Remembering Former SPCO Board Members Bob Lee & Fred Sewell
Bob Lee (1956–2024) joined the SPCO Board in 2006 and served continuously for 18 years. Despite a heavy work schedule, he made time to be a very valuable member of several Board Committees including Governance, Finance and Development, which he chaired for a number of years. Prior to joining the Board, Bob and his wife Mary were early leaders in the Governing Members, ultimately Co-Chairing the group in the mid-2000s. Their leadership contributed significantly to the development of the Governing Members program. Bob was an active fundraiser for both the SPCO and the Arts Partnership. He recently agreed to Chair the Governance Review Task Force and was working this week to prepare for a first meeting of the group.
Bob loved music and was completely devoted to the SPCO. We will greatly miss his incisive mind, warmth and hearty laugh.
— Jon Limbacher, Managing Director and President
Fred Sewell (1932–2024) served with distinction on our Board from 1998 to 2019. During this consequential time in the SPCO’s history, Fred was a highly engaged and very impactful Board Member. He served on many committees during his years of service, including the Marketing, Artistic Initiatives and Governance Committees. Additionally, he was a wise and important adviser during the early 2000s when the SPCO made the decision to move from music director model to a musician-led model.
Fred was a former professional musician and possessed a deep understanding of music, and a keen appreciation for the talent and commitment required to be a member of the SPCO. He and his wife Gloria were fixtures at concerts, and they were loyal and generous donors over many decades. We are so grateful for Fred’s remarkable service to the SPCO and extend our heartfelt condolences to Gloria and the Sewell family.
— Jon Limbacher, Managing Director and President