July 13, 1937 - December 11, 2017
David S. Rostkoski was born in Elyria, Ohio on July 13, 1937, he passed away December 11, 2017. Dr. Rostkoski received three degrees in piano performance (Oberlin, Northwestern University and University of Washington) and was very active in the Spokane area as a performer and music educator. He was an active lecturer and performer for Music Teachers National Association and the Piano Technicians Guild and served as Washington State Music Teachers Association President. Rostkoski was a longtime piano professor at Eastern Washington University, (1970-2001) and was a Distinguished Faculty Exchange Scholar through EWU and Nishinomiga, Japan. He was a Registered Piano Technician and in 2010 celebrated fifty years as a piano technician, maintaining a shop for restoring and rebuilding quality pianos. David's life as a performer included solo and duo (with his former wife Diane Anderson Wenke) works throughout the northwest and beyond. He was invited to perform at Chopin's birth place in Poland and played a program on Polish National Radio in 1980. Rostkoski served as a consultant and adjudicator throughout his teaching career to students and other teachers alike. He also served as a church organist for 25 years at various churches in Ohio, Illinois and Washington states. David was a gourmet chef and loved cooking, photography, reading, and listening to his extensive record/CD collection. He is survived by three children, Stephen (Kathy), Timothy Rostkoski and Paula Phoenix, as well as 4 granddaughters and 8 great grandchildren. Memorial gifts can be given to Hospice of Spokane. A memorial concert is being planned.
