Peter Spring Obituary, Death – We are deeply saddened to inform you that Peter Bowman Spring passed away on Friday, November 11, 2022. He was 82 years old. His wife, Nancy Yagiela, his daughters Kymie and Jolie Spring, his grandsons Alek and Tom, his sister Marge Ferguson, his first wife, Jeanne Spring, his sister-in-law Ginnie Spring, and a large number of nieces and nephews are among those who carry on his legacy. He passed away without suffering while at the hospital, with his wife and two daughters by his side.
Peter was captivated by music and participated in the band at his high school, playing the saxophone. He moved on to the bass, which eventually became his primary instrument, and later experimented with the gamba. At the University of Michigan, he studied music and received both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree.
In 1967, he began teaching string bass at Interlochen Arts Academy, which was the turning point in his career as a musician. Pete’s children have fond memories of their father hosting get-togethers at their home for his students and coworkers. They recall their father’s sense of humor and the antics he shared with regulars such as Alan Nagel, Tim Staudacher, Joel Levin, and David Holland.
After working in the same field for ten years, Peter came to the conclusion that he wanted to switch careers and concentrate on performing instead. He was successful in obtaining the position of Principal Bassist with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he taught double bass as a part-time adjunct professor at the University of Michigan. Before taking his retirement from the GRSO, he had 36 years of service in the orchestra.
Even though Pete has slowed down in recent years, he and his wife Nancy enjoyed doing activities such as cycling, hiking, and cross-country skiing together. As his physical abilities declined, he and Nancy would pass the time by putting together stunning puzzles that appeared to be impossible to solve. He read a vast quantity of books over the course of his life. He supported environmental causes.
The wacky and childlike sense of humor that Peter possessed was perfectly complemented by that of his wife, Nancy. When they got married in 1984, they were both members of the orchestra at the time. They recently celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary in September of this year. They enjoyed going to the ballet and Actors’ Theatre, as well as traveling, eating delicious food (especially pie and ice cream), and going out to a good meal. They were head over heels in love with one another and expressed gratitude on a daily basis for the fact that they had located one another and created a wonderful life together.
