- May 9, 2025
Longtime Ormond Beach Middle School band director Walter Bailey died on March 21, at 83 years old.
Bailey led the band at the school, formerly known as Ormond Beach Junior High, from 1966 to 1997, and "lived a life full of kindness, humor and dedication, touching the hearts of everyone who knew him," his obituary states. After retiring, he continued playing music in local community ensembles, both locally and in Charleston, South Carolina.
Bailey's impact on music students was "second to none," said Peter Waidelich, assistant chair and director of instrumental music at Daytona State College, and former student of Bailey's.
"He had a positive impact on virtually every student that went through his program," Waidelich said, adding that many went on to become musicians or music educators.
A celebration of life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the OBMS gymnasium, at 151 Domicilio Ave. His family asks that those who wish to honor his memory consider making a donation to the OBMS Band Parents Association at https://tinyurl.com/OBMSBand1.
Bailey was born on Dec. 11, 1941, and is originally of Waycross, Georgia. He moved to Volusia County in the 1960s, and graduated from Stetson University with a bachelor of music education, and later obtained a master’s degree from East Carolina University. He then started his job in 1966 at OBMS, where he would work for the rest of his teaching career.
Ormond Beach resident Marsha Chusmir Shapiro met Bailey in 1972. She started working as the orchestra director at OBMS as well as the former Seabreeze Junior High. Bailey was a mentor to her, she said.
"I would watch him," Shapiro said. "I would learn from him, just by watching, and then also the things he would say."
Bailey, was not only funny, but warm with his students, who all loved him, she recalled. He acted the same way toward her, including supporting her as she wrote her first band composition — Ormond Overture. Bailey played it with his students, featured it in a concert and then gifted her with a plaque containing her name and the title of composer.
"I still have that on my desk," Shapiro said.
Bailey, a trumpet player, was one of the few band directors she's ever known who promoted orchestra to his students, even letting his best players leave band class one day a week to play with the strings. It helped create a 60-piece orchestra at OBMS.
"The kids remember him today — they all do," Shapiro said. "... He touched their hearts."
In 2023, OBMS held a concert in honor of Bailey, who was known as "Uncle Fuzzy" to his students. Bailey was 81 years old at the time and was able to attend in person.
That was a special moment, said Waidelich. The concert was also attended by longtime Seabreeze High School band director Dave Smith and longtime Mainland High School Earl Williams, both who taught in the same era as Bailey.
Waidelich is a Seabreeze grad, and said he's where he is today because of Bailey and Smith.
"Between the two of them, my fate was sealed as a musician and especially as an educator," Waidelich said.
When Shapiro heard the news of Bailey's death, she said her stomach dropped. It made her stop and think about the people still in her life and what they mean to her — like Waidelich, who as a kid was one of her students and today is her band director at the DSC Symphonic Band, which invites local musicians to perform alongside students. Bailey played in the band too, in past years.
Bailey was always modest, she said. He didn't seek attention, but Shapiro said Bailey was the OBMS Teacher of the Year at least twice during his career.
"I think he appreciated that he was respected, but he wasn't going for the accolades," Shapiro said.
When he wasn't making music, his obituary states Bailey was an avid woodworker and enjoyed the outdoors — canoeing, camping and spending time in nature. He is survived by his wife Diane Bailey and daughters Erin Bailey and Kristen Casaubon, as well as two stepchildren and seven grandchildren.
"Walter's legacy of kindness, music, and laughter will live on in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege to know him," the obituary states.
