The man who built two community orchestras in Bellevue and Sammamish died of cancer last month at age 71.

Robert Joseph Scott had been a “dynamic leader in the Northwest musical community” for nearly 50 years, according to a Sammamish Symphony Orchestra statement.

He was the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra director for more than 15 years before he announced his retirement in December 2015, due to health reasons.

He founded the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra and served as the music director, conductor and general manager from 2005-2009.

“He had a loyal following in Sammamish, Bellevue and Issaquah for his fine contributions to classical performance on the Eastside,” Sammamish Symphony Orchestra spokesperson Daphne Robinson said in an email. “His passion for and dedication to symphonic music conducting will be greatly missed.”