Robert M. Coleman

Bob died peacefully at Liberty Commons in Chatham on September 16, 2011, in the company of friends. His beloved wife of 50 years, Ethel, preceded him in death in 1999. Born in Springfield, MA to Donald and Helen Coleman, he grew up in Pittsfield, MA. He is survived by his children, Bennett Coleman of Austin, TX and Elizabeth Coleman Everhard of San Francisco, CA; daughter-in-law Pam and son-in-law Francois; grandchildren, Chase, Alana and Erwan; siblings, David of Keystone Heights, FL, Richard of Pittsfield and Nancy Wyand of Dalton, and many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Donald.

Bob had his musical debut at age 7 with the Stanley Club Orchestra of Pittsfield. After graduation from Pittsfield High School, Bob served in the Navy in the South Pacific during WWII, and upon his return attended the Juilliard School of Music, majoring in violin and viola. After graduation he became a member, first, of the Pittsburg Symphony, and soon after joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. During this period he received a Master of Fine Arts from Northwestern University. While at Chicago he was also active in the formation of a new union for symphony and opera musicians, ICSOM, and was the first editor of the newsletter "Senza Sordino." In 1964 his love of chamber music brought him to the University of Connecticut where he was a founding member of the New England String Quartet. In 1980 he moved to Dallas, TX to join the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He retired to Cape Cod in 1991. During retirement he played for 15 years as the principal violist of the Cape Cod Symphony.

Bon vivant, raconteur, poet, skeptic, scamp. His house was piled high with books on chess, history, science and philosophy. His expansive and ravenous mind overflowed with ideas -- all the while set to music. He loved his family, he adored his friends and his door was always open. Descended from Pilgrim stock, he was the grandson of a Cape Cod sea captain and the son of a newspaperman. His musical talent was celebrated and allowed to flourish in the home of his parents, Helen and Donald.

He was the most amazing man who did not see himself that way, but rather as a working man whose trade was music, as was his love; music.

A memorial service will be held at the Wellfleet Public Library on Saturday, September 24th from 11:00 - 1:00p.m.. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Friends of the Wellfleet Public Library, for the Robert Coleman Memorial Concert Fund. For online condolences please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com