Pamela Gearhart was a beloved mother and a talented, inspiring teacher. Pamela enjoyed a long career in music and music pedagogy, serving as Dana Professor of Music at IC from 1976 until her retirement in 1993. Prior to her work at IC, Pamela taught at the University of Buffalo from 1957 to 1975. She graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in 1955.
Pamela's dedication to music was evident inside and outside of the classroom. She founded the Ithaca Youth Orchestra in 1980, was influential in the founding of the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra, and founded the Youth Makes Music String Workshop in Alabama. She served as conductor at the Buffalo Community Music School, and saw the orchestra grow from 10 to 100 players. She was also a long-time supporter of the orchestra program at IC, her gifts giving the orchestra opportunities to build the library and hire guest artists.
Her students remember her for many things: as a supportive and demanding teacher, for the sounds she helped the string players get from their instruments and their sections, and for her great love of the act of teaching and making music.
Pamela is survived by children Kim, Martha, and Fritz; many grandchildren; and scores more musical "children" around the country.