Norris Lynn Stephens

Died peacefully on June 6th, 2017 at Passavant Hospital in McCandless, PA after a brief illness. Son of the late Oren and Etta Jeanette Stephens, he was born December 14, 1930, in Charleroi, PA. He was preceded in death by his brother Clair C. Stephens and sister in-law Mary Ann Stephens, and their son, his nephew Scot Stephens and Scot’s wife Nancy. He leaves behind to treasure his memory his wife of 62 years, Donna A. Stephens and their children Catherine (Simon) Richardson and Nathaniel Stephens, niece Lynn (Jeff) Watson, nephew Mark (Linda) Stephens, brother in-law Herbert (Susan) Anderson and nephews David (Cheryl), William (Kate), and Timothy (Connie) Anderson. He met Donna, his beloved wife in the college orchestra while they were completing BFAs at Carnegie-Mellon University. He continued his studies with an MFA in sacred music from the Union Theological Seminary in New York, an MLS in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh, and a PhD in Musicology, also from the University of Pittsburgh. His PhD “Charles Avison: an Eighteenth-century English composer musician and writer,” 1968 is still referenced by scholars studying this composer. He later wrote an entry about Mr. Avison for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. In 1966, he joined the University of Pittsburgh’s Library System as their Music Library’s Senior Librarian, a post he held for over 30 years, retiring in 1998. He also during that time was part of the faculty as an Adjunct Assistant Professor (1972-82). As an accomplished church organist, he played carillon programs and church services at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church as Associate Organist until 1983 and continued playing organ for services at the First Baptist Church in Oakland until 1998. He co-authored the “Collected Editions Historical Series and Sets & Monuments of MUSIC: A Bibliography” in 1997, and composed and arranged music for Organ, Handbells, and Choirs.

As an avid supporter of the arts in Pittsburgh, he was a member of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He also was a member of the American Guild of Organists, and the American Musicological Society and International Music and Music Librarians Associations, the Biblical Archaeological Society, and naturally, the Charles Avison Society. He loved gardening and model railroading.

Friends will be received on Monday, June 12th from 2:00-4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm at the H.P. Brandt Funeral Home, Inc. 412 364 4444, 1032 Perry Highway, Ross Twp., PA 15237. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Norris’ life. The family suggests memorial contributions to the East End Cooperative Ministries: http://www.eecm.org/give

The family would like to thank the kind staff at Passavant for their dedication and attentiveness in his final days. Online condolences at www.brandtfuneralhome.com