Dr. Steven Lee Bingham's Obituary
Dr. Steven Lee Bingham, age 70, of Gainesville, FL passed peacefully at his home on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Dr. Bingham was born on October 9, 1953, to Dr. Hal Gene Bingham and Mary Ann (Beal) Bingham in Kansas City, Kansas. He became an Eagle Scout in 1967 in Columbia, MO, where he grew up.
On December 27, 1974, Steve married his high school sweetheart, Trudy Marie Nigus. During their nearly forty-nine years of marriage, they traveled to all fifty of the United States and to fourteen countries.
Steve graduated from Hickman High School in 1971. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education from the University of Missouri in 1975. He completed his Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction at MU in 1979. Steve continued his education with a Master’s in Music Education at Florida State University in 1983. In 2007, Steve earned his Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Florida.
Steve was a high school band director for 21 years. He served at Morgan County R-II Schools, Versailles, MO; Coconut Creek High School, Coconut Creek, FL; Aurora High School, Aurora, MO; Lebanon High School, Lebanon, MO; Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill, NC; Gainesville High School, Gainesville, FL; Waldo Elementary School, Waldo, FL; and Newberry High School, Newberry, FL. Steve directed marching bands, concert bands, and jazz bands, taking several of these bands to festivals, competitions, the Gator Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, and the Orange Bowl.
Steve was a member of many professional organizations, which included Bandmasters Associations in North Carolina, Florida, and Missouri; International Association of Jazz Educators; Missouri and Florida Music Educators Associations; and the International Society of Music Education.
While earning his Ph.D., Steve was a teaching assistant at the University of Florida. After Steve earned his Ph.D., he was an adjunct professor and later full time Director of Bands at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL. One of the highlights of his time there was performing with his Big Band at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2017, he was honored at the Thomas Center in Gainesville, FL, with the Musician of the Year award from his peers and the Foundation for the Promotion of Music in Gainesville.
Dr. Bingham was preceded in death by his mother, father, and brother John Eric Bingham. Along with wife ‘Trudles’, survivors include sisters: Catherine Jo Bingham Borde, Lynn Ann Bingham-Cox (Emory), and Mary Shaun Bingham-Dindial (Hans); brothers-in-law: Rick Nigus (Sheri) and Bill Nigus (DeAnne); nieces and nephews: Ceri Gore (Paul), Rachael Borde, Marissa Hicks (Tony), Jace Christian, Martin Cox (Jessie), Austin Cox, Nathan Bingham, Jacob Salyer, Chris Nigus (Megan), Brian Nigus (Emily), Keith Nigus (Jena), Jordan Nigus (Samantha), Mandee Pingel (Jason), Kelly Rowen and Holly Smith (Tyler); great-nieces Edie, Peyton, Indie, Kensley, Madelynn, Anistynn and Lakelynn; and great-nephews Mark, Jameson, Corbin, Brecken and Brighton. Steve also leaves behind his best pal, basset hound Ozzie.
Throughout Steve’s life, music was his passion and therapy. In addition to his career in music, he also performed in various bands, playing bass guitar, alto and tenor saxophone, and flute. Some of the bands he was in include: A Third Time Around; Beauhunc; J.T. Heater Company; Marching Mizzou; Mini Mizzou; and several Universities’ sax and wind ensembles and jazz bands. He participated in the Columbia, MO Community Band; Springfield, MO Community Band; Sound Express in Greensboro, NC; Jazz Repertory Orchestra in Chapel Hill, NC; The North Carolina Wind Orchestra at Duke University in Raleigh-Durham, NC; Gainesville Community Band, Gainesville Community Jazz Band, Docs of Dixieland, Gainesville Pops, 6th Street Rhythm and Blues Review, Gainesville Retro Society, Random Kats, Sonlight Youth Choir and Band for 18 years at Trinity United Methodist Church, WSU (Whoever Shows Up), and No Spring Chicken all in Gainesville, FL. When spending time in Mid-Missouri, Steve and his friends from high school would get together and play in their band “In-cog-neet-o”.
Steve will be greatly missed by all his family and a multitude of colleagues and friends. The family extends their deep appreciation to Steve’s many physicians and care providers at UF Health, HCA Florida, and Haven Hospice.
Visitation will be on Friday, January 5, 2024, from 4-6 pm at Williams-Thomas Funeral Home (Westarea). FUNeral Service will be at 11 am on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Avenue, Gainesville, FL. A reception will immediately follow the service at the church. A short graveside service will be held for Steve’s family at Countryside Cemetery at 2:30 pm after the reception. A musical “jam” session entitled “Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Steve Bingham” will be held on the evening of January 6 in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall at Santa Fe College from 5:00-8:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Dr. Steven Lee Bingham Scholarship Fund for Music Education at Santa Fe College. Checks can be written to Santa Fe College Foundation, Inc., 3000 NW 83rd Street, F-207, Gainesville, FL 32606, Memo: Dr. Steven Lee Bingham Music Scholarship, or by calling the College Foundation Office at 352-395-5200. Donations can also be made online at https://app.etapestry.com/cart/SantaFeCollegeFoundation/default/item.php?ref=769.0.495777831.
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