Robert Lee Lentz

Robert Lee Lentz The man who lived a thousand lives Our dear Robert Lee Lentz returned to the loving arms of both his Father in Heaven and Savior on March 29, 2013. He was our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, cousin & friend to all. He was born December 17, 1929 in Los Angeles, California and was adopted at 11 months old by his parents Herbert Mahlon Lentz and Vinetta Faye Burdick. He became their only child. He married Sally Peck and then Penelope G. Smith both to whom he was later divorced. On September 18, 1992 he married Lori JaNette Rohan and they recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Robert grew up in the Hollywood area and was very gifted in the arts. He played violin in the Hollywood Baby Orchestra at 3 and was it s conductor at 4. At 4 he also became a member of the original Our Gang Comedies (The Little Rascals). He was Spike. He loved the drums and started his own dance band at 9. He initially taught himself how to play the timpani in Junior High and went on to become a world class artist. He taught timpani at Pepperdine University at 16. After High School Robert joined the Navy and served during the Korean War as a member of the Navy Band. Robert came to Salt Lake City in 1955 after Maurice Abravanel went to Los Angeles looking for a timpanist for the Utah Symphony. He became their timpanist for the next 25 years and never missed a rehearsal or performance! During this time he was named one of the top 10 young conductors in the United States. He also founded and conducted the 1st youth orchestra in Utah, the Utah Youth Symphony, which was his own private orchestra for 21 years. Over 125 of his students went on to become members of the Utah Symphony of which he was so proud. He was fortunate to have traveled to more than 40 foreign countries & 500 major cities in the world. He loved it but was always happy to return home to America. Robert joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1976 and it profoundly changed his life. He served in various church callings but especially loved his 4 years serving as the timpanist of the Orchestra at Temple Square. He dearly loved his many friends there and in the Tabernacle Choir. Robert was truly the man who lived a thousand lives as was once said of him on a radio broadcast. He was blessed with many great talents and abilities and he loved sharing them with others Hobbies:Loved performing and leading musicOccupation:MusicianOccupation:Utah Symphony, Utah Youth Symphony, Orchestra at Temple Square