obituaries

Obituaries from page 73

A Voice Of Joy

T

hey say that you cannot hear
Beethoven's Ode to Joy without
your spirit being lifted. Rose
Morgan personified the Ode to Joy for
all of her 98 years and 11 months. From a
young age, she was recognized as a musi-
cal prodigy.
With her musical talents, she delighted
listeners on one of Detroit's first radio
stations, on one of its first broadcasts,
when her piano skills were challenged.
Rose was blindfolded and asked to replay
music played by a recognized local musi-
cian. The musician would play from sheet
music and a young Rose met the senior
musician's challenge note-for-note by ear.
Mrs. Morgan died March 16, 2013.
Rose was a direct-line student of Polish
composer Frederic Chopin — she was
taught by a later-generation student of
Chopin's students. Throughout her life,
Rose taught hundreds of Michigan citi-
zens the art of piano. She was the music
director at the Botsford Commons Senior
Community in Farmington Hills, until
she was 89 years old, where she taught
her "little seniors" despite often being
older than her students.

She was a pioneer in music therapy,
being one of the first to use music with
Alzheimer's patients, teaching them to the
play songs of old with bells and inventing
wheelchair dances. Her efforts to bring
joy to seniors through
music were recognized
through numerous awards
like "Ability Is Ageless" and
"Eight Over 80:"
She also organized the
only accredited program
in Michigan where senior
citizens could attend high
school and get their high
school diplomas. The
program was such a suc-
Rose Morgan
cess that both Gov. James
Blanchard and the mayor
of Farmington Hills attended the gradua-
tion of these senior citizen students.
The Rose Morgan Choir delighted
audiences from schools to synagogues
to senior homes for more than 50 years,
including groups like ORT, B'nai Brith
and Pioneer Women. She accompanied
for Cantor Simon Bermanis at Ahavas
Achim Synagogue in Detroit, Workman's

Circle, the Zionist movement, a profes-
sional production of Of Thee I Sing put
on by Temple Israel and was the Sholem
Aleichem Institute's pianist for more than
40 years.
She was also president
of the Music Study Club
of Detroit. This organiza-
tion had been supporting
early talents, such as Itzhak
Perlman, for more than 75
years.
Her love of music followed
her everywhere she went.
When she visited Temple
Beth Emeth in Ann Arbor
for her great-grandaughter's
confirmation, she ended up
leading an impromptu sing-
along to celebrate the occasion. The par-
ticipants gathered around the piano and
were moved to sing "Oseh Shalom" and
other songs of celebration.
When she recently moved into Coville
Apartments in Oak Park about two
months before her passing, her playing
inspired almost 20 residents to join her
chorale group in the first weeks of her

residence.
Rose was an inspiration to all who
knew her. Everyone fortunate enough to
be touched by Rose will always remember
her kindness, graciousness and loving
heart. The song her choir sang at her
funeral, "Always:' was a reflection of how
they felt. It was her favorite.
Rose's music still fills the hearts of
everyone who has ever heard her play,
including her children and spouses, Gail
Mash, Diane Mash and Marty Basch,
David and Erica Mash, and Linda and
John Lazar; grandchildren, Marla and
Jack Linderman, Jason and Christine
Pikstein, Jennifer and Marc Feinberg,
Reesa and Mark Morabito, and Sasha
Mash and fiance Joe Frinzl; great-grand-
children, Naomi and Joshua Linderman,
Jonathon, Brandon and Melissa Feinberg;
and great-great-grandchild Aiden
Feinberg.
Rose was the beloved wife of the late
Jack Mash and the late Hyman Morgan.
Contributions may be made to a charity
of one's choice. Interment was at Hebrew
Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.

❑

FROM THE FAMILIES WE SERVE

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74 April 11 • 2013

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