The Gabe Headrick Memorial Scholarship
The Gabe Headrick Memorial ScholarshipIn December of 2024, the Cleveland Band community lost an extraordinarily wonderful husband, father, and cherished member of our band family — Gabe Headrick — after his courageous battle with cancer.
In his honor, the Annual Gabe Headrick Memorial Scholarship was established to celebrate the values, passions, and spirit that Gabe brought to his family, his work, and our music community.
A Life Rooted in Passion
Gabe held three great passions in his life.
First and foremost was his deep and abiding love for his family. His wife, Sally, and his son, Cooper, felt that love every single day — in his encouragement, his humor, his presence, and his unwavering support.
His second passion was his work as an architect. Gabe was a skilled, thoughtful modernist designer whose work left beautiful, lasting marks throughout Oregon and Washington. His creativity and attention to detail shaped spaces where people gather, live, and create — a legacy that will endure for decades.
And third, Gabe had an enormous love for music — a love he joyfully passed on to his son. As Cooper gravitated toward Classical and Jazz music at a young age, Gabe introduced him to Rock, Punk, and Heavy Metal, expanding his musical world. Gabe himself was a talented guitarist who wrote many of his own songs. Music was not simply something he enjoyed; it was something he lived.
A Scholarship Born from Gratitude
The Gabe Headrick Memorial Scholarship was created as an expression of gratitude for the extraordinary musical experiences Cooper received through Portland Public Schools — first at Hosford Middle School under the direction of Scott Johnston, and later here at Cleveland under the leadership of Gary Riler.
From his wife, Sally Marr:
“I will forever be grateful for the wonderful education my son gleaned from these two exceptional leaders, as they, along with my son’s many bandmates over the years, helped propel him towards a future musical career. He is now thriving as a music major at New York University.
This scholarship is to recognize students for their skillful leadership, as well as their enthusiasm for music — a way to help, in a small way, with their continuation of musical pursuits in their future education. Thank you to all the members of this beautiful and supportive music community.”
Today, Cooper continues his musical journey as a music major at New York University — a path shaped in part by the mentors, teachers, and peers who make up this remarkable community.
Continuing Gabe’s Legacy
This scholarship honors students who demonstrate both musical excellence and meaningful leadership — the same qualities Gabe admired and encouraged. It exists to help graduating Cleveland Band seniors continue their musical pursuits beyond high school.
Your donation, of any amount, helps carry Gabe’s legacy forward. It supports young musicians as they take their next steps and affirms the powerful role music plays in shaping lives.
If you would like to contribute to the Gabe Headrick Memorial Scholarship Fund, please consider making a gift today.
Together, we can ensure that Gabe’s love for music, family, and creative expression continues to resonate through the students of the Cleveland Band for years to come.