The flute community is mourning two huge losses this week with the passing of Emerson DeFord and William “Wibb” Bennett. DeFord passed away at his home on Monday, May 9th and Bennett passed Wednesday evening after a brief battle with motor neuron disease. Both of these men left an indelible mark on the flute world, and they will be greatly missed. After serving with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, DeFord began his flutemaking career at the W.T. Armstrong Flute Company in Elkhart, Indiana, and quickly rose to the position of vice president of production in 1962. A few years later, he started the Heritage Division, where he mentored many flutemakers including Bickford Brannen, Jack Moore, Tom Green, John Yeater, and Larry Earnhart. DeFord and Mark Thomas worked together to improve the quality and design of student flutes and to develop the complete flute family (including bass, alto, E-flat soprano, C, treble G, and B-flat flutes) and, later, a wood piccolo and professional C flute. His name is now synonymous with the modern student flute. One of DeFord’s most important contributions to the flute world is his work with flutists who have been injured or have developed physical conditions