Instruments and Bows from the
​Estate of Geoffrey Ovington 

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Stamell Stringed Instruments is proud to represent the instruments and bows from the estate of Geoffrey Ovington.

Geoff was born in 1945 and left us too soon in 2017 (obituary below). After a time teaching school in New York City, Geoff devoted his talents to violin making full time from his workshop in Shushan, NY, in 1980. His instruments are played by professional players worldwide. His teacher was James Coggin in New York. He was an active member of the Violin Society of America for many years. His awards include Silver Medal for Tone (violin) in Oakland, 1993, Silver Medal for Tone (cello) in Cleveland, 2012, and Silver Medal Tone for String Quartet in Cleveland, 2012.
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Geoff was a very generous and engaged person; he donated instruments that he made to string programs in Bennington VT and Musicorda Summer program. He was also an active environmentalist; he and his wife Bonnie started the Dionondeowa Wildlife Sanctuary and School in Shushan NY, protecting over 200 acres of land along the Battenkill River.
To learn more about the following instruments, please contact us.  
Geoffrey Ovington Violin
New York, 2016. #7020

Geoffrey Ovington Violin
New York, 2013. #7022

Geoffrey Ovington 15 3/4" Viola
New York, 2008. #7018

Geoffrey Ovington Cello
New York, 2015. #7019
Obituary for Geoffrey Ovington

Geoffrey Ovington succumbed to lung cancer on June 30, 2017.  He was born July 2, 1945 in Newton, Mass.  A graduate of Needham High School, he went on to graduate from Clark University in 1967.  In 1971-73, he taught American Theatre and English as a Second Language at the University of Lille, in northern France.  For six years he taught remedial reading for the New York City Public School System.
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Geoffrey moved to Washington County in May of 1981.  He became interested in local events which included at the time the growing landfill controversy.  He joined Greenwich Concerned Citizens as the Washington County Board of Supervisors moved toward a large incinerator as a solution.  Elected to the Town Board of Salem in 1989, he served until 1993. During this period, he worked actively to have Washington County’s Solid Waste Management include a vigorous recycling program.
 
In 1995, Bonnie Hoag and Geoffrey Ovington co-founded Dionondehowa Wildlife Sanctuary and School.  The Sanctuary’s 217 acres serve as a wildlife recharge area along the Battenkill in the Town of Jackson.  It is routinely used for birdwalks, for those interested in native plant and animal species.  Part of Dionondehowa’s mission is the preservation of native plant and animal habitat.
 
Geoffrey Ovington’s passion and profession, however, was the making of violins, violas and cellos.  During the mid 1980s his instruments grew in popularity in Vienna, Munich and Norway. He competed in International Competitions and won, among other awards, Silver for Tone in Violin (Oakland, 1993), Silver for Tone in Cello (Cleveland, 2012) and Silver Tone for String Quartet in that same competition. He donated instruments of his own making from time to time as an incentive to struggling string programs.
 He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Bonnie Hoag.
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Donations in Geoffrey's memory can be made to Dionondehowa, 148 Stanton Rd., Shushan, NY 12873.