Ted Rounds, an associate professor in the School of Music at Kent State, passed away on Aug. 24 due to cancer.

Kent State has yet to release a statement about the death of Rounds. Faculty of the School of Music were informed through an email early Thursday morning.

Rounds joined the Kent State community in 1995 after working at Ithaca College. He graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1978. He specialized primarily in percussion, but also in ensembles, jazz music and other areas.

He had students who studied under him privately for applied percussion studies and led award-winning student groups.

Ralph Lorenz, interim director of the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music, expressed his sadness, in addition to the sadness of many faculty in the music department, about the situation.

“Everybody really misses him and we are really very sorry about this,” Lorenz said.

Lorenz said that he received an outpouring of support from former students and others who knew of Rounds and his work.

“In the school we’ve received many messages from former students and community members expressing their sorrow about this, Lorenz said, “and on Facebook there are a lot of different posts.”

When asked about Rounds’ character, Lorenz mentioned that he went above and beyond the necessary job requirements as a professor and placed a high focus on the students.

“He was very highly regarded and was definitely a professor that put students first,” Lorenz said.

In the weeks leading up to his death, Rounds sent out an email to a few close friends, colleagues and students about his illness, according to Sean Young, a senior music performance major and former student of Rounds.

The loss of Rounds has “definitely been difficult,” Young said. “Other than being just a professor, he was also a good friend.”

He mentioned how Rounds had helped him with many aspects of his life—not just school-related topics—and how he was always available to offer life advice and provide help.

“Almost anything you needed, he would help with,” Young said.

Rounds leaves behind his wife, Tyler, who is an adjunct professor within the School of Music.

Within the email sent to School of Music faculty about the passing, Lorenz said “may Tyler be comforted by knowing she has a whole family in the School of Music.”

As of Aug. 25, funeral details have not yet been released.