GRUENBERG

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, August 08, 2009 at 05:12:21 :

Marin Independent Journal
Thursday, September 5, 1985

GEORG GRUENBERG

Georg Gruenberg, an internationally known pianist who taught at Dominican College in San Rafael at one time, died last Thursday at his home in San Francisco at the age of 90.

Mr. Gruenberg earned his world-wide reputation as a brilliant teacher as first teaching-assistant of Artur Schnabel, his cousin, during a 30-year period in Berlin, Germany.

He also was a concert pianist in Europe, but his great love was teaching, sharing the beauty of music with aspiring young artists and coaching more seasoned performers.

When the Nazi regime took over Germany, Mr. Gruenberg, who was Jewish, received special permission from the Nazi leader, Josef Goebbels, to remain in Berlin and continue his teaching. He was allowed to accept only foreigners or Jewish people as students, however. He was the only Jewish piano teacher to receive this permission.

It was during this period in the 1930s that two young San Francisco pianists, Joyzelle Ray, now Sister Mary Dominic of San Rafael, and the late Janet Graham Dewing, went to Berlin to sturdy with Mr. Gruenberg.

However, in 1939, Mr. Gruenberg and his late wife, Annaliese, were able to emigrate to the Unites States, settling in San Francisco.

During the 1940s, Mr. Gruenberg taught at Dominican College.

In addition to the devotion of his students, Mr. Gruenberg was beloved by neighborhood children, who called him “Candy George” because of his habit of giving out treats to the youngsters.

Mr. Gruenberg willed his body for scientific research. No memorial service has been set yet.