HEMINGWAY, ROBERT N. (1 Jan. 1907 - 5 June 1999) accompanied world-renowned musicians on the piano and became a principal in the CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. He was born in Memphis, Tenn. to William B. Hemingway and Lulu B. (Countee), a celebrated music teacher. Hemingway accompanied the Glee Club and played piano and flute in the orchestra while he was a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta. He received a bachelor's degree in 1930 at Fisk University in Nashville, TN. Prior to joining the faculty at Fisk University where he taught music, he taught at Lemoyne High School in Memphis. Hemingway received a master's degree in piano at Oberlin College in 1937 and a master's degree in education from Western Reserve University (see CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY) in 1953. In Cleveland, he was assistant principal at Hough Elementary School before he was named principal at Anton Grdina Elementary School, a post he held until he retired.
Hemingway played piano for pioneering concert artist Roland Hayes, the first black singer to give a recital in Carnegie Hall. He also worked with W.C. Handy, "the father of the blues." While at Fisk University, he played for the Fisk Jubilee Singers under the direction of the legendary John Work.
Hemingway married Evangeline Roquemore in 1945. He died at MT. SINAI MEDICAL CENTER in Cleveland and is buried at LAKE VIEW CEMETERY.