Brian R. Bate ’62

Brian died Aug. 28, 2016, in the Philippines after a prolonged illness.

Brian came to Princeton from Bay High School in Bay Village, Ohio. At Princeton he played freshman football, but quickly focused on music as an activity. He formed and led the Tiger Cats jazz band and dined at Key. Although he earned high grades as an English major, he withdrew after junior year. Brian graduated from Western Reserve University, now Case Western Reserve University, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He then went on to earn his master’s and Ph.D. degrees there.

He was a teacher at Cuyahoga Community College. As a professional musician, he perfected his trumpet playing and could play a trumpet and valve trombone simultaneously (see our 50th yearbook). Brian lived in the fast lane, enjoying life, perhaps excessively. He loved skiing, skydiving and did more than 20 jumps, had a private counseling practice, and donated more than 17 gallons of blood. His three marriages ended in divorces.

After conquering his demons, he moved to the Philippines in 2004, where he continued to pursue his musical interests. He preferred the musical scene in the Philippines more than in the States. He remembered Princeton professors and classmates in recent letters from afar.

He is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer and Julia. The class extends its condolences to them.