The "Remembrances of a Piano Teacher" Story

Ethyl Reidenbaugh

It was an ordinary day. Talking with my wife, Carol, about the death of a good friend and co-worker, Ethyl Reidenbaugh.  Ethyl worked at the Hamilton Watch Company for 14 years and then became a secretary in the Manheim Township School District for many years along with her sister Nancy.  She worked for years in the high school where I taught and then for the Superintendent in the District Office.  I printed most of the in-house supply needs so I got to know her in that capacity as well.  She was an extremely loyal and efficient worker and was respected by those who worked with and knew her.  Ethyl and I both graduated from Manheim Township High School and then returned to our Alma mater as employees.  But, my family got to know Ethyl in a very different way.  My daughter decided that she wanted to play the piano when she was in fifth grade and I asked Ethyl if she could instruct Brynn on the piano.  I knew that she gave lessons, but wasn't sure if she gave lessons to children.  Wasn't long before our daughter was playing "Clair de Lune," or at least it sounded like that song.  But, Brynn was not meant to be a pianist and we decided to stop the lessons after almost 2 years.  Since we still had the old upright piano in the living room, Carol decided that Ethyl was going to teach her how to play the piano.  And play it she did!  Enjoyed many evenings listening to Carol play on the piano as our dog Arnold howled along.  Carol actually recorded a tape with songs to give to our son Derek as a Christmas gift.  On one of the songs you could hear the mailman open the slot on our front door, throw the mail in the door, and a barking Arnold bounding down the stairs to try to grab the mail before it hit the floor.  Not sure what ever happened to that tape, but after three years, Carol found that raising three children didn't allow her to spend an hour or two at the piano every day.  We have many fond memories of Ethyl and her family.  One of the elementary schools in the school district was name Reidenbaugh Elementary in honor of the Reidenbaugh family.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.