Former UCC music instructor Rod Butler remembered
News Release 07-071-D For more information: Release date: 12/05/07 Bentley Gilbert For immediate release (541) 440-7747 http://www.umpqua.edu/
Roseburg— Rodney H. Butler, professor of music at California State University, Dominguez Hills, died at his home on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The cause of death is unknown but believed to be heart failure. The Redondo Beach resident was 60 years old.
Butler was the Head of the music department at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg from 1977 to 1979.
“Rod Butler was head of the UCC Music Department while it was in its fledgling stage. The Whipple Fine Arts Building was under construction and many music classes were being held in the gym facilities. He was a young, energetic man who related well to the students. He worked hard at building our program—especially the theory program. He was an excellent interim instructor and helped raise the bar on the music program.” says Roberta Hall, retired UCC music instructor.
He was chair of the Academic Senate, chair of the Division of Performing, Visual and Digital Arts and chair of the Department of Music within the College of Arts and Humanities at CSU, Dominguez Hills at the time of his death.
The Southern California native was born on Sept. 26, 1947. A CSU Dominguez Hills alumnus (Class of ’73), Butler pursued his graduate studies at the Musikhogskolen in Oslo, Norway, and the University of Oslo. He completed his Master of Arts degree and doctorate in music theory and composition at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Butler is survived by daughter Amanda Fagan, a local Southern California resident; son Benjamin Butler of Dallas, son Andrew Butler and his wife, Adi, of Washington D.C., and brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Judi Butler, of Costa Mesa.
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Umpqua Community College is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Umpqua Community College, PO Box 967, Roseburg Oregon 97470 Phone: (541)440-4600.