in 1938, tarnowsky became a naturalized united states citizen with the help of his colleague at depaul university school of music, richard czerwonky, who signed as a witness on the paperwork. tarnowsky later married one of his pupils, maxine matlavish, and they settled in california, where from the 1940s until his death he was one of the most sought-after piano teachers. among the many pianists he taught during his years in southern california is the cuban virtuoso horacio gutiérrez, who tarnowsky claimed was the biggest pianistic talent he had encountered since vladimir horowitz.