Dr. Robert "Coach" Fleming, passed away peacefully at 8:47 AM on Sunday at his Tempe home with his wife of 58 years by his side.
Robert was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to parents Stanley Thomas Fleming and Isabelle Rink Fleming. He grew up with his brother Thomas Allen Fleming in Aspinwall, PA. Fleming attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he received a BFA in Music Education and Flute performance and then Carnegie Mellon University where he received his MFA in music. He then attended Southern Illinois University where he received his PhD in secondary education. While completing his master's degree, he played flute professionally with the Wheeling West Virginia Symphony. It was at this time he discovered that his true calling was in teaching music.
Robert Clair Fleming was recognized nationwide as an elite educator and band director. After being the marching band director at Midland High School, he started his college career as the Director of Bands at the University of Tennessee at Martin from 1967-1974 and finished his career as the Associate Director of Bands/Marching Band Director at Arizona State University (1974-2002) where he was affectionately called "Coach". He found true joy in making music, entertaining crowds and creating a band family within the Sun Devil Marching Band.
One of the many career highlights for Coach while working at ASU was being awarded the Sudler Trophy in 1991.This award is presented to the marching band that is considered to have the best marching band program in the country. Perhaps an even greater honor, was to be among the first 10 schools to receive this award and the first Pac-10 school to ever receive the Sudler trophy. It is voted on by industry peers and is the highest honor a marching band program can ever receive. Coach was so honored that the students and staff earned this under his leadership.
After retirement Coach was chosen to be the Conductor of the Coastal Communities Concert Band in San Diego from 2008-2013. His time with this group is something he treasured and upon his departure as the conductor he became their Conductor Emeritus.
Some of his personal awards received:
1981 Selection to the American Bandmasters Association
1984 Director of the Olympic Band
1993 Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award for the Outstanding College Band Director
1996 O.M. Hatsell Excellence in Teaching Award from the AZ Music Educators Association
2001 Distinguished Service to Music Medal Kappa Kappa Psi
Coach is survived by his wife Brenda of 58 years, son Brian, wife Leah Johnson Fleming and their children Leigh, Christina and Jolynn, his daughter Michele Fleming Holyoak, her husband David Holyoak and their children Peyton and McKay.
It has been difficult to decide how best to honor and celebrate his life. For now, his family has created a living tribute page on Facebook where people can connect, gather, share and celebrate their treasured memories. Any future commemoration events will be announced on the tribute page: Robert "Coach" Fleming LIVING TRIBUTE | Facebook
For now his remains will be kept in his Tempe residence.
Before retiring, Coach established the Robert "Coach" Fleming scholarship endowment through the ASU Foundation. He wanted to financially assist 3rd and 4th year SDMB members and reward their loyalty and hard work. Every year, multiple recipients are selected to receive monetary scholarships.
Coach's contributions to the music education world have been tremendous. His passion for leading young people and sharing the art of music is unparalleled. His greatest loves were his wife, children, grandchildren, extended family and dear life-long friendships that he made as a result of his career.
Coach's motto: Expect Great Things
In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to Coach's scholarship endowment for current SDMB students.
If you wish to donate, you can visit
https://www.asufoundation.org
Once you are on the website, type in the search window ASU Foundation/Robert "Coach" Fleming Scholarship Endowment and the options for donations will appear.
His legacy lives on in countless music educators that he mentored and learned from and in the students he inspired and of course in the children and grandchildren he raised.
To all of them he would say, I love you and…. "What do we have?...SUN DEVIL PRIDE"
Robert was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to parents Stanley Thomas Fleming and Isabelle Rink Fleming. He grew up with his brother Thomas Allen Fleming in Aspinwall, PA. Fleming attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he received a BFA in Music Education and Flute performance and then Carnegie Mellon University where he received his MFA in music. He then attended Southern Illinois University where he received his PhD in secondary education. While completing his master's degree, he played flute professionally with the Wheeling West Virginia Symphony. It was at this time he discovered that his true calling was in teaching music.
Robert Clair Fleming was recognized nationwide as an elite educator and band director. After being the marching band director at Midland High School, he started his college career as the Director of Bands at the University of Tennessee at Martin from 1967-1974 and finished his career as the Associate Director of Bands/Marching Band Director at Arizona State University (1974-2002) where he was affectionately called "Coach". He found true joy in making music, entertaining crowds and creating a band family within the Sun Devil Marching Band.
One of the many career highlights for Coach while working at ASU was being awarded the Sudler Trophy in 1991.This award is presented to the marching band that is considered to have the best marching band program in the country. Perhaps an even greater honor, was to be among the first 10 schools to receive this award and the first Pac-10 school to ever receive the Sudler trophy. It is voted on by industry peers and is the highest honor a marching band program can ever receive. Coach was so honored that the students and staff earned this under his leadership.
After retirement Coach was chosen to be the Conductor of the Coastal Communities Concert Band in San Diego from 2008-2013. His time with this group is something he treasured and upon his departure as the conductor he became their Conductor Emeritus.
Some of his personal awards received:
1981 Selection to the American Bandmasters Association
1984 Director of the Olympic Band
1993 Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award for the Outstanding College Band Director
1996 O.M. Hatsell Excellence in Teaching Award from the AZ Music Educators Association
2001 Distinguished Service to Music Medal Kappa Kappa Psi
Coach is survived by his wife Brenda of 58 years, son Brian, wife Leah Johnson Fleming and their children Leigh, Christina and Jolynn, his daughter Michele Fleming Holyoak, her husband David Holyoak and their children Peyton and McKay.
It has been difficult to decide how best to honor and celebrate his life. For now, his family has created a living tribute page on Facebook where people can connect, gather, share and celebrate their treasured memories. Any future commemoration events will be announced on the tribute page: Robert "Coach" Fleming LIVING TRIBUTE | Facebook
For now his remains will be kept in his Tempe residence.
Before retiring, Coach established the Robert "Coach" Fleming scholarship endowment through the ASU Foundation. He wanted to financially assist 3rd and 4th year SDMB members and reward their loyalty and hard work. Every year, multiple recipients are selected to receive monetary scholarships.
Coach's contributions to the music education world have been tremendous. His passion for leading young people and sharing the art of music is unparalleled. His greatest loves were his wife, children, grandchildren, extended family and dear life-long friendships that he made as a result of his career.
Coach's motto: Expect Great Things
In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to Coach's scholarship endowment for current SDMB students.
If you wish to donate, you can visit
https://www.asufoundation.org
Once you are on the website, type in the search window ASU Foundation/Robert "Coach" Fleming Scholarship Endowment and the options for donations will appear.
His legacy lives on in countless music educators that he mentored and learned from and in the students he inspired and of course in the children and grandchildren he raised.
To all of them he would say, I love you and…. "What do we have?...SUN DEVIL PRIDE"