Music publisher
PLAINSBORO — David K. Sengstack died Dec. 18. He was 85.
He was a leader in educational music publishing for more than 40 years.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he graduated from Rutgers University in 1948.
He served with the Army Corps of Engineers from 1942 to 1947 and again from 1950 to 1953, mostly in Korea.
Mr. Sengstack began his career in Chicago in 1948 as sales manager for his father’s music publishing house, Clayton F. Summy Co. He succeeded his father as president and sole stockholder in 1958 and acquired C.C. Birchard and Co., changing the name of the company to Summy-Birchard Publishing Co. As the company’s holdings expanded, its name was changed to Birch Tree Group Ltd. and then to The Sengstack Group Ltd. In addition, it was Mr. Sengstack’s recognition of the importance of music to enhance the lives of young children that lead to the development of Music Together, the family music program created by his nephew, composer and music educator, Kenneth K. Guilmartin.
When The Sengstack Group was sold in early 1989 to Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., a subsidiary of Time-Warner Inc., the sale included world rights to the Suzuki Method, The Frances Clark Library, the sole distributorship of Smithsonian/Folkways Records, and the famous song, “Happy Birthday to You,” along with approximately 50,000 other copyrights.
Immediately after the sale, Mr. Sengstack formed a private foundation for making grants to various charities with emphasis on positive, nurturing experiences for children during the first three years of life.
Mr. Sengstack served as a trustee of Bucknell University and McCarter Theatre, on the boards of the Carrier Clinic Development Fund, the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, the Child Health Institute of New Jersey, and on the visiting committee of the Eastman School of Music.
He had also been a member of the New York Athletic Club, the Nassau Club and the Old Guard of Princeton.
Father of the late Lynn, who died Dec. 9 after an extended illness, he is survived by his wife, Alice; children Jeff, Gregg, Michele, and Elizabeth; grandchildren Victoria, Christopher, Janine, Morgan, Alexa, Jakob and Sabine; and nephew Kenneth Guilmartin.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28 at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton.

