<html> <head> <style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma } </style> </head> <body class='hmmessage'><blockquote><div> </div> <div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> <div>New York City Piano Technicians Guild, Chapter 101 suffered a heavy and sad loss with the unexpected and sudden passing of long time member Kalman Detrich on June 8, 2008.  Kalman was an icon and national treasure of the piano business community, not only an important and active member of our chapter but a man whom our members and the community admired and respected.</div> <div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> <div> Elegant, affable, sophisticated and gracious, Kalman was a man of prodigious talents.  He loved teaching and bringing knowledge to students of piano technology. Dedicated to the preservation and knowledge of American piano making history, he founded the Museum of the American Piano. Kalman's piano store, rebuilding service, and museum was a fixture on piano row for many years in the heart of midtown Manhattan.  Known for his eclectic collection of rare and unusual pianos, he would go into great detail explaining their history and design.  His employees were all loyal to him and he acquired staff that had worked for other dealers and manufacturers who stayed with him for years until his eventual retirement.  These observations demonstrate the kind of man Kalman Detrich was. Kalman was a musician, yoga practitioner, educator, art collector, and purveyor for antique and early American pianos who dedicated most of his  teaching the craft of piano technology and preserving the history of pianos with his Museum of the American Piano.  His museum would later move to a downtown location, however , after the World Trade Center tragedy on 9/11, Kalman was forced to move.  He closed the museum and continued his school for piano technology, offering high level training to technicians and refinishers.  One of my assistants I had the privilege of working with and training attended Kalman's school and came into the company with a high level of understanding and skill. Kalman was my friend and mentor since my arrival to New York City in 1982.   I have always admired and respected his philosophy in life, business, human relations, work ethic, and pianos.  He was an avid pilot and traveled with his wife all over the world, constantly deciding what unknown corner of the world he would go to next.  You could find him observing a tennis match in Forest Hills or a car race at the track in Pennsylvania. Kalman was a true Renaissance man. He will be missed, but will be remembered and cherished in the memories of all who knew him.  In addition to his wife, Letty, he is survived by his children, Dora Detrich, and Tamas Detrich, both of Stuttgart, Germany; a brother Ernie Detrich of Budapest, Hungary; a sister, Kaiti Tako of Arizona, and two grandchildren Sandor and Roman Detrich.   Please visit <a title="http://www.kalmandetrich.com/" href="http://www.KalmanDetrich.com" target="_blank">WWW.KalmanDetrich.com</a> for more information.   Arlan Harris, RPT President-Chapter 101-NYC Forwarded by: Gerry Cousins,RPT cousins_gerry@msn.com </div></div></div> </blockquote></body> </html>