In the early 1970s, two people posing as ABC reporters kidnapped the big bass drum belonging to the Harvard Band. With the Dartmouth game just days away, Dartmouth students were the prime suspect.

Tonis threw aside his allegiance to his old alma mater, and issued a four-state alert for the missing drum and the white van in which the drum-nappers escaped.

The Massachusetts State Police stopped the van 30 minutes outside Boston and returned it to its rightful place for the Saturday game against the Big Green.

Ever the music lover, Tonis kept a radio on his desk so he could listen to the Boston Symphony as he worked.

He retired in 1975 when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 66.

As he retired, he recalled the many changes he had made in the preceding twelve years, commenting, “college security at Harvard has changed quite a bit.”

Outside of Harvard, Tonis was also active in the Masons, and his church, First Church in Weymouth, where his wife, Paula, was choir director and played the organ. He also volunteered for the Hull Historical Society and loved beekeeping.

According to the Patriot Ledger, the late chief is survived by three sons, Kenneth Tonis of Orinda, Calif., David Tonis of Brockton and Frank Tonis of Phoenix, Ariz.; a daughter, Barbara Brack of Yarmouth Port; a brother, Richard Tonis of Brewster; three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In his honor, a piece for swing band has been commissioned and will be premiered at the Harvard Band’s Dartmouth concert on Oct. 31. Donations in support of that commission may be directed to the Harvard University Band, 74 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, MA 02138. Checks may be made payable to “The Chief’s Fund.”

—Staff writer Garrett M. Graff can be reached at ggraff@fas.harvard.edu.