David Alan Pituch

David Alan Pituch, 72, of Evanston passed away in the early morning of Tuesday, June 23rd, of health complications after a long battle with the bone marrow disorder MDS and leukemia.

A celebrated saxophonist, author, and devoted educator, he studied music at the Baldwin and Wallace College Conservatory, the University of Colorado Boulder, and Northwestern University.

After serving in the NORAD U.S. Army band, he earned his master’s degree at CU Boulder and went on to win a Fulbright grant to research Polish music at the Chopin Academy in Warsaw, Poland. There, he established the academy’s first program in classical saxophone studies and wrote a comprehensive book on the history of the saxophone, while playing concerts across Europe and in the United States.

He played as a soloist with the Boston Pops, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Danish Radio Orchestra, and the Warsaw Philharmonic, among others. He also recorded two solo albums on the PWM and ProViva labels and was a contributor to many other recordings. His playing inspired avant-garde composers to write and dedicate numerous pieces to him. After moving back to the United States and earning his doctorate from Northwestern University, he taught at Northwestern, DePaul University and Columbia College of Missouri, both online and in-person.

A loving and devoted husband, David met his wife Elzbieta in Warsaw. They married in 1981 and had two sons, Mark and Justin. David was a particularly dedicated father, avid cook, and opera aficionado. He loved spending time outdoors kayaking, hiking, cycling, or simply going for a nice drive.

David is preceded in death by his brothers Chuck and Danny as well as his sister Annette. He is survived by his wife, sons, brother, Tom, sisters Caroline and Marcia, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

There will be a memorial celebration for David via Zoom on Sunday, June 28th at 3 PM Central Time. Please submit stories and pictures to DavidPituchMemorial@gmail.com. Donations can be made in David’s name to the MDS Foundation at https://www.mds-foundation.org/donate/.