Michael Comins died in New York City on October 5, 2024, a few weeks short of his 92nd birthday. He leaves behind dozens if not hundreds of friends and family members who will mourn and miss him deeply. He had been a member of Local 802 since 1960.

His extraordinary violin career spanned decades. He performed with the Denver Symphony, the New Orleans Philharmonic, the Chicago Lyric Opera, the Boston Pops, the Boston Opera (where he was concertmaster), the New York Philharmonic, and the Symphony of the Air. His Broadway career included Cry for Us All, Hello Dolly! and Evita.

He also collaborated with many of the greatest popular singers or groups of the 20^th century. He played at Carnegie Hall with Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and Liza Minelli, and played live or in the studio with Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Bob Dylan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Sister Sledge, and Barbara Streisand, among many others. His extensive studio experience and industry contacts made him the go-to guy if someone needed to gather musicians for a studio gig on short notice.

As important to Michael as his music was his advocacy for the rights of musicians. A strong unionist, he was one of the founding members of the MEMBERS Party at American Federation of Musicians Local 802, and he was the founding International Secretary of the Recording Musicians’ Association of the U.S. and Canada, and a vice president of the RMA New York Chapter. He was also an editor of and long-serving writer for the MEMBERS Party newsletter.

Michael was born on October 23, 1932, in Akron, Ohio, to Jay and Paula (Rockita) Comins. He began playing violin at a very young age, and his talent was immediately evident. His love of music gradually surpassed his love of schooling, and he was playing professionally with the Denver Symphony while he was still at East High School.

Drafted in 1953, his talent and some luck soon landed him with the 7^th Army Symphony, where, according to his oft-told tales, his adventures touring Europe with the symphony in 1954-55 went far beyond winning hearts and minds. He was still hosting or attending 7th Army Symphony reunions more than 40 years later.

Michael retired from playing in the early nineties. He and his wife, Barbara, a professional cellist and professor, continued to mentor and advocate for other musicians while attending dozens of concerts per year at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and traveling the world. In the meantime, in his own words, he switched to “playing computers instead of violin.”

Everyone who knew Michael understood that to him his greatest accomplishment was his marriage to Barbara, who died in 2020. They gave each other much joy over their 41 years together, and she, and his many dear friends before, during, and after, defined a full and happy life.

Donations in Michael’s name can be made to the Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund, Local 802 AFM; the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; and the Central Park Conservancy.

Obituary submitted by Michael’s cousin Jill Jaroff.