Rick Lohmann

Rick Lohmann

Born 1955 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Died 2022 Santa Fe, New Mexico from prostate cancer

Beloved violin teacher, musician, brother, uncle, friend

Rick Lohmann grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, where he loved school, reading, and classical music. His father Larry Lohmann was a reporter at the Milwaukee Journal; his mother Virginia Petty Lohmann was first a reporter, then an interior designer, then a social worker. Rick idolized his older brother, Larry, who gave him his first violin lesson. Young Rick adored the violin, and it became his lasting devotion. Camping was his other childhood passion. His family took annual trips to national parks, first in their VW bus, then in a 1968 Dodge Polaris station wagon. Rick pored over maps of their planned routes and the family shared adventures in the Black Hills, Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, and other places.

After earning degrees in violin at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Wisconsin, Rick served as concertmaster for the Omaha Symphony for 15 years. He was a superb teacher and consummate musician, excelling in both orchestral and chamber performance. He was a proud member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 70-558.

 In Omaha Rick met and married Margaret Carpenter, and through her became interested in teaching violin using the Suzuki method. Rick and Margaret formed a large Suzuki violin program, Omaha Talent Education. In 2003 Rick and Margaret chose to relocate to Santa Fe for its welcoming politics and natural beauty, and thrived in their new home. They founded Santa Fe Talent Education, also devoted to the Suzuki method. While their marriage ended in divorce, Rick and Margaret kept their violin program together for another 15 years, and had a caring, supportive friendship to the end. Rick dedicated the second chapter of his life to teaching violin to young children and teens, and was a patient, creative, caring teacher who could be just as goofy as he could be profound.

Rick performed as a violinist in the Santa Fe ProMusica chamber orchestra. He proudly collaborated with his fellow Oberlin graduate, pianist Kiyoshi Tamagawa, in a concert series performing all 12 Beethoven Sonatas for piano and violin in 2007-2008. Rick was also proud to have hiked the Kaibab-Bright Angel Trail rim to rim at the Grand Canyon twice with his friend John King. He enjoyed hiking the Atalaya trail every Tuesday with John and Paul Kelly. Rick was an avid reader, and especially appreciated Oliver Sacks, Cormac McCarthy, and Terry Pratchett. A lifelong vegetarian and animal lover, Rick always enjoyed time with his two cats, Oscar and Earl.

Rick is survived by his sister Meg Lohmann, his brother in law Bashar Al-Nakhala, of Hingham, Mass., his nephew, Khalil Al-Nakhala, his ex-wife Margaret Carpenter, his cats, and many dear friends, colleagues, and students. He was a gift in their lives and will be sorely missed.

Memorial donations in Rick’s name may be made at:

Santa Fe Talent Education, the Suzuki program Rick helped found

https://sfte-nm.org

Or

Santa Fe Youth Symphony

https://www.sfysa.org/rick-lohmann-scholarship.html

A celebration of Rick’s life is scheduled for Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 1:00 PM at the Rivera Family Kiva Chapel at 417 E Rodeo Rd, Santa Fe.  Interment will follow at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery also at 417 E Rodeo Rd.  this service will be live streamed. To view, please log on to:

https://www.viewlogies.net/rivera/Zm46uk2kZ?pin=132232

if it requests a pin #, that pin is 132-232