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The City College of San Francisco Music Department regrets to announce the death, on June 26th, 2010, of senior faculty member Frank Townsell. Services were held on July 3rd in Kansas City, Missouri for family and friends so that his 97 year old mother could attend. Mr. Townsell taught piano classes at City College every year including summers starting in 1981. The College was very fortunate to have had such an outstanding teacher as well as fine pianist on our staff for almost 30 years.

Frank's most recent research project into the music of nineteenth-century African-American pianist and composer John "Blind" Boone won him a major grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Frank's recording of some of Boone's works for piano resulted in a CD produced by Laurel Records. Frank's last major performances were of the Boone works during music festivals in London ten years ago. A slow but increasing loss of eyesight during the last decade kept him more focused on his large and very productive piano classes at City College, where with the help of accommodations and student assistants, he was able to continue his successful teaching activities. His students always gave him high praise, especially for what seemed to be his unlimited kindness, patience and caring. Despite many physical barriers, he never stopped giving his gift of music to the world.

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