Paul Kurtz' Kanstul interview on YouTube:
Paul Kurtz Obituary :https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/jacksonville-fl/paul-kurtz-11977414
Paul's Bio:
“One of Us
From the first note, Paul Kurtz loved the sound of a trumpet”
Charlie Patton, (904) 359-4413, Staff Writer, Florida Times-Union
“Paul Kurtz had been playing the piano for about three years when he heard the fight song being played at a Florida Gators football game.
"What instrument is that?" he remembers thinking. "I want to play it." Thus began a lifelong commitment to the trumpet and the world of music.
Paul is blind, so to read music he has to play the trumpet one handed, which is challenging, especially when the music calls for him to use a mute on his trumpet.
Most recently, he played in two bands, the Jacksonville Community Band and the Recycles Community Band.
When he performed with the bands, he usually relied on his memory.
"I memorize fairly quickly," he said. "I've had to all my life."
Born premature, Kurtz was placed in an incubator. Exposure to high levels of oxygen damaged his retinas. He had some light perception until he was about 11 years old, but he has functioned as a blind person his entire life.
After earning a bachelor's degree in psychology from Florida Southern College, where he also played in the band, Kurtz went to Florida State University, earning a master's degree in counseling while also taking music courses.
Back in Jacksonville, Kurtz spent about a decade counseling disabled students at what is now Florida State College, Jacksonville. Meanwhile he earned an associate's degree from FSCJ in computer science. "I could see computers were going to be the future for blind people and really for everybody," he said.
The married father of two children then spent about two decades as a computer programmer, systems analyst and systems manager at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. The final two years of his career were back at FSCJ, teaching computer skills to blind students. Paul retired in 2008.
“Finding sheet music in Braille is difficult”, Kurtz said. His own collection, gathered over the years, was compiled by getting sighted musicians to read the music to him while he recorded the notes on his Braille typewriter. He also spent a lot of money on music text books done in Braille. He had a collection of about 30 at a cost of $300-$600 per copy. "It's expensive being a blind person, by the way," he said.
Paul never let his disabilities interfere with his life and his many accomplishments. He was very well known in the world of trumpet playing, having attended many yearly International Trumpet Guild conferences as well as many other gatherings for trumpet players around the US where he established friendships with the some of the most prominent professional trumpet players.
Over the years, Paul had taken many music courses and was fairly close to a bachelor's degree in music education from Jacksonville, U. Because of the cost of the tuition, he wasn’t sure if he would ever finish that degree.
Paul remained quite busy during his retirement. He performed regularly and rehearsed weekly, except in the summer, in in The Jacksonville Community Band, which will resume regular rehearsals on Tuesday, September 17, 7:30-9pm at Terry Parker Baptist Church, 7024 Merrill Road, Jacksonville and in The Recycles Community Band – Jacksonville Area Community Band,(recyclesband.org), which rehearses each Monday from 10am-noon at Riverside Avenue Christian Church, 2841 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville. Both bands are always on the lookout for new members. He also played weekly at his church, Christian Family Fellowship Church, on Old Middleburg Road in Jacksonville.
Serving as the principal trumpeter of the Jacksonville Community Band for many years, Paul's skill as a trumpeter, leadership of its trumpet section and his vast musical knowledge helped motivate the band to survive a number of challenges, including the Covid-19 epidemic.
Paul’s legacy, "It's a lot of work for the members of these community music groups, rehearsing, traveling, and playing. It's an investment of time and money. But it's worth it to provide people with that enjoyment and hope."
Paul devoted his life to his family, his community and our country. He will always be a part of our memories.