Reginald R. Gerig, age 98, retired professor of piano at Wheaton College, and resident of Windsor Park Retirement Center in Carol Stream, IL, died peacefully Thursday, January 11, 2018, at Windsor's Johnson Healthcare Center.  He was born April 20, 1919 in Grabill, Indiana near Fort Wayne.

Reg began his study in piano at an early age.  He graduated from Wheaton College with a music degree in 1942.  He earned additional bachelor and master degrees in piano from the Juilliard School of New York in 1948 and 1949.

After three and a half years of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II, he taught piano first at Nyack College from 1946 – 1950.  He then served on the piano faculty of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York before joining the Wheaton faculty in 1952.  Reg taught many generations of students during his 35 years there, serving as chairman of the piano department for 14 years.

Reg also held a number of church organ and choir directing positions in his career, serving faithfully as organist of College Church in Wheaton for 38 years.  He was a member of many professional organizations such as the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the Music Teachers National Association, and the American Liszt Society.  He performed and lectured widely.  In 1984 Reg was named by the Wheaton College Alumni Association, Alumnus of the Year for Distinguished Service to Alma Mater.

In 1959 his "Piano Preludes on Hymns and Chorales" was published by Hope Publishing Company.  He composed three of the collection's sixteen pieces.  His book on "Famous Pianists and Their Technique", published by Robert B. Luce, Inc. in 1974, and more recently by Indiana University Press, has become a widely used and acclaimed history of piano technical thought.  It is a standard text used in music schools nationally and internationally.  It was the accomplishment he was most proud of.

Reg met his wife Irene "Connie" (nee Conrad) when they were both piano students at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music.  They were married in 1944 and were devoted to each other for almost 68 years until Connie's death in 2012.  Reg is survived by his daughter, Sarah Campbell (Bruce), and his son, Reginald Jr. (Daphne), and his granddaughter, Lauren Gerig.  He is also survived by his brother, Richard Gerig (Julie).

There will be a visitation at Hultgren Funeral Home on Sunday, January 28, from 3:00 – 8:00.  A memorial service will be held at 10:00, Monday, January 29, in the chapel at Windsor Park, followed by a reception.  Private burial will be at Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Windsor Park Benevolent Fund , 124 Windsor Park Dr., Carol Stream, IL 60188.

A video of Reginald sharing memories about his life can be seen by clicking here .