Help us to remember Nick. Please share your stories and messages for the family here. We’d really appreciate it. If you’ve got a photo you’d care to share, there is a button below. Thank you.
28 thoughts on “Memories”
Here’s a great photo from when Nick and his brothers were all a bit younger.
That’s his low-A bari. We talked about how nice it’d be to get a low A for years before he finally did it. Loved that thing. I was holding out for a Selmer.
Yes, he was so happy he no longer needed his “low A extension” – half of a two-liter plastic bottle that he’d stick in his old Bb horn to get the low note!
I remember when my Dad got his Buescher Bari sax, the guy selling made him a deal. He’d knock a few bucks off the price if he’d take a second one. When he got the Buescher repaired (thanks, Larry!) he got the second one fixed at the same time. He gave me that sax and its been with me through 3 or 4 rock bands (depending on how you count) and is still rocking. Thanks for “Lucky Richard” and all the adventures we’ve had together, Dad
I only met him briefly when he played Bari sax for a Carlmont High School musical I was in. I remember thinking, this guy is super cool and then later I found out he was Kurts dad and it all made sense. Thoughts and good wishes to his friends and family.
I first met Nick when I started working at the San Mateo SO Forensic Laboratory in early 2001. For some reason everybody referred to him as Dr. Stumbaugh and I didn’t know why. I thought it was the white lab coat, but it didn’t take me long to realize that it was his wealth of knowledge in forensics. I greatly benefited from that knowledge as Nick trained and mentored me in forensic alcohol analysis and interpretation, and to this day I still have a copy of his “binder” of articles that he brought to court, that I eventually brought to court, for DUI trials. I think Nick officially retired from the Sheriff’s Office in 2002-2003, but continued to work part time at the Forensic Lab until his passing. His knowledge, dedication, and work ethic will forever be remembered by those of us who worked with him. Thanks Nick! I will miss you.
I met Nick at the White Coat Ceremony for vet school back in 2007. Amber and I were in the same orientation group, so made sure to catch up after we got our coats. It was after Amber’s tragic loss in 2010 that I got to know Nick better. We stayed in touch on FB and I was fortunate enough to be invited to supper with the family when were visiting Ames to collect some of Amber’s things and take care of business at the vet school. I will never forget his shining personality and the deep caring that he extended toward everyone. Godspeed, Nick…and give Amber a hug for me when you see her.
Nick and I played together in various shows and in a clarinet choir. He was a pleasure to work with, with a calm and positive presence. I was happy to recruit him to play baritone sax on a concert with my orchestra, the Nova Vista Symphony, a couple of years ago. I can’t imagine how much he will be missed.
I met Nick through music about 20 years ago, and played just about everything with him since then — wind band, big band, saxophone choirs, bass clarinet duets and trios, and so many musicals I’ve lost count.
One annual event we both loved was San Jose Saxophone Christmas. Here he is (playing his old bari) at the 2005 event.
I will always remember his big heart, impressive musicianship, and hearty laugh.
I’ve known Nick for over 30 years through our participation in a half-dozen community bands, including three presently. He served as a mentor when I returned to playing clarinet after 17 years. He was a amazing musician who had a wonderful smile and a very positive outlook. Margie and I share with his family and others the loss of a great friend.
I have posted a video of Nick’s bass clarinet solo performance of “Basswood” at last December’s concert by the Foothill Symphonic Winds.
Jerry and I have fond memories of Nick. Thanksgiving will not be the same. We still remember the wonderful years with our kids: skiiing, river rafting in Tahoe, New Year’s Eve and for years Thanksgiving. Nick was always a challenge in Trivial Pursuit because of his knowledge of music and entertainment. He was another fork on fondue night making the evening full of laughter and joy. Our thoughts are with Bobby and Kurt; hope they can focus on the good memories. We love them all.
Nick & I were both graduates from the San Diego State University Chemistry program at about the same time, ~1968. Starting several years later, in 1973, I became close friends with the Stumbaugh Family when Nick & I both took Scuba Lessons at Redwood High School from a marine drill Sergent by the Name of Bud Davis. We were frequent dive buddies, with the Davis Divers Scuba Club, at Fort Ross free diving for abalone and scuba diving off Monterrey and Hawaii. The Stumbaugh and the Howard families and kids were part of ours with many trips to Tahoe skiing, Hawaii vacations, as well as our Annual Thanksgiving together at our house every year since 1981, when there was separate kids and adult tables until the youngsters outgrew the kid designation. Later there were many post-Christmas Fondue Parties. These parties lasted into the night with Girls vs Boys Trivial Pursuit games. Nick was a key partner of the boys team which frequently won influenced by his brilliant mind.
