II
2009
7
Cumpston's life, death leaves lasting impact
A lison F ieldhouse
In a devastating blow to
the West Linn family, Jeff
Cumpston, former band
director, was killed by a
motorcyclist while riding
his bicycle on Aug. 9 in
Zimbabwe.
"When I received the call
letting me know about the
accident this summer, every
happy memory from the
one year I learned from him
seemed to only bring more
pain, but as time progresses,
I can't help but feel so, so
grateful for all the wonderful
experiences I collected as
a result of his guidance,"
Georgia Muggli, junior, said.
In the summer of 2008,
Cumpston and his family
moved to Zimbabwe to teach
instrumental and voice lessons
at the Harare International
School. He and his wife,
Theresa, decided with their
two children, Mary, now 12,
and Bryce, now 9, that they
wanted to experience a new
culture.
On the Cumpstons' blog, he
wrote in his last entry, "Well,
here we are, back in Africa. We
had such a wonderful time in
Oregon and it all seems like a
dream now. Still, it does feel
good to be here; the yard looks
great and we're seeing our
friends from school here and
there. The weather is perfect
during the day (75 degrees)
but really cold at night and
early morning (40-ish degrees).
We sleep in wool sox, hats,
sweaters and use our sleeping
bags as quilts on top of our
beds. Brrr!!!"
Friends and family
followed Cumpston's
adventures in Zimbabwe
including the challenges of
travel, being without the
internet for almost nine weeks
and a car accident in which he
broke his collarbone.
"If his students felt like
they were losing him then,
it was nothing compared
to what we have lost now,"
Muggli said.
An impromptu candlelight
vigil was held on Aug. 9 at the
Cumpston family's house in
West Linn. Over 200 students,
friends, neighbors and others
gathered there to honor his
memory.
"I don’t know about
other students, but I know
he inspired me," Sarani
Chatterjee, junior, said.
"Freshman year in orchestra
was one of the best years of
my life. We played so much
amazing music. It made me
appreciate and love classical
music more."
Many people spoke about
their own personal experience
with Cumpston. A standing
room only celebration of life
was also held on Aug. 30 at the
Willamette Christian Church.
"He gave so much more of
himself than anyone would
have ever asked, and in
both life and death, changed
people's lives for the better,
forever," Muggli said.
Cumpston taught at
WLHS for 12 years, and
guided the musical genius of
students such as Class of 2008
graduates Kate Davis and
Hailey Niswanger. According
to former students, it was not
only stand-out musicians he
cared about. He wanted every
student who crossed paths
with him to take something
positive from the experience.
"Jeff would want to be
remembered as a good man:
by his children, as a loving
father who only wanted the
best for them and valued his
relationship with them; by
his students as a mentor who
taught them to appreciate
and love music; and by his
family and friends as someone
who loved them and always
tried to stay connected and
involved in their lives,"
Theresa said. "Jeff would never
have considered himself to be
a saint, but he definitely was a
man who cared about others,
about his music and about
God."
Cumpston helped many
students find success outside
of the school program lining
up instruments and lessons
for those in need, gigs with
professionals, and scholarships
to music programs. For
instance, Niswanger, received
a scholarship to Berklee School
of Music in Boston, Mass. She
played first alto saxophone in
the 2008 Grammy Band as well
Photo by Jon Helmkamp, Class of 2008
Jeff Cumpston, former WLHS band director, conducts musicians
during a rehearsal. He and his family moved to Zimbabwe where
he was killed on Aug. 9 while riding his bicycle.
as playing at other venues.
Michael Biancardi, senior,
who played second alto in
the WLHS Jazz Band with
Niswanger remembers
Cumpston fondly.
"For the two years before
he left, we would have our
annual gig at Jimmy Mak's,
downtown. He would
always give me a ride home
afterward, and we would just
talk about life, and whatever
was going on," Biancardi said.
"He was always interested in
what I was doing, and really
cared. He was very genuine."
Music brought many
different characters together,
and it was that bond over
a shared passion that made
Cumpston so memorable.
He encouraged his students
to continue on their own
personal journey in music
and rendered a guiding hand
in leading students down
the path they wanted to take
with music. He was unselfish
when it came to music and he
challenged his students to be
the best they could be.
"Cumpston gave me the
gift of music. I don't think
it's something everyone
can understand in our zlOO
society, but to those who
know it, it's beyond a hobby
or a chore or even a real
interest," Muggli said. "Music
is a shared passion between
this select group of people;
it’s something that feeds
our souls and makes every
day another gift, and I owe
almost everything to Mr.
Cumpston."
Not only will his students
miss him but so will the
adults that he connected
with. He left a just as
memorable impression on his
fellow staff members, parents
and other jazz musicians.
"Jeff could make
connections with anyone;
he made everyone feel
comfortable and welcome.
He was passionate about
both music and kids," Barb
Murray, English teacher,
and long time friend of
Cumpston's, said. "Music
lived in him, and he loved
teaching kids what music
could be in their life. It's rare
to find both in a teacher."
Diane Gauthier, art
teacher, spent her first four
years teaching in the same
department as Cumpston
as well. Though their paths
rarely crossed on a day-
to-day basis, she enjoyed
his wit at the monthly fine
arts meetings. "He brought
compassion, understanding,
wisdom, humor, love and
passionate musicianship to
my life. I will miss him," she
said.
Cumpston's wife and
children made the decision to
remain in Zimbabwe to finish
out the school year where
Theresa is also a teacher. She
said that they have many
friends and excellent support
there but that it would be
very hard to be there or
anywhere without him.
During the Cumpston's
four week vacation to Oregon
in June and July, he played
with Niswanger to raise
$1,000 for Chombo, a nearby
village in Zimbabwe that
the family adopted. They
continue to provide food to
the village and hope to fund
the drilling of a borehole to
supply the villagers with
water during the dry season.
For more information
or to donate to the village,
contact Cumpston's mother,
Patricia Cook, at 503-646-
2905. Checks can be made out
to Patricia Cook and mailed
to 8640 SW Pacer Drive,
Beaverton, OR, 97008.
Donations can also be
made to the Cumpston
Family Fund at any Bank of
America branch.