Paul R. Goldstaub, 66, of Vestal, died on Friday, January 31, 2014. He was born in Newark, New Jersey on July 8, 1947 to Bernard R. and Sylvia Goldstaub. He was predeceased by his father, his brother Mark N. Goldstaub, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lucille C. and Robert P. Kelly and brother-in-law, Robert P. Kelly, Jr. He is survived by his mother, Sylvia (Vestal), wife Peg Kelly, sisters-in-law Patricia E. Kelly (Plantsville, CT), Deborah A. Kelly (Petaluma, CA), Carol J. Kelly Wessels and brother-in-law Glenn J. Wessels (North Webster, IN and Naples FL) and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by his godchild Charleigh Huxtable and her brother Richard Huxtable. Music was Paul’s life. Composer, pianist, conductor, theorist and educator, he was Professor Emeritus of music composition and theory at Binghamton University. Prior to coming to Binghamton in 1998, he held teaching positions at the Ithaca College School of Music, the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati, Mankato (Minnesota) State University and Eastern Michigan University. He presented lectures, papers and workshops at the Chautauqua Institution, Oberlin Conservatory and Syracuse University, among many others, as well as at national meetings of professional music societies and organizations. His compositions have received multiple performances in such diverse venues as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, off-off Broadway, the Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Opera, Cincinnati Opera and the Society for New Music, as well as in Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia and Japan. Paul was the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Meet the Composer, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). He earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Ithaca College School of Music and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York. His work for chamber orchestra, I Am Prospero, was performed by the Binghamton Philharmonic in 2013 and his final composition, Mallet Palette, for marimba and piano duo will be published by Keyboard Percussion Publications/Marimba Publications, Inc. in 2014. A genuine, kind and thoughtful man with an infectious smile, he shared his unbridled joy of music and life with everyone he met.
The family will receive friends at Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott, NY on Wednesday, February 5 from 4-7 pm. Burial will take place in Chautauqua Cemetery, Chautauqua, New York at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Paul’s memory may be made to The Chautauqua Institution (www.chautauquafoundation.org) or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (www.mskcc.org/giving).