Americole Remo Biasini

Service Information

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm, Thursday, June 21 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Bellingham.

Americole Remo Biasini, an accomplished musician, educator, and inventor, died Sunday, June 3 at the age of 77 after a 17-year battle with Parkinson's Disease. Born June 9, 1934 in Johnstown, NY to Julio and Elisa Biasini, he learned to play mandolin and banjo at a young age from his Uncle Henry. Later he mastered the trumpet (his favorite instrument), directed a high-school swing band called the Stardusters, and became the first member of his family to attend college. Known also as Cole, Harry (after his idol Harry James), Lello, and Lalo by friends and relatives, he graduated with honors from The State University of New York, Postdam with a degree in Music Education in 1956. After teaching for two years at the US Navy School of Music he earned a Masters in School Administration from The State University of New York, Albany.

In 1959 he met his future wife Joan on a Study Abroad music tour through Europe and they married the following year. After several successful teaching assignments around New York State, he became Associate Director of The Manhattanville Music Curriculum Project in Washington, D.C. Federally-funded, the goal of this project was to develop a child-centered music curriculum for U.S. public schools. In 1970, Cole joined the music faculty at Western Washington University where he developed courses in Jazz History, Musicianship, and Electronic Music. His innovation and teaching skills were recognized by WWU in 1978 when he was given the Excellence in Teaching Award.

In 1982 Cole left academia to become a full-time inventor and product design consultant. He obtained several patents, primarily on music-related products, many of which are still sold and marketed throughout the world. In addition, while establishing his career as an inventor and consultant, he became an agent for Mutual of Omaha where he truly enjoyed helping people meet their insurance needs.

When he wasn't teaching, inventing, consulting, conducting, performing, publishing, or mentoring, Cole made time to support his children and grandchildren in their myriad activities. An avid reader and writer, he also made time for bowling, billiards, target and trap shooting, and occasionally gambling (he often won!). Cole and his family were also charter members of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church where he served as choir director for many years.

Preceded in death by his sister Angelina, he is survived by his wife Joan, sister Amelia (Mike Myzal), brothers Lino (Thelma Jane) and Julius, sons David (Brenda) and Michael, daughters Helisa (Keith Omey) and Joanna, grandchildren Parker Omey, Brianna and Riley Cooper, and great-grandson Jayden.

Cole will always be remembered for his can-do attitude, unending sense of humor, big hugs, ever-present smile, perserverence, mandolin and trumpet playing, and finding ways to turn a negative into a positive. We love him and miss him. The family thanks the caring staff of St. Joseph's Hospital and Christian Health Care Center in Lynden where he spent his final days.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm, Thursday, June 21 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Bellingham. In lieu of flowers, please help find a cure for Parkinson's Disease by donating to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at www.michaeljfox.org in memory of Cole Biasini.

Memories

From Kay Porter

The picture of Cole standing on the podium swinging a piece of rubber tubing around in a circle while he has blowing into the tubing and the resulting sound will remain with me forever. Cole was an innovative music instructor who asked us to bring something from our garage to class as non-traditional instruments. Cole took the bucket I brought over to a waste basket, turned it upside down and hit it with a hammer, resulting in thin bell sound and a clump of dirt falling in the waste basket. Cole laughed harder than anyone else. He made music theory fun for all. He had us all compose which we then played as a group. While we had only a few "real" instruments most of our music sounded like medieval durges.

About two years after taking this class from Cole, he came into the pharmacy where I worked. He asked what I was doing now and when I told him I worked in the pharmacy he said "So you combined music and medicine and became a bandaid". I have very fond memories of Cole Biasini and his wonderful sense of humor.

Jun 06, 2012

From christine mellroth

Cole will always be the official hug giver of the human race.....

Jun 06, 2012

From MarianYunghans

HE GAVE US WINGS TO FLY

Cole will always remain an intrigal part of our musical lives at Christ The Servant Lutheran Church. I had the joy and privlege of singing under his direction. A true musican and a demanding choirmaster. On his music stand were these words, " We do not stand alone, we stand together". During his last years while diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he continued to play the trumpet and to market new products to make life easier for musicans. He brought smiles and laughter to all of us and the world. WAY TO GO COLE! You've gave us all Wings to Fly.

Jun 06, 2012

From Mark Kelly

Cole Biasini may be gone, but everywhere you look, there he is...When I play music in other cities, I will point to a STAND-OUT or a VOYAGER music stand and ask the other players if they know who invented that. I was in his theory class at WWU in the late '70's, and he was just coming out with those inventions. Over the years we kept up a friendship and worked together on some projects of his. And when his musical instruments had come to the end of their useful life, he would turn them into lamps and water fountains! What an inspiration, it was a privilege to know him.

Jun 07, 2012

From Dorothy Gonsalves

Cole's daughter, Helisa, was a student in my Spanish class at Sehome High school. When Cole and his wife, Joan attended my "back to school" class, Cole
tooknther time to write to the Principal,, Bob Player, complimenting me for showing them how I conducted my classes. He said "Mrs.. Gonsalves showed us rather than talk about what she did!". I'll always remembr his kindness!

Jun 07, 2012

From Janet Visbeek

Cole was a patient in the office where I worked. He always had an idea or gadget to talk about. On one of his visits, he brought me a bright orange tool grip he produced. He was a very thoughtful person. He will be remembered and missed.

