First of all, man was a fellow Marine.   My favorite 'teacher'...ever. 
 While I probably had no business trying to "major" in music...Dr. Tog was my  greatest supporter.  One of my few heroes, on a very short list.  He was a great man...thanks for this opportunity to share my memory.


Olando leaves   an amazing  success  story  for  a  life  well  lived..In  Sacrameno  he  directed  St  Francis Episcopal choir  for  many  years and   also  the  Italian Cultural  Society  choir  for  many  years. He  was  a  regular  at  the Sons  of  Italy.One  daughter chaired  the Italian  dept.  at   UCLA  He   is  a renaissance man the  type  we  see  fewer  and  fewer  in  a corporate denial   of  arts.  Rest in  peace  with  the  cherabim   Tu  amico Tony Damiani

   Olando, a fellow Italian, was the director of "I Cantatori" for many years.  Several of us enjoyed singing the old Neapolitan folk songs, then gradually worked up to modern love songs in 4 part harmony which he arranged for us, then art songs, and finally choruses from operas.  Some of us even sang in the one act opera "Suor Angelica".  We performed for the various events of the Italian Cultural Society.
   Our rehearsals included free vocal lessons, which for me have helped in my church choir singing. 
   The group disbanded a few years ago, and  we have already missed Maestro Tognozzi.  We will never forget the experience of singing "Va Pensiero" under his direction.

Olando Tognozzi was a guiding light in my early musical life in Redding. Although developing as a pianist, he put an oboe into my hands, and he enabled me to play violin in the Shasta Symphony Orchestra under his direction, while in my teens. There I was exposed to orchestral music from the inside out - and to fine soloists (Istvan Nadas, Frances Schorr) who had come up from the Bay Area at his invitation to play concertos with the orchestra. He generously allowed me to perform a piano concerto (Rubenstein) with the orchestra during my last year in Redding - my first such experience.  I believe I owe my professional life as a musician as much to him as to any of my subsequent teachers.  He was a gentle man and a true gentleman.  Redding was very fortunate to have had him in its midst.

Olando Tognozzi was a very unique person, one of a kind. I feel truly honored to have known him as a friend. He will be greatly missed in the music world and by all his many friends.  saw him last at the Castor service in Redding two months ago.. same old Tog full of stories and humor.  My family and I send our sincere condolences.
Peggy Rehberg and family

God blessed our entire family when He put Dr. Tog into our lives many years ago! He was a friend, confident, and a fine man.  Above all, he was a mentor to our grandson, Russell Wygand.  He will forever be in our hearts.  Nancy & Paul Wygand

OBITUARY

Olando Tognozzi

March 13, 1927 – December 4, 2014

Mount Vernon Memorial Park & Mortuary

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