Dorothy Lorayne Warenskjold

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Dorothy Warenskjold Obituary

Warenskjold, Dorothy Lorayne
May 11, 1921 - December 27, 2010
Dorothy Lorayne Warenskjold, 89, of Lenexa, KS, passed away, Monday, December 27, 2010, at the Lakeview Village Care Center.
Dorothy was born May 11, 1921, in San Leandro, CA, the only daughter of William and Mildred (Stombs) Warenskjold. She graduated from Mills College in Oakland, CA. She was a Lyric Soprano with the San Francisco Opera Company, and appeared on numerous programs on NBC including: The Harvest of Stars with James Milton, The Voice of Firestone, and the Rail Road Hour with Gordon McCray. She traveled the United States performing with numerous Opera Companies. Some of her most famous roles included La Boheme as Mimi, Carmen as Micaela and The Magic Flute as Pamina. In her later years, Dorothy served as an adjunct professor at UCLA School of Arts. In 2004 she moved to the Kansas City area to be closer to her family.
She is survived by her cousin, Coralie (Bob) Ginther, Lenexa, KS, Susie (Doug) Scanlon, Katie Kuhlman & Holly Scanlon, Lenexa, KS, Don Dubois, Dalton & Claire DuBois. Newport Beach, CA.
Memorial contributions may be made to: The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, attn: Michelle LaPointe, 1029 Central Kansas City, MO 64105. (Condolences may be expressed at: www.porterfuneralhome.com)
Arrangements: Porter Funeral Homes & Crematory, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS (913) 438-6444.

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Published by Los Angeles Times from Jan. 10 to Jan. 16, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Dorothy Warenskjold

10 Entries

Madeline Crane

January 25, 2011

My father hired Dorothy Warenskjold to be his soprano soloist and section leader in a church choir in San Francisco as she was launching her career. At age 11 I had my picture taken with her and two friends for a publicity photo in the newspaper. I became a fan and started a fan club with the help of an adult. It lasted about 2 years. I also listened to her sing in the Standard School Broadcasts as I sat in my classroom. (Imagine knowing the person singing!) She had great influence on my appreciation of singers and had a beautiful voice. I followed her career, saved every note from her, and we kept in touch. I had not heard anything for awhile but knew when her Christmas card came back that something had happened. I just found out yesterday and I wish her family sympathy for a wonderful person.

A Bodden

January 25, 2011

What an amazing voice....

Lilian Barber

January 20, 2011

My first contact with Dorothy Warenskjold was as a young opera fan in San Francisco. I always admired her for her glorious voice and graceful stage appearance. I used to see her in the audience at the Opera House and eventually got up the nerve to talk to her. She and I became friends, and we stayed in touch through numerous life changes for both of us. In August of '09 she came to California and made time in her busy schedule to visit my husband and me and seemed to enjoy meeting our Italian Greyhounds. She was such a gracious, beautiful human being. She will be missed.

William Albright

January 19, 2011

Dorothy Warenskjold has long been one of my favorite singers for the beauty and purity of her voice and the polish of her vocal technique. She deserved far more lasting fame than she achieved, and I wish all young sopranos would look to her as a role model. The art and craft of singing would be in much better shape if they did.

Andy singing with Alhambra High School Music Students

Andy Rawn

January 17, 2011

I was one of the "younger singers for whom Dorothy was a kind, generous, helpful colleague" ~ as noted Jan 15th by Bruce Burroughs.

Having won an audition to tour 37-states with her in the Warenskjold Musical Theater (booked by CAMI), Dorothy became my first professional employer.

We young soloists were all assigned prominent solos in her program, and provided (by Dorothy personally) plentiful hours of coaching & mentoring.

And, her VOICE ~ pure, properly focused and artistically delivered, night after night ~ was sublime & UNFORGETTABLE.

January 15, 2011

Dorothy W. had one of the loveliest of all lyric soprano voices of the last 70 years -- a voice she steadfastly refused to push or compromise in any way -- and was invariably a special pleasure to listen to. Whenever she appeared on "The Voice of Firestone" (for instance), one knew a very nice experience was to hand. She was later a kind, generous, helpful colleague to younger singers coming up after her. Altogether an under-appreciated, wonderful American artist who will surely be remembered most fondly by all who heard her and all whose lives she touched as mentor. Her hard-to-find recordings are infinitely worth seeking out. Bruce Burroughs/Sherman Oaks CA

January 15, 2011

may she rest in peace, she was a wonderful singer with a beautiful voice of international status! I treasure my lp's and cd i have of her. Condoleances from Lier/Antwerp Flanders

January 15, 2011

I treasure her several recordings on the Capitol label. She was a good singer, and a major voice in my younger days. May she rest in peace. Bob Timms in Atlanta

B C

January 14, 2011

She was one of the mainstays of The Railroad Hour (among several sopranos who rotated through appearances there). It was a great era and she was a great part of it.

Teresa Kem

January 10, 2011

We were so very sorry to hear of Dorothoy's passing. She was an amazing lady and wonderful neighbor, full of interesting stories about her incredible life. I'm sure she will be missed tremendously by all who knew her. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. Scott & Teresa Kem - Lenexa (Brighton neighbors)

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