Griffin Z. PULTZ

                   The Owego Gazette, March 14, 1940, Page 3
"Griffin Z. Pultz, Accomplished Musician and Instructor of the Violin, Dies"

Griffin Z. Pultz, of this village, an accomplished musician and instructor of the violin, died at 4 o'clock on Saturday morning, March 9, at the Rober Packer hospital at Sayre, Pa., following an illness of only three days. He was 73 years old.

On Monday of last week after having returned from a business trip to Binghamton, Mr. Pultz suffered a slight heart attack. On Tuesday he remained at home, abandoning his intention of attending the Fritz Kreisler concert in Binghamton that evening. Early Wednesday morning he suffered another heart attack and his condition was so alarming that he was immediately taken to Estey & Munroe's ambulance to the hospital. On Thursday his condition improved slightly, but a reaction soon set in and he failed steadily until he died.

His funeral was held at the house, 51 Fox street, on Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. Robert E. Fletcher officiating. The service was largely attended and there were many beautiful floral tributes.

The active bearers were George H. Walters, Hilton L. Bauer, Earle P. Knickerbocker, Kenneth Weston, Clay Knickerbocker, and Arthur H. Smith.

The honorary bearers were Hon. George F. Andrews, E. Burt Cornell, Robert A. Heller, William C. Truman, Stuart W. Smyth, and Charles H. Barton.

Born in Owego
Mr. Pultz was a son of Griffin and Charity (Searles) Pultz, and was born on Aug. 4, 1867, in a house that then stood just east of the northeast corner of North avenue and Fox street. His father was employed for many years as a locomotive engineer on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. He retired at the age of 75 years with a fine record.

Mr Pultz began studying the violin at an early age with the celebrated German master and composers, Prof. Joseph Raff, of Owego. He was a precocious pupil and made his first appearance at a public concert when only 14 years old. After several years of study with Professor Raff, his stody including both theory and composition, he continued advanced studies in New York city with the distinguished German court violinist, Carl Hild. At that time Mr. Hild was concert master of the famous Theodore Thomas orchestra. Later, and for a long period Mr. Pultz was a favorite pupil and associate of W. Grant Egbert, and obtained from him an intimate knowledge of the Jaachim playing and teaching.

Founder of Ithaca College.
Mr. Egbert was a pupil of both Joseph Jaachim at the Berlin Hochschude and of Sevcik of Prague. He was the concert master of the Sevcik string orchestra of 100 violinists at Prague. Mr. Egbert was the founder and head of the Ithaca conservatory of music, now Ithaca college.

Mr. Pultz also took special work at Cornell university with Gilbert Ross, one of the greatest violinists in America. Mr. Ross had come to Cornell with an established reputation both in this country and Europe. He appeared as soloist with Chicago, Minneapolis and Boston concert orchestras. For many years a pupil of Leopold Auer, Mr. Ross's teaching was based entirely upon Auer principles.

Because of his excellent technical foundation laid by German masters, Mr. Pultz was able to offer the best instruction to his pupils and he was eminently successful as a teacher of violin. During his long career he conducted studios in Owego, Binghamton, Elmira, Waverly and Endicott. He had among his pupils practical theatre violinists, doctors, legislators, business men and concert masters of various high school orchestras. Hon. Edmund B. Jenks of Whitney Point, member of assembly from Brooms county many years was a pupil of Mr. Pultz.

His Prized Recommendations
Mr Pultz numbered among his most prized possessions unsolicited recommendations from Mr. Jenks, Gilbert Ross, W. Grant Egbert and many others, who wrote to praise him for his technique and exceptionable ability as a teacher.

For the last three years Mr. Pultz had been instructor of advanced violin pupils at the two junior high schools at Endicott - the Henry B. Endicott and the George Washington schools, as well as instructor in the Endicott senior high school. When he learned of Mr. Pultz's death, Thomas L. Gillespie, director of the music department of the Union-Endicott public school, paid the Owego instructor a fine tribute. Mr. Gillespie said that he had depended upon Mr. Pultz for the last 12 years to give violin instruction to all his private pupils who played in the senior orchestra. He added:

"Mr. Pultz was held in the highest esteem by his co-workers and by his many pupils and friends. Possessed of a most congenial personality he gave generously of his talents and creative ability to his life work."

Mr. Pultz owned a valuable collection of violin bows. The violin that he used and one owned by his wife are of considerable value, both having been made by old masters. He also owned a large collection of machinists' and carpenters' tools, a collection which was started by his father.

An Honorary Fireman
Mr. Pultz was an honorary member of Hiawatha chemical company, No. 4, of the Owego fire department, having joined that organization many years ago. He was also a member of Friendship lodge, No. 153 F. and A. M. having joined this lodge in May, 1920.

Mr. Pultz leaves only his wife, who was formerly Miss Louise Knickerbocker. They were married on Jan. 30, 1912. Previously Mrs. Pultz had been one of his violin pupils. She is also an accomplished violinist and she and her husband frequently appeared in concerts given in Owego and vicinity.

Mr. Pultz will long be remembered in Owego for his many admirable qualities. His most pronounced characteristic was modesty. He had attained a prominent position in his profession, but he never boasted of his success. He loved music and it was his greatest delight to give instruction and encouragement to others. Many a backward pupil was guided to proficiency through kindly and patient instruction. Pupils whose parents could ill afford to pay for their lessons, often received much free instruction from Mr. Pultz.