Bernard Charles Lemoine

Dr. Bernard Charles Lemoine, 83, Professor Emeritus at the University of Mary Washington, passed away peacefully at his Fredericksburg home on Saturday, January 19, 2013. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 37 years, Suzanne DeLaney Lemoine and his parents Bernard Joseph and Mildred Cardinal Lemoine. He is survived by his children Lisa Cardinal Lemoine (Jeffrey Treul) of Milwaukee, WI and Michael Charles Lemoine of Stafford, VA; brothers Donald Edward Lemoine (Sandra) of West Springfield, MA, Lawrence Arthur Lemoine (Diane) of Springfield, MA and Robert Joseph Lemoine (Elizabeth) of Spokane, WA; grandchildren Sydni DeLaney Lemoine, Griffin Oliver Treul and Iris Mathilda Treul, and numerous nieces and nephews. A native of West Springfield, Massachusetts, Dr. Lemoine began studying piano at the age of six. He played with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra at the age of 15 and studied at The School of Juliard in 1948. He served two years in the United States Army. He earned degrees from Oberlin College's Conservatory of Music (B.M.), the University of Illinois (M.M. in piano performance) and The Catholic University of America (Ph.D. in music theory). He served on the faculties of the University of Illinois, Lawrence University and the University of Georgia before coming to the University of Mary Washington in 1965, where he was a Professor of Music for 36 years, retiring in 2001. Dr. Lemoine taught piano and theory, focusing mainly on the 18th and 19th centuries, the period of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. As a studio teacher, he instilled in students an appreciation for the Russian pianists, notably Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev. In his final years at UMW, Dr. Lemoine also taught larger classes of music appreciation which he imbued with his own passion for music. Since his retirement, Dr. Lemoine enjoyed woodworking, crossword puzzles and walking. His sense of humor and appreciation of life's simplicities were ever-present. He will be greatly missed by many. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7p.m. Thursday, January 24 at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 1621 Jefferson Davis Highway, where funeral services will also be held at 11a.m. Friday, January 25. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Aurelia B. Walford and Henry & Grace Spicer Scholarship fund through the University of Mary Washington 540-654-1024 or the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 308 Hanover St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401, 540-373-9021. Online condolences may be sent to mulllinsthompsonfredericksburg.com.