I have posted a picture of Nick “Hanging-10” on our last trip to Maui. I don’t think he ever was proficient with this particular sport, despite growing up in San Diego.
We will miss you Nick and our hearts go out to Bobbie and Kurt. We will try to look after them.
Thanks to Conductor Dave Adams and the board of the Foothill Symphonic Winds (FSW), we’re announcing the Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award.
Nick was a long-time member of the FSW, which rehearses at Blach Middle School in Los Altos and occasionally performs with the students. He was always generous with his time when it came to sharing music with students.
Here’s how the award will work. The Blach band director, Vincent Lewis, will select a winner for the Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award. That student will receive a scholarship to attend the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View, and his or her name will go on a perennial plaque in the Blach band room wall.
This feels like a really nice intersection of many things Nick loved, and several music groups in which he had a big part.
If you’d like to join me in remembering our friend Nick by funding this award in his memory and by helping support local music education, here’s how.
Donations toward the Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award can be made with a checks payable to “Foothill Symphonic Winds;” please note in the memo that the money is for the Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award.
Checks in any amount can be mailed to:
Foothill Symphonic Winds
P.O. Box 51154
Palo Alto, CA 94303
The award will be administered by the Foothill Symphonic Winds, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – all donations are tax-deductible.
If you’d like to contribute, please mail your check by December 31 so that the FSW can prepare for the presentation of the first award. The 2014 Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award will be presented at the March 9, 2014 Foothills Symphonic Winds concert.
I had the pleasure of working with Nick on our beloved StarStruck Theatre productions. As the choreographer, I felt a very close kinship with the band — after all, they gave us something wonderful to dance to. I would come down into the pit as often as I could to make sure they all knew how much they were loved and appreciated. Nick was a lovely spirit with a hearty laugh and great big hugs. He also loved my students and enjoyed playing for them with all the other amazing folks in the orchestra. We are a family and we have lost one of ours. He is so deeply missed and will always be so loved. God’s blessing…may you be at peace forever.
Here’s a great photo from when Nick and his brothers were all a bit younger.
Kurt and I treating Bobbie and Nick to dinner in Maui.
This is the 4 Stumbaugh “boys”.
Nick playing his beloved the bari sax at San Jose’s Saxophone Christmas.
This is great! Thanks, Kathy!
That’s his low-A bari. We talked about how nice it’d be to get a low A for years before he finally did it. Loved that thing. I was holding out for a Selmer.
Yes, he was so happy he no longer needed his “low A extension” – half of a two-liter plastic bottle that he’d stick in his old Bb horn to get the low note!
Nick sending me good thoughts after I had to cancel my trip to Maui.
“I’m sipping a Mai-Tai for you. Wish you could be here to have one yourself!”
I remember that day! So great!
I remember when my Dad got his Buescher Bari sax, the guy selling made him a deal. He’d knock a few bucks off the price if he’d take a second one. When he got the Buescher repaired (thanks, Larry!) he got the second one fixed at the same time. He gave me that sax and its been with me through 3 or 4 rock bands (depending on how you count) and is still rocking. Thanks for “Lucky Richard” and all the adventures we’ve had together, Dad
I only met him briefly when he played Bari sax for a Carlmont High School musical I was in. I remember thinking, this guy is super cool and then later I found out he was Kurts dad and it all made sense. Thoughts and good wishes to his friends and family.
Thanks, John. FWIW he thought you were really cool too.
I first met Nick when I started working at the San Mateo SO Forensic Laboratory in early 2001. For some reason everybody referred to him as Dr. Stumbaugh and I didn’t know why. I thought it was the white lab coat, but it didn’t take me long to realize that it was his wealth of knowledge in forensics. I greatly benefited from that knowledge as Nick trained and mentored me in forensic alcohol analysis and interpretation, and to this day I still have a copy of his “binder” of articles that he brought to court, that I eventually brought to court, for DUI trials. I think Nick officially retired from the Sheriff’s Office in 2002-2003, but continued to work part time at the Forensic Lab until his passing. His knowledge, dedication, and work ethic will forever be remembered by those of us who worked with him. Thanks Nick! I will miss you.
He certainly seemed at home in that white coat. Thanks, David.
Mom wanted me to be sure to upload this one.
I met Nick at the White Coat Ceremony for vet school back in 2007. Amber and I were in the same orientation group, so made sure to catch up after we got our coats. It was after Amber’s tragic loss in 2010 that I got to know Nick better. We stayed in touch on FB and I was fortunate enough to be invited to supper with the family when were visiting Ames to collect some of Amber’s things and take care of business at the vet school. I will never forget his shining personality and the deep caring that he extended toward everyone. Godspeed, Nick…and give Amber a hug for me when you see her.
