Foothill band director marches on after 41 years

Hundreds are expected to celebrate the 41-year musical legacy of Foothill High School’s only band director Bob Moorefield, as he retires this year.

From 3 to 7 p.m. June 6 at the school stadium, current and former students and colleagues will gather, in what some consider to be akin to a family reunion.

“It really is like a big family,” said Moorefield’s wife, Anne. “Some of the guests had as many as four classes a day with Bob when they were in high school. About 20 former band members have married someone he/she met in band, and they bring us their babies to hold.”

Guest speakers will include Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) as well as school administrators.

At 5 p.m., current and alumni band members will assemble on the school’s football field to all join in playing “Stars and Stripes.” Some of the alumni will be lugging their musical instruments with them from as far away as Boston to be part of the musical tribute to the man wielding the baton.

Bob Moorefield’s final concert was last night at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore. The performance included Foothill’s award-winning jazz band, which last month participated for its third-consecutive year in the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival.

To learn more about the party on June 6 and to RSVP, visit http://event.pingg.com/Moorf