Bill Kearns 1928-2020
By Tom Riis
Tom Riis (left) and Bill Kearns (right)
"It is with sadness and a deep sense of personal loss that I share the news of the death of William K. Kearns last Thursday, March 12, at his retirement community in Pinole, California, where he had lived since 2015.
As a historical musicologist, Bill focused his research on the music of American composer Horatio Parker and American vernacular music. He was a longtime and loyal member of the Society for American Music and became the first Colorado director of the American Music Research Center at the College of Music. He taught at CU from 1965 until his retirement in 1992, having also served a term as associate dean for graduate studies at the college.
Bill Kearns was a kindly and genial figure, a beloved teacher, supportive colleague, and trusted friend. An active optimist, he remained an avid tennis player, horn performer, and hiker well into retirement. He is survived by his two children, Kathy and Drew, their families, and dozens of close acquaintances who will always remember his broad smile and his generous spirit."
Volume 8/9 of the AMRC Journal, published in 1999, includes a tribute to Bill by Dean Emeritus Bob Fink.