Musician Samuel A. Woodward, age 77, died at his home on July 22 after a long illness. A native Texan, he began his musical studies at age three and was performing professionally as a cellist at sixteen. He graduated from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico in 1965, where he studied with Marta Casals and Adolfo Odnoposoff. In 1965, he joined the New Orleans Philharmonic, then served for two years as principal cellist of the Mobile Symphony. He was a founding member of the University of South Alabama's music faculty. In 1968 he returned to San Juan for a year of intensive coaching with Odnoposoff and legendary cellist Pablo Casals. He performed as an orchestra member with symphony and opera companies throughout the South, then spent twenty years as an executive director for orchestras around the United States. In 2000, he returned to Mobile and opened the Woodward String Studio, passing on his musical knowledge to growing numbers of students of all ages.

Sam is survived by his long- time companion and loving caregiver Darryl Shutt; his brother William Lee Woodward (Ellen) of Aledo, TX; two sisters, Julia Woodward Burka (Reece) of New Orleans and Hazel Woodward of Mobile; a niece, Wilder Mayhall Roberts (Brad) of Mobile; five nephews, and seven grand-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father Orline B. and Sam A. Woodward, his brother Patrick J. Woodward, and his niece Angela Brooks Mayhall.

A Memorial service will be held at St . Catherine of Siena Catholic Church 2605 Springhill AV, Mobile, AL 36607 on Monday, August 6, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Kindly omit flowers. A donation can be made in Sam's honor to The Schumann Music Club of Mobile, AL Scholarship Fund at 408 Fox Ct. Mobile, AL 36608..
Published in the Mobile Register and Baldwin County on Aug. 3, 2018