Final Cadence

Francine Marie Kaval '79 of Washington, D.C., died of cancer on January 27, 2007, at a nursing home in La Plata, MD. She was 53. Kaval was born in Dayton, OH, and grew up in England and Camp Springs, MD. She studied piano at Berklee. For the past 20 years, she worked as a paralegal at the law firm Jones Day in Washington, D.C. In addition to her son Benjamin, she leaves her mother, Frances; brother William; and sister Lucille Mamazza.

Leonardo Calandra '82 of Salem, MA, died September 8 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 45. He leaves his brother Robert and sister Lisa Creeson.

Dr. Richard Bobbitt of Dedham, MA, the former dean of Berklee College of Music, died after a brief illness on November 7. He was 83. Bobbitt earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Davidson College in North Carolina and later served as a heavy-mortar gunner and entertainment specialist in the U.S. Army. A pianist, Bobbitt played with a 15-piece orchestra for the troops in France, Belgium, and Germany.

In the early days of the college, Bobbitt was the third faculty member hired by Lawrence Berk. Bobbitt then left Berklee to earn his Ed.D. and serve as the dean of Boston Conservatory of Music before returning to Berklee as dean in 1963. Bobbitt was a leader in shaping the Music Education Department and in introducing the General Education Department to the curriculum. He leaves his wife, Natalie and sons and daughters Bruce, Susanne, Virginia, and Andrew.

Word has just reached us that Peter DiCarlo '69 of Stoneham, MA, passed away in 1995. He was 72 at the time of his passing. DiCarlo was a disabled veteran of World War II who operated Stoneham Music Center for many years, taught music in the Ipswich elementary school system and played with the Count Basie, Les Elgart, Sammy Kaye, and Tony Bruno big bands.