Leo Nicholas Panasevich 85
Violinist In Boston Symphony for 46 Years
Leo Panasevich, a first violinist and member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 46 years, died Saturday, May 5, 2007 at the North Hill Skilled Nursing Facility in Needham. He was 85.
Leo Nicholas Panasevich was born November 2, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Russian immigrants, Nicholas and Katherine Panasevich. He was raised in Cranford, New Jersey. A natural talent, his parents worked multiple jobs to pay for his music lessons. Mr. Panasevich began studying violin formally at the age of four, playing on a quarter size violin made by his father. By the time he was nine years old, he was studying with the well known Louis Persinger. He would spend long hours traveling back and forth to New York City to study and would practice hours and hours a day while his father walked back and forth in the driveway, listening to every note. Mr. Panasevich always credited his devoted parents for instilling in him a love of music and hard work.
After winning a fellowship, Mr. Panasevich continued his studies at the Julliard Graduate School of Music. He also studied with world renowned violinist and composer George Enesco at the Institute Instrumental in Paris.
After serving in the army during World War II, Mr. Panasevich became Assistant Concertmaster of the National Symphony in Washington, D.C. He was Concertmaster of the Brevard Music Festival, the Southern Symphony, and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Mr. Panasevich joined the Boston Symphony in 1951 and spent the next forty-six years playing violin in Boston and at Tanglewood, a place he felt was one of the most beautiful on earth. He also taught violin at Boston University, Boston Conservatory and gave extensive private lessons. He especially enjoyed playing the smaller Haydn and Mozart Symphonies and was a founding member of the Cambridge String Quartet.
Mr. Panasevich was an avid golfer. He would spend hours on the golf course and was always challenged to find out how many rounds of golf he could fit in between rehearsals. He loved fishing and animals and was thrilled when he saw a bear standing on its hind legs as he turned the corner on the way home to his summer house. Handsome, charming, with a great sense of humor, he was known for his love of parties and social gatherings.
Mr. Panasevich leaves his devoted wife, the Reverend Eleanor Jones Panasevich of Weston; his daughter Karen Panasevich-Cummins and her husband Robert C. Cummins of Still River; his son, Nicholas Timothy Panasevich of New York City; grandsons Mark Panasevich of Worcester and Alexander Panasevich of Marlborough; and his former wife and lifelong friend, Carolyn Clarke Panasevich of Needham. His son, John Nicholas Panasevich, predeceased him.
A memorial service will be held Monday, May 21, 2007, 4p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 320 Boston Post Road, Weston. A private bural will take place in Stockbridge, near his beloved Tanglewood.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Panasevich’s memory may be made to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Animal Rescue League of Boston.