In July 1955, after completing a Master's degree in music at Nebraska, Stan was drafted into the U. S. Army. He took basic training at Ft. Leonard, MO followed by Army Band School at Ft. Knox, KY. While at Ft. Knox he auditioned for and was accepted into the Seventh Army Symphony. However, his orders were changed at the last minute and he was assigned to the Seventh Infantry Division Band stationed at Camp Casey in northern South Korea, the only military base where he could not take his family. The assigned tour to Korea was for 16 months. During that time he organized a glee club and organized and taught a class in music theory. He became first sergeant of the band company.
Upon his return from Korea he joined his wife, Jan, on the music faculty of Midland College in Fremont, NE. In 1959, after two years at Midland, he was accepted into the doctoral program in music theory at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, where he became a Graduate Teaching Assistant. He completed the PhD program two years later and joined the music faculty at KU in 1961.
He remained at KU for the next 35 years, teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in music theory. In 1970 he published Harmony and Ear Training at the Keyboard, which was widely used at colleges and universities around the country and abroad, and was published in Spanish and Chinese. He also did administrative work including several stints as Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts. There had never been a unified music unit at KU; rather the music faculty was organized into several small departments. Those small units were unified in 1981, and Stan became the chair of the first true music department in KU history, a post he held for five years. He also served as chair of the Annual Symposium of Contemporary American Music. Each year the Symposium hosted a notable composer, including Gunther Schuller and Aaron Copland.
Stan secured a grant to establish the first electronic music studio at KU. He composed music for various media, often for his own family. He provided electronic music and effects for several University Theatre productions including Equus and Rashomon.
Stan was a member of the Rotary Club and Plymouth Congregational Church. He served on the board of the Lawrence Arts Center and worked to raise funds for the new facility. He retired from KU in 1996 and returned several times to teach and do administrative work. He enjoyed his family, golf, and gardening, especially roses. He was preceded in death by an older sister, Lois Jean, (1928-1935) and a son, Steven, (1955-2000).
Survivors include wife: Jan Shumway; sister: Mary Rounsborg; daughter-in-law: Christine House Shumway, children: Susan Shumway, Sally Shumway Satalof, Mary Berry (Richard), David Shumway (Cynthia); grandchildren: Morgan Shumway, Dylan Shumway, Tyler Joseph (Michele), Madelyn Joseph, Sydney Satalof, Sarah Cranston (David), Daniel Berry, Amy Foley (Ryan), David Berry, Samuel Shumway, Peter Shumway (Emily Call-Shumway); great-grandchildren: Ian Cranston, Wyatt Cranston.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Plymouth Congregational Church or the Lawrence Arts Center and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
I have been really missing Stan lately! I started taking piano lessons again recently after a 20-year hiatus, and all of my Bach and Chopin scores, etc., are marked up with notes from my classes and get-togethers with him. He brought the wonders of music to life for so many of us in the most kind and gentle ways.
Jill Krebs
July 23, 2023
Dear Family:
Just today I received a reminder to contact the KU Alumni Association, and I thought, I will "google" Stanley Shumway, and the first result landed on Dr. Shumway's obituary. So sorry to hear of your loss.
I transferred to KU, also in 1961, and my music theory studies continued with Dr. Shumway, including as thesis advisor for my M.M. degree. I remember a very skinny (we were both very skinny--then), lively, young professor with a grin, and a glint in his eyes, whose generous recommendation help land my first teaching job.
If I had stayed at KU, we very likely would have discussed new and experimental electronic and computer music, areas which I pursued in my further graduate work after KU. I remember him very fondly and will continue to do so whenever I'm reminded to rejoin the KU alumni association.
Stefan Sylvander
Student
December 29, 2020
I'm so sorry to hear the loss of Dr. Stanley Shumway. I had a chance to take counterpoint from him, and his Harmony & Ear Training book proved as an essential foundation in my musical development. He was very patient, but also highly enthusiastic. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Britt Andrew Burns
Student
August 25, 2020
Stan was a gentle and kind man whom I had the pleasure of knowing as my neighbor for two years. He regularly was in his yard keeping it pristine and cultivating beautiful flower gardens. Thinking of him and Jan today upon hearing word of his passing.
Rob Karwath
Neighbor
August 2, 2020
Stan was the kindest, noblest person I have ever known, a true scholar and gentleman. Though far ahead of me in knowledge, experience, and wisdom, he always treated me as an equal. A giving, generous person, he eagerly shared his love of golf with me, for which I will be always grateful. Stan epitomized the words quiet passion and love: His love for family, students, friends, and people in general, and his passion for music, the art to which he dedicated his life. I feel privileged and enriched for having known him and will miss him.
James Smith
Friend
August 1, 2020
Dear Shumways, we are so sorry for your loss. I benefited tremendously from the Music Department Dr. Shumway helped to found, and will always cherish the friendship of the generous, kind, and loving family he and Mrs. Shumway created. May God continue to hold you all in the palm of his hand.
Shirley and Stu Mock
Shirley Stephens-Mock
Friend
August 1, 2020
Katie Armitage
Friend
July 31, 2020
Oh, Jan, I was so shocked to see your Stan had died. I can't tell you how much Alan and I treasured your friendship, and now Stan just might be composing and playing celestial music with Alan and Steve. I hold you in my heart, Jan, and hope we can be together again soon to share our memories and therapeutic music.
Nancy Hawkins
Friend
July 29, 2020
My favorite music theory professor--deeply knowledgable, kind, gentle, and always, always willing to help his students. I often consult my copy of his Harmony and Ear Training at the Piano, even now. More recently he helped me with advanced, chromatic harmonies. He modeled all the many characteristics of the ideal citizen and family man as well as being one of the KU Music Department's foundations. I am so sorry for his family's loss, and for that of all his students and colleagues.
Jill Krebs
Student
July 29, 2020
Stan Shumway was a consummate gentleman and a highly respected member of the KU music faculty. I'll never forget attending an all-Dvorak chamber music concert in Murphy Hall in which each instrument was superbly played by a member of the Shumway family, creating an ensemble performance that was directly reflective of their loving family relationship.
May he rest in peace.
Thomas V. Murray
Thomas Murray
July 29, 2020
Stan was a great friend and we enjoyed many Rotary meetings together. He will be greatly missed.
Proctor Crow
Friend
July 29, 2020
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