Remembering Bernie Dobroski
The College of Fine Arts community mourns the passing of Bernard “Bernie” Dobroski, a highly accomplished Carnegie Mellon School of Music alumnus and generous donor to the schools of music and art. He passed on Feb. 19 at age 76. He and his wife, Sally, a CMU School of Art alumna, recently were profiled in the College of Fine Arts magazine.
He and Sally were committed to helping ensure that art and music students at Carnegie Mellon received support by creating a permanent, endowed scholarship to benefit current students. They also established legacy gifts to ensure future generations of students can benefit from similar experiences. Their legacy gifts will provide access to the extras, including community involvement and travel that our students may not be able to afford without this support.
“The Dobroskis cared deeply about students’ access to a Carnegie Mellon education. Bernie was a wonderful human being and a true friend to the College of Fine Arts. He will be missed.”
Mary Ellen Poole
Dean, College of Fine Arts
Dobroski was a professor emeritus and former dean of the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, where he earned his doctorate in 1981.
He served the Bienen School of Music in various capacities from 1974–2020. His term as dean, from 1990 to 2003, featured an emphasis on faculty and student recruitment, expansion of course offerings for non-music majors and community engagement programs, according to Northwestern’s recent tribute to Dobroski.
After earning his bachelor’s in fine arts in music performance from Carnegie Mellon, Dobroski went on to earn a master’s in music performance and music history from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. From 1968 to 1972, he performed as a tubist and keyboardist with the U.S. Navy Band, as a soloist with the U.S. Navy Concert Band, as a conductor and performer with the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Band, and as a leader of the U.S. Navy Brass Quintet. He was an instructor and director of the Preparatory Wind Ensemble of the Washington Youth Orchestra from 1969 to 1972.
In addition to his wife, Sally, whom he met and married while at CMU, Dobroski is survived by his children, Andrea and Paul.
