Contributed Photo Marge Steinberg stands by the baby grand piano that she helped donate to Bowler School.
When a moving truck from Madison pulled into Bowler School in early March, the sound of the school’s music program would be forever changed.
Bowler Superintendent Faith Gagnon was all smiles as a baby grand piano was wheeled into the school’s elementary music room.
“This is quite a day for Bowler,” she said. “This is such wonderful news and an honor that this family has decided to provide our school with such a precious gift from their family.”
The piano was donated by Vernon Reed, husband of the late RuthAnn (Steinberg) Reed, who had passed away about three years ago. The couple lived in Madison, where RuthAnn was a piano teacher.
After RuthAnn’s death, her younger sister, Marge, who lives in Iowa, and Vernon had contemplated what to do with the beautiful piano.
The two sisters grew up in the Tilleda area and graduated from Bowler School: RuthAnn in 1955, followed by Marge in 1963.
RuthAnn’s fondness for the school led Marge and Vernon to the conclusion there would be no better place for this piece of musical history to be housed than at her former school. Both Marge and Vernon wanted to see it go to someone or someplace where it would be played – and enjoyed, “not just a corner conversation piece,” Marge said.
In addition, Marge said, RuthAnn consistently tried to stay in touch with her Bowler classmates, giving even more credence to the decision of donating it to the school.
“I’m really glad to donate it,” said Marge, who made the trip to Bowler from Iowa. She took a plane to Stevens Point before driving the final hour to Bowler.
“I appreciate the enthusiasm with which it is received,” Marge said. “I wish it to be played and enjoyed and for people to have fun with it.
“My sister spent a lot of time giving piano lessons to small children. To have it located in the elementary music room just makes perfect sense. I couldn’t be happier. This was just an added touch that she would have been pleased with.”
School officials will place a plaque at the school recognizing and honoring RuthAnn for her special donation.