Scott Davidson, 71

Richard Scott Davidson, age 71, of Sturgis, known as “Scott” Davidson to friends and family, died on Monday, February 12th, 2024 at the Michigan Medicine Hospital in Ann Arbor, after a long battle with Leukemia.

Scott, a lifelong resident of Sturgis, was born on November 9, 1952, to Richard Leo Davidson and Elaine C. Davidson.

Scott was preceded in death by his parents and survived by his wife Janice Davidson, a son Lee Davidson (wife Kelsey and 2 daughters Emily and Caroline) and a daughter Lauren. Scott is also survived by a brother John, married to Debra Davidson.

Scott was passionate about music. He studied organ lessons in Sturgis from Mrs. Hagen for several years and began playing the clarinet in middle school in Sturgis under the directorship of Walter Chestnut and Jack Bittle. Jack and Walter were key to the hunger that was within Scott, and it did not take long for the fire burning inside him to grow.

Scott enjoyed all music but was fascinated by the “Big Band Era” as well as composers like Gershwin, Mancini, and others.

As Scott continued in school, directors came and went, but he learned from each of them in ways that were key to his growth. Scott learned new instruments and started collecting and buying them during sidewalk Welty Music’s sidewalk sale days. Scott was truly addicted to everything music.

During his middle school years, Scott was asked to run a band class when the director was out of town and did this without a supervising teacher in the band room!

As high school approached, there was yet more band. The fall marching band season started each year in August, just a week before school began. Band Camp for Sturgis was an “at stay” facility – the Purdue Limber Lost Camp in Valentine Indiana. The camp had its own magic to inspire musically inclined people like Scott. This facility was so important to not only Scott, but also the Sturgis band which continued using the facility up until the time it closed. Scott was a fixture for the Sturgis band at the camp teaching and writing marching shows for all those years.

During the summer leading into Scott’s senior year, a new director was hired for the Sturgis High School band – Harry D. Blake. Harry noticed something in Scott and Scott became a student assistant to Harry. Harry taught Scott some of the techniques of arranging and writing marching band shows and music. Scott was hooked. Scott also became the Drum Major for the Sturgis HS band for the 1969-1970 school year.

After Scott had completed high school, he decided to study music and attend New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. This was the school that mentor and lifelong friend Harry Blake attended. After some time is New Mexico, Scott realized that the school’s program had changed, and it was time to move on.

Scott left New Mexico and followed other music professionals to another school located in Tennessee – Tennessee Technological University. It was here that Scott studied under a prominent composer of the time – Robert Jager – in music composition, helping Scott to refine his skills even more. Again, Scott became one of the student leaders at Tennessee Tech and became Drum Major, while building a chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Symphonia. He became president of the chapter.

After college, Scott decided to do double duty, not only working with his craft, but working with his father Richard at Grav-i-Flo Corporation in Sturgis. Here, Scott worked with engineering and eventually managed the company, building machinery for finishing metal components for companies all over the world. The work at Grav-i-Flo continued with Richard, Scott, and brother John until 2006 when his father succumbed to cancer.

Scott was always passionate about everything he became involved in…

• Assisted with the Sturgis HS Band program for more than forty years, helping write and teach drill for marching band, going to camp, serving as assistant director, and arranging music, tailoring the arrangements to the band’s instrumentation and ability;

• Played many instruments including clarinet, bass clarinet, trumpet, and percussion;

• Played in the Kalamazoo Concert Band for 35 years;

• Served as choir director at Holy Angels Church including organizing and performing two cantatas;

• Has played in church on trumpet and other instruments;

• Served as Director of Orchestra and other music groups for musicals performed by Sturgis Civic Players, including “Sweet Charity”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Grease”, and “Nunsense”;

• Brought the US Marine Band to Sturgis for a performance;

• Composed and arranged several pieces for band, including the Indiana University Fanfare, Centennial Fanfare, Fight Song for Trine University, Enter the Heroes, Adagio, and Spirit, which was commissioned by Blinn College in Texas

• Served as Director of the Sturgis Wind Symphony, which has played at Midwest Music Clinic in Chicago, Michigan Music Conference, and Red Cedar Music Festival

• Presented at state and national conferences on the importance of community bands.

• Served on the Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education for many years and had a significant impact on the design for the music wings at the Middle School and High School

• Passed on his love of music to his children, who have chosen music as their professions, one as a band director and the other as an elementary music teacher.

With the long list of associations in which Scott was involved, there is one that is probably the dearest to him – other than family – and that was the Sturgis Wind Symphony.

The Sturgis Community band hosted a summer activity that was dual purpose, which was the summer Oak Lawn Park concerts. These little get togethers were a way for current and former band members to play some lighthearted music and at the same time keep the “lip” in shape. It was also an invitation for the upcomers to play with some higher-level talent. Rehearsals were held at the high school band room and the concerts were in the park. On the last concert of the year, the “cake walk” was held. This was an ice cream social supported by the Band Parent’s Organization.

This little informal group kindled Scott’s dream of the Sturgis Wind Symphony. A musical group of current, past, high school level, and music educators’ talent that entertained the area since 1997. The Sturgis Wind Symphony held a regular concert season for fall and spring and traveled to Chicago to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.

Scott touched many lives during his lifetime. His legacy is large, and his influence will go on through the many seeds that he planted.

The family will receive friends Monday, February 19 from 1 to 3 pm and 5 to 7 pm at the Hackman Chapel of Hackman-Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St. in Sturgis. The Rosary will be said at 7 pm Monday at the funeral home. The Funeral Mass celebrating the life of R. Scott Davidson will begin at 11 am Tuesday, February 20 with visitation beginning at 10 am at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 402 S. Nottawa St. in Sturgis. The Rev. Fr. Andrew Raczkowski will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the Mass at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.

The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Davidson’s memory consider the Sturgis Wind Symphony, PO Box 164, Sturgis MI, 49091.

We encourage relatives and friends to share memories and condolences at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com