Final Cadence: Spring/Summer 2024

John Andrews of Berlin, MA, died October 11. He was 96. A proud alumnus of Schillinger House (the institution that would become Berklee), he attended the school on the GI Bill after serving in the military during World War II. Andrews was a professional musician, playing both guitar and bass in several bands. He also taught at the Pampalone School of Music and John R. Andrews Studio. 

Lee Eliot Berk of Phoenix, AZ, died October 21. He was 81. Son of Berklee founder Lawrence Berk and namesake of the college, Berk served as Berklee’s vice president from 1971 to 1979 and became the college’s second president in 1979, succeeding his father. He held that post for 25 years, retiring in 2004. During his time in Berklee’s leadership, Berk oversaw the development of the Berklee Performance Center and established Berklee City Music and the Berklee International Network. He was also a member of the group that founded Boston Arts Academy, the city’s first high school for the visual and performing arts. Berk leaves his wife of 48 years, Susan; daughters, Nancy and Lucy; and several grandchildren.

Kevin Michael of Dudley, MA, died November 16. He was 58. Michael was the director of lab operations in Information Technology Services. He joined Berklee in 2001 as a lab monitor in the Professional Writing Division. Michael leaves his mother, Gail; father and his father’s wife, David and Rusty; brother, Karl; and sister, Lori.

Mike Ihde B.M. ’72 of Milton, MA, died December 5. He was 76. Ihde taught guitar at Berklee for 45 years, serving as a faculty member and for a time as assistant chair of the Guitar Department, and retiring in 2017. He played with steel guitarist Buddy Emmons, performed with Joan Baez, and gave lessons to Aerosmith’s Joe Perry. He also played guitar in the theme song for Home Again with Bob Vila and authored several influential music books.

Tom Plsek of Woburn, MA, died February 12. He was 76. Plsek joined the faculty at Berklee in 1972 and later served as a department chair for more than 40 years, first leading the Trombone/Low Brass Department, then the consolidated Brass Department, until his retirement. Plsek focused on recruiting world-class faculty to build a stylistically diverse department. He leaves his wife, Professor Stephany Tiernan, chair emerita of the Piano Department; son, Ian; brother, Rob; and grandchild.

Paul Schmeling of South Easton, MA, died February 15. He was 85. Schmeling joined the faculty at Berklee in 1961, while still a student. He went on to chair the Piano Department for 40 years. In 2002, he developed Berklee Online’s first online course, Music Theory 101, and taught for Berklee Online until just two months before his death. Schmeling leaves his wife, Jacqueline; sons, Douglas and Daniel; and granddaughter.