John Mack, former principal oboist of the Cleveland Orchestra and a Juilliard faculty member since 2001, died on July 23 of complications of treatment for brain cancer. He was 78.

John Mack performing as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra in May 2001. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)

Regarded by many as the dean of American oboists of his generation, Mack was "a pillar of tradition and a setter of standards" (as James R. Oestreich wrote in his obituary in The New York Times) throughout his 36-year career as principal with the Cleveland Orchestra. He was especially noted for his round, expressive tone on an instrument that is notoriously difficult to master, and elegant phrasing that he himself referred to as "cosmopolitan."

Born in 1927 in Somerville, N.J., Mack took up the oboe in sixth grade. He studied with the New York Philharmonic's Harold Gomberg and Bruno Labate at Juilliard, and with Marcel Tabuteau (who had been in the Philadelphia Orchestra under Stokowski) at the Curtis Institute of Music.

Mack began his career with the Sadler's Wells Ballet Orchestra during its first North American tour (1951-52) before spending 11 seasons as first oboist with the New Orleans Symphony. He was playing with the National Symphony Orchestra when George Szell recruited him for the Cleveland Orchestra in 1965. During Mack's tenure in Cleveland (which lasted until eyesight problems forced him to retire in 1991), he also played under music directors Lorin Maazel and Christoph von Dohnanyi, and conductor Franz Welser-Möst (who would become music director in 2002).

Read a tribute to John Mack.

Renowned as a teacher, Mack served as chair of the woodwind department at the Cleveland Institute of Music since 1965. He also taught at the Kent/Blossom Music program since its founding in 1968, and at the John Mack Oboe Camp, founded in Little Swit-zerland, N.C., in 1976 by one of his former students, Joseph Robinson (who re-tired as the New York Philharmonic's principal oboist last year). Mack joined the Juilliard faculty in 2001, coaching chamber music as well as teaching oboe.

Along with performances and re-cordings, Mack's legacy includes former students in orchestras throughout the U.S. and abroad. "He was a trusted colleague and a deeply respected mentor to generations of oboists," said Juilliard President Joseph W. Polisi. "We send our condolences to his entire family."

In addition to his wife, Anne, Mack is survived by two sons, David and John Richard; a daughter, Cecile; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.