Richard Cass

Richard Brannan Cass, beloved husband, father, artist and teacher, peacefully passed away Saturday,
November 28, 2009 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. He was surrounded by
his family. Richard was born May 3, 1931 to Paul Edmund Cass and Esther Brannan Cass in Greenville,
South Carolina. His lifelong love affair with music began at an early age, encouraged by his mother who
was a conservatory trained singer.
He graduated from Furman University summa cum laude where he majored in piano performance and
French under the tutelage of pianist and teacher Wendell Keeney. As a Fulbright Scholar, he went on to
study in Paris at the Ecole Normale de Musique with world-renowned artists Nadia Boulanger, Alfred
Cortot, and Jules Gentil. Following his Paris debut, Cass began a performing and recording career with
Columbia Artists Management in New York City. Cass has performed in the major cities of all fifty states
as well as Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. In March, 1967 Richard married the love of
his life Sanna Bryan of Greenville, South Carolina. Soon after, he accepted a professorship at the University
of North Texas in Denton. In 1975 Cass became Professor of Piano at the Kansas City Conservatory,
University of Missouri where he was named 'Curator's Professor,' the highest honor awarded by the
university. In addition to his busy teaching career, Cass continued to perform widely throughout the United
States and abroad. After retiring from UMKC he continued his performing career with recitals, concertos
with orchestra, recordings, chamber music, and residencies at prominent universities and conservatories. He
is featured in Ben Saver's book The Most Wanted Piano Teachers in the USA and is the recipient of many
awards and citations. For 25 years Mr. Cass has enjoyed performing collaboratively with his good friend
and duo partner Tiberius Klausner, violinist. For the last several years, Richard has returned to his alma
mater as visiting "Distinguished Professor of Music."
Richard had a passion for life which he shared with all those around him. An engaging conversationalist, he
had a natural curiosity and a passion for science, philosophy, religion and politics. He loved gardening,
cooking, the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. He felt most at home on the beaches of
South Carolina or amidst the quiet beauty of Paris Mountain in Greenville where he and his family have
returned frequently.
Richard Cass is preceded in death by his brother, Edmund H. Casso He is survived by his wife of 43 years,
Susan (Sanna) Cass and their four children; Catherine Kraai and her husband Robert of Overland Park,
Brannan Cass and his wife Tracy of Littleton, CO., Elizabeth Cass and her husband Timothy Brown of
Austin, TX, Carolina Anne Cass also of Austin, TX , grandchildren Katie, Kitty, Gerry, Erin, Fiona,
Emma, Sawyer and Hudson, sister-in-law Frances Lowe Cass and sister-in-law Sarah Bryan and her
husband Linn Klitzkie.
Richard Cass is greatly loved and will be sorely missed by his family, friends and students. His legacy of
love for life, family and music will live on.
Open visitation will be from 8am-5pm and family will receive guests from 6-8pm Thursday, December 3 at D.W.
Newcomers, 8201 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park. The funeral will be held 1lam Friday, December 4 at St.
Michaels & All Angels Episcopal church, 6630 Nall Ave., Mission, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family
requests that donations be made to the Richard Cass Scholarship Fund at the UMKC Conservatory.
Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.dwnewcomers.com.
Arr: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66204. (913) 648-6224

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