John N. Huwiler

John N. Huwiler died peacefully on Friday, May 2, 2014 after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his loving family.

A long time summer resident of Lake Placid, John met his wife Janet in Lake Placid during the summer of 1951.

The Huwilers married in 1954 and spent the following 52 summers together in Lake Placid, where John was a violinist in the Lake Placid Sinfonietta and a trombonist in the Paul Jouard Dance Band. He was also a trustee of the Northwood School.

John was a graduate of Yale University (BA) and Columbia University (MA). In 1945, as an 18-year-old, John took a leave from Yale and enlisted in the Navy where he became a member of the Navy Band. He earned the American Theatre Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal and the Victory Medal. Upon his discharge from the Navy, John returned to Yale and graduated in 1949.

After receiving his master’s degree from Columbia, John taught music at The Putney School in Putney, Vt. In 1954, John joined the New Canaan Country School faculty and began a 38-year career as its principal music teacher and head of the music department. While in New Canaan, John was a member of the Norwalk Symphony, the Greenwich Philharmonic, and the Stamford Symphony,where he was concertmaster. He was also conductor of the Norwalk Youth Symphony for many years. After retiring from the New Canaan Country School in 1992 and moving to Florida, John joined the Sarasota Orchestra and the Venice Symphony where he performed until February 2014.

John is remembered by friends and family as a true gentleman; gracious, compassionate, distinguished and generous with his time and musical talents. For many years, he donated his services to St Agnes Church in Lake Placid playing his violin during summer services. John touched many young lives as a music teacher and conductor introducing his students to classical music and inspiring many to pursue the development of their own musical talent.

John is survived by his three children: Macie, a resident of Lake Placid, Tina Huwiler McCary, a resident of West Hartford, Conn. and John, a resident of Glen Head and Lake Placid; his son-in-law David McCary; daughter-in-law Lila Kirkland Huwiler; and his five grandchildren: Robert, Lindsay and Charlotte McCary and Somes and Hayes Huwiler; his brother Paul Huwiler of St Louis, Missouri.

John was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Janet Elliott, in 2006.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to The Sinfonietta Second Century Endowment Fund, C/O The Adirondack Foundation, P.O. Box 288, Lake Placid, NY 12946.