May 8, 2000

Maxwell Shepherd, an emeritus professor of music at the Hartford campus, died on April 5. He was 69.

A life-long supporter of the arts, Shepherd, of Collinsville and Manhattan, N.Y., was a pianist, teacher and designer.

Shepherd grew up in Australia and graduated from the University of Melbourne with a bachelor of science degree. He later earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the Juilliard School of Music, and also studied in Paris and London. He performed in New York City and Australia, as well as New England. Some of his many performances were with the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras.

Shepherd joined the University of Connecticut at Hartford in September 1966 and was promoted to full professor in 1987. In 1983, he created the UConn at Hartford Concert Series, a regular concert series that provided the community with the opportunity to hear fine performances without charge and also to meet the performers. He served as director of the program from its inception until his retirement from the University in 1991. After his retirement, he continued to teach a course in music appreciation at the University each fall.

"I count myself fortunate that I was on the faculty of the Hartford campus at the same time as Max, because he was such a wonderful teacher and a marvelous human being," says Arnold Orza, former director of the Hartford campus. "He was full of life and humor. There was not a single student that did not love him, and he was an absolutely first-class pianist."

Shepherd was a frequent judge of piano competitions on the internationa l, national and local levels and a member of the Connecticut State Music Teachers Association. He also was an accomplished visual artist, studying the interrelationships between the arts and frequently lecturing on the topic.

Shepherd is survived by his partner of 38 years, Walter Kendra, and by many extended family members and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 17, at 2 p.m. in the Unitarian Meeting House, 50 Bloomfield Ave., Hartford.

Rebecca Stygar