January 08, 1933 - January 30, 2022
Dr. Carl Nosse passed away at age 89 on Sunday, January 30, 2022 after an extended illness. Born in Irwin, PA , he was the only child of Joseph and Mildred Nosse. A music lover since he was a child, Carl was always happiest listening and taking part in the music around him-formal concerts near his home in Pittsburgh, PA, stage shows, square dances, big bands of the 1940s…all kinds of music. He began playing trumpet as an 8-year-old and was a member of the high school band, orchestra, and jazz band. He won several music scholarships and chose to attend Tarkio College in Missouri, where he received a degree in performance and certification in music education. As a Navy musician he became a staff arranger and performed with bands and orchestras in many countries around the world, including two years in Japan.
Upon leaving the service, Carl returned home to marry Dolores, “the girl next door”, on July 15, 1959, and started teaching music in public school. Not finding the music he wanted for his ensembles, he began to compose music for them. Over the course of his career, more than twenty of his works were published, including commissions and grants from the National Foundation for the Arts as well as National Public Television for educational documentary film scores.
Following a master’s degree at Duquesne University, he attended Florida State University where he received the Doctorate of Music in Composition and Theory. He was asked to join the faculty there a year before completing that degree, and within a three-year period had moved from doctoral student, to faculty member, to Assistant Dean. He served on the faculty at FSU and was Assistant Dean from 1973-1980.
Carl came to the University of the Pacific in the summer of 1980 and was Dean of the Conservatory of Music from 1980 through 1999. As a result of his tireless efforts he was responsible for augmenting student enrollment, introducing new programs and degrees, cultivating and building warm relationships with donors, developing significant endowments, completing the renovation and dedication of the Faye Spanos Concert Hall, and administering the construction of new facilities including the Rehearsal Hall, the Recital Hall, the Music A/V Library Suite, and the Buck Hall classroom and teaching studio building. In addition, he collaborated with alumni and Regents in founding the Festival of the Arts and the Pantheon of the Arts at Pacific.
Dr. Nosse’s community activities in Stockton include memberships on the Board of Directors of the Stockton Opera Association, the Haggin Museum Summer Arts Program, the Friends of Chamber Music and serving as Commissioner with the Stockton Arts Commission.
In 1991 Dean Nosse was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Schools of Music. He was a visiting evaluator and consultant to 21 colleges and universities in the United States. He was also an Affiliate Board Member with the Music Study Abroad Program at Regents College in London, England.
A long-time admirer and friend of Dave and Iola Brubeck, Dr. Nosse served as founding director of the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific from 1999-2001.
In retirement Carl enjoyed golf, trips to Palm Springs and Napa, reading, listening to music, collecting numerous Dave Brubeck albums, and fine dining.
Carl Nosse will be missed by the Pacific and Stockton Arts Community. He is survived by his wife Dolores and his daughter-in-law Alicia and was preceded in death by his son, Steven, who received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Pacific in 1986. Also survived by niece Dana (and Bill) Kretchmar of Florida, Kirk (and Lori) Franke of Florida, and Mark (and Jeannie) Franke of South Carolina. Also cousins Rodney (and Toni) Whitehead of Indiana;, Lynette (and Bill) Gilossa of Pennsylvania; Beverly (and Randy) Ference of Pennsylvania; Shirley Clair of Pennsylvania; and Carla of Pennsylvania; and Bruce and Frank Nosse of Pennsylvania.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 16th at 1:00 PM at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240 , followed by a reception at Pietros Restaurant, 317 E. Kettleman Avenue in Lodi.
Please leave your condolences below.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Nosse family.
