The University Libraries mourn the passing of two of our esteemed donors.

William Shannon Stoney passed away on December 28, 2014. He was a composer, Hampton University professor, and founding member and first president of the Tidewater Composers' Guild. Among the papers Mr. Stoney donated to ODU Libraries are working sketches, sketchbooks and original compositions in various points of the publishing process (see finding aid). An obituary can be found on Dailypress.com.

Russell Stanger, former Maestro for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, passed away on January 6, 2015 in Norfolk, Virginia. He had a long, illustrious career conducting many leading orchestras and working with some of the great musicians, and he was also a composer. Stanger donated photographs, recordings, music notations, original scores and other memorabilia to the ODU Libraries (see finding aid). A memorial service will be held Jan. 31 at ODU's Chandler Recital Hall in the F. Ludwig Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center. An obituary article can be found on Pilotonline.com.