Obituary: Gaile Zack, Cofounder of Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, 88

A December 9 obituary on AndrewsMortuary.com (Wilmington, North Carolina) states, “Gaile Reynolds Zack, age 88, passed away on December 3, 2024. She joins her husband of 65 years, Dr. Peter Zack, who passed in March 2023. She died peacefully with her family at her side. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma … She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelors in Zoology. Gaile and Pete [met] in the Department of Music at Arkansas where Gaile was [studying] the violin. Pete and Gaile [moved to] Wilmington, NC in 1969. Gaile’s main goal after settling into her new community was to continue with her passion to play violin, but Wilmington did not have an orchestra. With her friend Virginia Kusler, who also had the same interest, she embarked on what became a lifelong passion. Gaile and Virginia labored … to establish the interest and support needed to build a successful orchestra. With the support of Dr. Richard Deas, then Chair of UNCW’s Music Department, William Adcock, music professor and conductor, and thirty-three volunteer musicians, the UNCW-Community Orchestra was established … in November 1971. This grew into what is now known as the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. Gaile …  was first chair second violin until 2016. She served multiple roles on the symphony board from the beginning through 2024…. She requested remembrances to the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra.”