We can only hope they’re together. Thanks, Megan.
Nick and I played together in various shows and in a clarinet choir. He was a pleasure to work with, with a calm and positive presence. I was happy to recruit him to play baritone sax on a concert with my orchestra, the Nova Vista Symphony, a couple of years ago. I can’t imagine how much he will be missed.
I met Nick through music about 20 years ago, and played just about everything with him since then — wind band, big band, saxophone choirs, bass clarinet duets and trios, and so many musicals I’ve lost count.
One annual event we both loved was San Jose Saxophone Christmas. Here he is (playing his old bari) at the 2005 event.
I will always remember his big heart, impressive musicianship, and hearty laugh.
This one is going in the slide show for sure. Thanks, Kathy.
I’ve known Nick for over 30 years through our participation in a half-dozen community bands, including three presently. He served as a mentor when I returned to playing clarinet after 17 years. He was a amazing musician who had a wonderful smile and a very positive outlook. Margie and I share with his family and others the loss of a great friend.
I have posted a video of Nick’s bass clarinet solo performance of “Basswood” at last December’s concert by the Foothill Symphonic Winds.
Oh my gosh. This is truly fantastic, Roy. Thank you so much. What a great way to remember him.
Jerry and I have fond memories of Nick. Thanksgiving will not be the same. We still remember the wonderful years with our kids: skiiing, river rafting in Tahoe, New Year’s Eve and for years Thanksgiving. Nick was always a challenge in Trivial Pursuit because of his knowledge of music and entertainment. He was another fork on fondue night making the evening full of laughter and joy. Our thoughts are with Bobby and Kurt; hope they can focus on the good memories. We love them all.
Nick & I were both graduates from the San Diego State University Chemistry program at about the same time, ~1968. Starting several years later, in 1973, I became close friends with the Stumbaugh Family when Nick & I both took Scuba Lessons at Redwood High School from a marine drill Sergent by the Name of Bud Davis. We were frequent dive buddies, with the Davis Divers Scuba Club, at Fort Ross free diving for abalone and scuba diving off Monterrey and Hawaii. The Stumbaugh and the Howard families and kids were part of ours with many trips to Tahoe skiing, Hawaii vacations, as well as our Annual Thanksgiving together at our house every year since 1981, when there was separate kids and adult tables until the youngsters outgrew the kid designation. Later there were many post-Christmas Fondue Parties. These parties lasted into the night with Girls vs Boys Trivial Pursuit games. Nick was a key partner of the boys team which frequently won influenced by his brilliant mind.
I have posted a picture of Nick “Hanging-10” on our last trip to Maui. I don’t think he ever was proficient with this particular sport, despite growing up in San Diego.
We will miss you Nick and our hearts go out to Bobbie and Kurt. We will try to look after them.
Love Roger, Karen, and Kristy
Loved.
This is the slideshow we made for the celebration of Dad’s life on Sunday:
Thanks to Conductor Dave Adams and the board of the Foothill Symphonic Winds (FSW), we’re announcing the Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award.
Nick was a long-time member of the FSW, which rehearses at Blach Middle School in Los Altos and occasionally performs with the students. He was always generous with his time when it came to sharing music with students.
Here’s how the award will work. The Blach band director, Vincent Lewis, will select a winner for the Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award. That student will receive a scholarship to attend the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View, and his or her name will go on a perennial plaque in the Blach band room wall.
This feels like a really nice intersection of many things Nick loved, and several music groups in which he had a big part.
If you’d like to join me in remembering our friend Nick by funding this award in his memory and by helping support local music education, here’s how.
Donations toward the Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award can be made with a checks payable to “Foothill Symphonic Winds;” please note in the memo that the money is for the Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award.
Checks in any amount can be mailed to:
Foothill Symphonic Winds
P.O. Box 51154
Palo Alto, CA 94303
The award will be administered by the Foothill Symphonic Winds, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – all donations are tax-deductible.
If you’d like to contribute, please mail your check by December 31 so that the FSW can prepare for the presentation of the first award. The 2014 Nick Stumbaugh Memorial Award will be presented at the March 9, 2014 Foothills Symphonic Winds concert.
I had the pleasure of working with Nick on our beloved StarStruck Theatre productions. As the choreographer, I felt a very close kinship with the band — after all, they gave us something wonderful to dance to. I would come down into the pit as often as I could to make sure they all knew how much they were loved and appreciated. Nick was a lovely spirit with a hearty laugh and great big hugs. He also loved my students and enjoyed playing for them with all the other amazing folks in the orchestra. We are a family and we have lost one of ours. He is so deeply missed and will always be so loved. God’s blessing…may you be at peace forever.