Jun 12, 2012

From Rafael Garcia

Para mí Lello fue un padre de verdad en USA. De él aprendí el cariño incondicional, la paciencia, los buenos pensamientos hacia los demás, el respeto hacia sus hijos y hacia todas las personas, el tomarse todo con humor, el trabajo a la comunidad, el cuidado de las palabras y tantas cosas. Era siempre una luz en el camino de los que se topaban con él. Siempre fue una persona muy especial para mí. Y pasé muy buenos momentos en su compañía. La verdad es que lo llevo muy dentro de mi corazón. Dondequiera que esté seguro que sonríe mirándonos con ternura. Gracias por compartir tu tiempo y tu cariño conmigo mientras viví con vosotros en Bellingham. Nunca te olvidaré.

Jun 13, 2012

From Stan Chronister

When I started as an insurance agent with Mutual of Omaha, watching Cole helped shape how I wanted to conduct my business. His professional manner and dress, attention to detail and heart for customer service were readily apparent. As I got to know him better, I found out he was man of varied interests and abilities and had a great sense of humor. Always enjoyed talking about his family, and I know he was proud of his kids and grandkids.

Jun 16, 2012

From Molly Crocker

The raucous laugh! The open mind! The brilliant intellect, the fatherly way he had of admonishing us to get our homework done, the high expectations, the level of work we accomplished, the musicianship, the fun we had in class, the class notes I still have from the 1970's, the way I teach, the way I will influence MY students - it's the legacy of Cole Biasini. When we get to heaven, Cole will be there, coaxing the musician out of those who thought themselves unmusical, thinking outside the box, thinking outside the known universe.

Jun 22, 2012

From James Husted

I met Americole in the early 70's. I was an art major at what was then Western Washington State Collage. I had always had an interest in exotic music instruments and had been in a couple of bands but music was not my main focus so the music department at WWSC was not a regular haunt of mine. I then found out that there was an electronic music course being taught by Americole. It was one of the few classes in the music department that a non-music major could take. I signed up as soon as I could. Americole was a HUGE influence on me. A great guy to talk to and not aloof or distant at all. We became friends and it wasn't long till I ran through the available standard classes. By then I was managing the electronic music studio and helping in teaching the hardware side of the course. Americole arranged for me to get 400 level credits so that I could stay in the department. It was the single most enjoyable time in my whole academic career. When I graduated I went on to teach electronic music privately and played in many electronic music groups in Seattle. I now a founding member of a small company in Seattle making modular electronic music synthesizers and am a founding member of the Mostly Modular Trade Association - an a electronic music advocacy and trade association with many small companies nation-wide as members. I can easily say that Ameicole's early influence directed me straight for the life and career I currently lead. And I am just one story, I am totally sure there are many other lives touch and changed as mine was. Great men can influence many people in many, many ways. Americole was one of those great men. The world will miss him.

Jun 24, 2012

From Ivan Schwartz

As a 12-year old boy I had an interest in electronic music and wandered into Americole's office one summer to ask him if I could audit the Introduction to Electronic Music class. He knew my father who was also at WWU and said "sure!". From that class I learned a great deal and ended up going to WWU later on and getting an Industrial Technology degree. My entire life I have worked in the professional audio industry which all started with my interest in electronic music. Americole's open mind and interest in students allowed me to start learning about these topics very early on in life. My dad ran into him a year or so ago at a concert and Americole mentioned me and they had a laugh about the precocious kid who came into his office one day and always had a lot of questions to ask. Americole was one of a kind and the world is a better place because of him.

Jun 24, 2012

From Dave Reff

I was a student of Cole Biasini from 1973-74, and again in 1976. I learned of his passing only too late to attend the memorial. We chatted by phone a couple years ago and a promise to drive up there to visit him was never kept.
What a joy to work with this guy! His inventions coupled with a desire to see growth in others provided me with the greatest conducting experience of my lifetime; The WWU Symphonic Band for 2 quarters in '76. I was given the lion's share of the rehearsals and concerts of which I still have recordings. Many of the Wind Ensemble members volunteered as well and it was an outstanding college band!
Taking a class in Electronic music as it was known then was the best ever. He and a guy named Flash were quite a pair. What an inspiration he was in providing the beginnings of my interest and teaching a course of the same name in the Seattle Schools Magnet Arts program the following year.
Thanks Mr. Biasini for your trust, leadership, friendship, and some great laughs!

Dave Reff

Jul 01, 2012

From Joan Biasini

Thanks for your comments, Kay. Sorry for the delayed reply--I'm glad I looked at this obit again because "reply" never registered before! When we lived in Maryland prior to moving to Bellingham, our living room often became a "lab" for Cole and our four children, resulting in lots of "stuff" on the floor. All were happily engaged.

Sincerely,

Joan

Aug 18, 2012

From Robert Coffer

Prior to graduating from Western in 1972, I was lucky enough to have taken a class with this man. He stretched my musical imagination, and I've been eternally grateful for his procurement of the ARP synthesizer, which introduced me to the world of electronic music. I spent many hours experimenting with it, and I recorded everything I did, saved to this day.
Cole was a delightful man, obviously not encumbered by criticism of his peers, and his joy and devilishness were infectious. I have thought about him many times over the years, and was delighted to read about his history.
He truly lifted me, helping me to see that life does not have to be so serious.
Bravo to a man who could, who did, and enjoyed himself along the way.

Robert Coffer,
Euclid, OH

Jul 22, 2021

From chrislenne

chrislenne virdysah

Dec 21, 2021

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