Dale Bechtel, an accomplished violinist who performed with the Honolulu Symphony and the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Jack Benny and Burt Bacharach, died yesterday at his home in Honolulu. He was 84.

In addition to his musical skills, Bechtel was a noted teacher who is credited with introducing orchestral stringed instruments to Hawai'i's public schools in the 1950s. Over the years, he taught countless students, many of whom went on to become professional musicians.

Tim Leong, an architect and violinist with the Honolulu Symphony, said one of his goals as a youngster was to go to Kalani High School, where Bechtel taught, and perform for him. Leong graduated from Kalani in 1973 and has been with the orchestra since 1981.

"All of his students regarded him with such high esteem that many of us who studied on the Mainland and went to conservatories, we never found anyone better or who put more effort into preparing us for our musical career," Leong said. "And we played under many, many fine musicians all over the world and never found anybody that was really that much better than Dale as a teacher."

What made Bechtel special, Leong said, was the attention he gave to each student. Often gruff, Bechtel deep down truly cared about the children, Leong said.

"He really knew how to address the situation for each student on a personal basis," Leong said. "It wasn't a cookie-cutter method. He really understood his students, and as a result, he got an amazing response from his students."

Karen Bechtel, a cellist with the orchestra, said her father was a tremendous influence on her career, although at times she didn't realize it. She teaches orchestra at an elementary school, and also teaches cello and chamber music at Punahou School.

"I discovered that I could do this, and then I realized after the fact that, oh, my gosh, I'm doing the same thing as my father," Karen Bechtel said. "I love what I do. I teach young kids to love what they're doing, and I play in the symphony. It's a great combination."

Bechtel was born on March 2, 1921, in Canton, Ohio. His mother got him to play the violin at an early age, and he was an accomplished musician by the time he graduated from Ohio State University. He later would earn a master's degree in music from the University of Southern California.

Throughout his career, Bechtel played with many renowned musicians and was a member of the Freddy Martin Band. In 1954, he moved to Honolulu and began a long love affair with its people, particularly the youth.

Steve Kim recalled that Bechtel would use a chopstick as a baton at Kalani. Kim was a student of his when he was in the fifth grade and fondly remembers how Bechtel would somehow stuff an old Volkswagen bus with refurbished violins that he would take from school to school.

"We were so happy to please him and also play well. It was a wonderful relationship," Kim said. "Under his gruffness was a warm, caring man. We knew that his anger was because he wanted us to sound the very best we could. He taught us to strive for perfection, and we did."

Longtime friend Harold Higa was the band director at Kala-kaua Intermediate School in Kalihi in the 1950s when Bechtel introduced stringed instruments to band members. The school had a reputation as being the toughest in the territory, but Bechtel somehow got the students to perform.

"It really was amazing. He really got them playing," Higa said. "He'd shout at them and things like that. But they really sounded good."

Bechtel and Higa kept in touch over the years and would share their love of music. Higa also was one of many frequent passengers on Bechtel's sailboat, the Mamie.

"Sailing was his way of escaping from the hustle and bustle of the city," Kim said.

Bechtel also was a familiar sight as the "Fiddler on the Roof" at the annual Honolulu Symphony Opus Fun Run fundraising events in Kahala.

Leong said he will never forget the positive influence that Bechtel had on many people here.

"He opened the door in our lives to beauty and art. We could touch and do this for ourselves," Leong said.

Bechtel is survived by his children, Karen, Mark, Curtis and Sarah, and Lorna Weatherford.

Services are pending.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.