{"id":379438,"date":"2026-08-24T03:54:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T03:54:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/379438\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T03:54:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T03:54:37","slug":"ronald-l-corbin-beloved-choral-teacher-at-martin-county-high-school-for-34-years-dies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/379438\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronald L. Corbin, beloved choral teacher at Martin County High School for 34 years, dies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ronald L. Corbin, beloved choral teacher at Martin County High School for 34 years, dies<\/p>\n<p>He retired in 2014.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787543676_502_author_avatar.png\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"Allen Cone\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>STUART, Fla. \u2014<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"0\"> Ronald L. Corbin, a popular choral teacher at Martin County High School for 34 years, died  Saturday. The Port St. Lucie resident was 77.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"1\">He began his teaching career at Bartow High School in Polk County, and in 1980 came to Martin County High School.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/9ec5da5f-c639-419d-8159-306a426d6df0.png\" alt=\"Image no longer available\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" draggable=\"true\" class=\"css-fphibt\"\/><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/9ec5da5f-c639-419d-8159-306a426d6df0.png\" alt=\"Image no longer available\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-hr9vxw\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"3\">He led OPUS, Martin County High School\u2019s choir, until he retired in 2014 &#8220;after dedicating his career to helping students find their voices and discover the joy of music,&#8221; the school district <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DcZCQyDkT26\/?igsi=azhhd3Bycmt6MmFw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">posted on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"4\">&#8220;Our thoughts and hearts go to the family, friends, and generations of Martin County students who had the privilege of knowing Mr. Ron Corbin.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"5\">He was known for more than being a choir teacher.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"6\">Corbin volunteered as a scorekeeper for basketball and volleyball, and traveled across the state to support Martin County High School athletics.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Mr. Corbin gave so much of his life to our students, our schools and our community,&#8221; the district said. &#8220;His impact cannot be measured in years or accolades\u2014it lives on in the countless students he encouraged, the music he helped create and the memories shared by those who knew him.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are deeply grateful for the life he shared with Martin County, and we will carry his memory with us, forever in our hearts. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"7\">The Florida Vocal Association also noted his passing.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/d6d1c61e-5fb7-4079-b285-f14bca0b6c29.png\" alt=\"Image no longer available\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" draggable=\"true\" class=\"css-fphibt\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tribute by Florida Vocal Association<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/d6d1c61e-5fb7-4079-b285-f14bca0b6c29.png\" alt=\"Image no longer available\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-hr9vxw\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"9\">&#8220;His choirs consistently earned superior ratings at district and state performance assessments and were recognized as Choirs of Distinction by FVA. Corbin was added to the Roll of Distinction in 2014,&#8221; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/search\/top\/?q=Florida%20Vocal%20association\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FVA wrote on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"10\">Corbin was added to the Roll of Distinction in 2014. In 2017, he received the R. Wayne Hugoboom Distinguished Service Award from the Florida chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"11\">The Ronald L. Corbin Musical Arts Center at Martin County High School was dedicated in his name in 2015.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"12\">&#8220;We remember Ron with gratitude for his years of service, his passion for choral music, his mentorship, and the countless students and educators whose lives were enriched by his presence,&#8221; FVA posted. &#8220;Our deepest condolences go to Ron\u2019s family, friends, former students, and the many members of FVA and the choral communities who loved and respected him.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/9ec5da5f-c639-419d-8159-306a426d6df0.png\" alt=\"Image no longer available\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" draggable=\"true\" class=\"css-fphibt\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ronald L. Corbin, a choir teacher at Martin County High Schoo lfor 34 years, died.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/9ec5da5f-c639-419d-8159-306a426d6df0.png\" alt=\"Image no longer available\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-hr9vxw\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"14\">&#8220;We remember Ron with gratitude for his years of service, his passion for choral music, his mentorship, and the countless students and educators whose lives were enriched by his presence,&#8221; FVA posted.<\/p>\n<p>New kidney<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"17\">In 2018 at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, he received a new kidney from his daughter, Candice Corbin, who also was one of his former students.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/56b9de13-c796-4e75-af9b-a380403254aa.png\" alt=\"Image no longer available\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" draggable=\"true\" class=\"css-fphibt\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ronald L. Corbin received a kidney from his daughter in 2018. He appears in the hospital with staff members.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/56b9de13-c796-4e75-af9b-a380403254aa.png\" alt=\"Image no longer available\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-hr9vxw\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"19\">\u201cI was walking down the street and suddenly, I felt like I was inebriated,\u201d Ronald said in an article  by the <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/patient-stories\/191-daughter-gives-dad-a-priceless-gift-for-fathers-day\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cleveland Clinic.<\/a> \u201cThat\u2019s when I said, whoa, something is wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"20\">A follow-up appointment with his primary care doctor led to a visit with a nephrologist, who told him he had chronic kidney disease and would need to begin dialysis treatment immediately.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"21\">Candice, an accomplished singer who lives in New York, began thinking about what she could do to support her dad.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"22\">\u201cI was shocked when he told me he needed to go on dialysis,\u201d Candice said. \u201cI remember thinking, I need to learn more and figure out what happens next.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"23\">She continued to monitor her dad\u2019s health over the next three years, knowing that one day, she would undergo testing to determine whether she was a successful match.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"24\">After completing initial testing in New York, Candice called her dad to share the  news.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"25\">\u201cWhen I told him I was a match, I think we were both shocked,\u201d Candice said. \u201cAnd I said, wow, this is really happening.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"26\">\u201cIt just took my breath away that she would want to give me her kidney,\u201d Ronald said.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"27\">Candice then began traveling to Florida to meet with Cleveland Clinic Florida\u2019s multidisciplinary transplant team to prepare herself and her dad for surgery. <\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"28\">He received his new kidney from his daughter a few weeks before Father&#8217;s Day.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"29\">\u201cI\u2019m blessed to have her in my life, that she would think enough of me to do this for me,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anything I can think of that would be a better gift than the one I got.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Safe after being missing<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"32\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpbf.com\/article\/florida-former-martin-county-high-school-teacher-found-safe-i-95\/43142393\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">In March 2023<\/a>, he was found safe after not being found for almost 24 hours. <\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"33\">Corbin was found along Interstate 95 and was taken to the hospital. <\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"34\">He was last seen driving his gray Honda CRV heading west on St. Lucie Boulevard in Port St. Lucie.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"35\">Stay up-to-date: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpbf.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"36\">Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpbf.com\/article\/get-wpbf-25-news-on-the-go\/999316\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-node-id=\"37\">Follow us on social: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wpbf25news\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WPBF25News\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">X<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wpbf25news\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@WPBF\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@wpbf25news\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TikTok<\/a> <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ronald L. Corbin, beloved choral teacher at Martin County High School for 34 years, dies He retired in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":379439,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[152390,152393,29835,59376,29141,152389,1210,152388,1407,152391,171,173,172,58882,152392,4719,2956,164],"class_list":["post-379438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-port-st-lucie","tag-candice-corbin","tag-choir","tag-dad","tag-distinction","tag-educator","tag-fva","tag-life","tag-martin-high-school","tag-music","tag-new-kidney","tag-port-st-lucie","tag-port-st-lucie-headlines","tag-port-st-lucie-news","tag-ron","tag-ronald-l-corbin","tag-school-district","tag-student","tag-year"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379438"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379438\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/379439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}