DIANE ELAINE GORZYCKI, 1953-2008
Band director led students to love of music
Teacher at Porter and Bailey middle schools inspired many.
By Emily Glazer
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, October 04, 2008
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Friends and family said Diane Elaine Gorzycki had a consistent theme in her life: impacting and inspiring others.
The longtime middle school band director died Tuesday after a two-year battle with a rare uterine cancer, her family said. She was 54.
Gorzycki's influence as a band director spanned about 30 years, including time at Porter and then Bailey middle schools. She was named administrative supervisor of fine arts for the Austin school district in 2006 before retiring in 2007.
Many who knew her described how Gorzycki's 4-foot-9-inch frame was overshadowed by her big heart, smile and, now, her legacy.
"Anyone who mistook her diminutive size for her lack of ability was to their peril because to all of us who knew her, she was 10 feet tall," said Paula Crider, director emeritus of the University of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band who once worked with Gorzycki.
Bands under Gorzycki's direction received numerous honors and invitations to perform at music conferences nationwide.
A number of her former students have also continued to pursue music past middle school, including Buck Palmer, a sophomore music education major at Texas Christian University.
Palmer said he's now learning how teachers can influence their students, adding that Gorzycki helped him dig deep and realize how much he loved music.
"I can definitely say a lot of what she did and taught me inspired me to make music a part of my life," he said.
The parents of Gorzycki's students saw firsthand the impact she had on their children, said Debby Paiga, a close friend whose sons had learned from Gorzycki.
"The kids came home and would turn on all different genres of music," Paiga said. "She didn't just teach; she gave them an appreciation and a love for playing."
Gorzycki's colleagues sing the same praises.
She led a band of 90 to 120 middle school students with great focus, which enabled them to work on music that many high school bands would struggle with, Crider said.
Crider and former colleague Bill Haehnel said Gorzycki really found her niche in teaching middle school students.
"If you can find your niche in education, and do it well, that's really rare, and I think Diane found her place," Crider said.
After retiring, Gorzycki continued to conduct bands and lecture throughout Texas and the United States, said her sister, Linda Gorzycki.
Gorzycki held a number of prominent positions, including past president and member of the board of directors of the University of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band.
She is survived by her son, Scott Harbour, and sister Linda Gorzycki, both of Austin; and sister Donna Livingston of Edmond, Okla.
If you would like to contribute to the new Diane Gorzycki Memorial Scholarship,
you may contribute via credit card here.
or send a check in any amount, made out to "Longhorn Alumni Band Charitable Fund" to the following address:
Board of Trustees
Longhorn Alumni Band Charitable Fund
P.O. Box 1451
Austin, TX 78767-1451
Be sure to note that your gift is for the Diane Gorzycki Scholarship.
or send a check in any amount, made out to "Longhorn Alumni Band Charitable Fund" to the following address:
Board of Trustees
Longhorn Alumni Band Charitable Fund
P.O. Box 1451
Austin, TX 78767-1451
Be sure to note that your gift is for the Diane Gorzycki Scholarship.