Remembering a Beloved El Paso Musician and Teacher, Gordon Pugh

Gordon Pugh was my music and guitar teacher. He passed away after a 2-year battle with pancreatic cancer on January 20th. Most of his old students are just finding out and are expressing their feelings and sharing memories on social media.

I didn't find out until my friend told me to look at the obituaries in the Sunday paper. A few hours later, I saw my old classmates sharing memories of Mr. Pugh.

I was in his guitar class and I wish i could apologize for being a difficult student but I wasn't the only one. I admired Mr.Pugh for dealing with students everyday. It takes a special person to be a teacher in my opinion.

He taught me the basics to guitar. I remember I was so mad because he gave me my first C  in a class because I wouldn't cut my nails to play and wasn't the best on guitar. He still never gave up on me or got upset with me. He was just one of the nicest teachers I ever had. I wasn't as close to him as my other friends but we all are deeply sadden for losing someone we grew up with.

He not only shared his music with students. He shared his talent of the oboe with the Juarez Symphony and Opera, the El Paso Symphony, the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, the Southwest Symphony Orchestra and was an original member of the El Paso Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, the El Paso Wind Symphony, the Desertwind Woodwind Quintet and was a founding member of the Chamber Music Consortium of the Southwest.

My condolences go out to Mr.Pugh's family. His memorial service will be February 2, 2013 at 1:00 PM at Coronado Baptist Church. Instead of flowers his family would appreciate donations to the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation.

You will be missed.