ROBERT'S OBITUARY

Robert “Bob” William Saari, 76, of Lebanon, passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side on Friday, December 8, 2023 at his residence. He was born on April 15, 1947 to Eino “Phant” and Irene (nee: Perry) Saari in Painesville, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James Saari. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Susan “Sue” (nee: Jenkins) Saari. Bob was a talented and compassionate person, generous with others. A wonderful husband to Sue, they were best friends. He received his education in music business and composition from the University of Miami, Florida. He completed his Masters of Music in Composition from The Ohio State University, where he met Sue as a graduate music student. Bob was a brilliant composer of art songs and sacred music for voice, choir, organ, brass, and piano. The highlight of his career was the night that Denyce Graves premiered “When the Forsythia Bloom,” a song cycle he set to poems by Sue at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. As he was recognized on the stage that evening, Bob was delighted, yet humble. Bob was equally gifted in the music business while working for Wurlitzer, Baldwin, Young Chang, and Pearl River. He was loved and admired by both his colleagues and customers. Bob was a kind and sensitive man with a wry sense of humor. His professional decorum combined with his warm and charming personality brought success to his career in Sales Management, and his business success provided him the ability to pursue his passion of musical composition. The Music World is a better place because it has been enriched by the music of Bob Saari. Beautiful music will live on well into the future. A celebratory recital of Bob’s music is planned for early this spring. Visitation is Monday, December 11, 2023 from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM with a funeral immediately following, all at the Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home, Lebanon, Ohio. Interment will follow in Lebanon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741, to The Ohio State University Department of Music, or to the Gentiva Hospice Foundation (ProMedica Hospice, soon to be Heartland).