Evelyn English

In Celebration of EVELYN ENGLISH Sept. 26, 1915 - Nov. 22, 2010 Evelyn Semenza Honts English has passed away at age 95. A devoted teacher, patron of the arts, and indefatigable member of The Fine Arts Club of Pasadena, she never outgrew her interests in the arts, dancing, reading, bridge, theatre, and travel. Evelyn was born in Reno, Nevada, graduated from the University of Nevada/Reno in 1936, and started her career teaching elementary school in Henderson, Nevada. Later she established The Semenza Family Scholarship Endowment at the University of Nevada/Reno in honor of her parents John and Louise, two older brothers Lawrence and Edwin and three older sisters Nevada, Rena and Grace, all of whom graduated from the University of Nevada/Reno with honors. Her first marriage to First Lieutenant George William Honts, Christmas Eve 1942, was cut short by his death from German gunfire along the Rhine River just two days before the end of World War II. His poignant love letters form the basis of a song cycle for voice and piano, Vignettes: Letters from George to Evelyn; from the Private Papers of a World War II Bride. Elizabeth Samson, Mary Ann Paullin, and Mary Ann Shemdin accompanied Evelyn to the premier in the summer of 2002 at the Tanglewood Summer Music Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts. The premiere was sung by Stacie Horlick, soprano, and played by the composer, Dr. Alan Louis Smith who is a Fine Arts Club Honorary Member, USC Chair of Keyboard Studies, and Tanglewood Vocal and Piano Director. The letters and song cycle are archived at The Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas. During World War II, Evelyn served as Director of the U.S. Army Special Services, now the USO. Soon after the war ended, she moved to Berlin, where she organized entertainment for the American troops. In the early 1950s, Evelyn moved to Southern California for a career in public relations and marketing. Instead she returned to teaching in the late 1950s after earning her Masters Degree in Education. She taught for over 30 years in the Pasadena public schools. In 1958, Evelyn married Lawrence "Larry" Samuel English. Both Evelyn and Larry passionately supported the arts. They joined The Fine Arts Club in 1989, taking particular interest in supporting young, gifted visual and performing arts students. Even after Larry's death in 1998, Evelyn maintained her commitment to the Club. She gave over $50,000 to The Awards Endowment and The Operating Endowment, as well as underwriting numerous dinner programs. She served as Member of the Board of Directors, Program Chair, Performing Arts Award Chair, Support Group Fundraising Chair, and participated in numerous Fine Arts Club committees. She continued her extraordinary support of theater and music with donations to Theatre Americana, the Pasadena Playhouse, the Pasadena Symphony and the Pasadena Opera Guild. She was a charter member of the Pasadena Arts Council and portrayed Queen Elizabeth I for their Gold Crown Awards Banquet at the Civic Auditorium in 2000. Evelyn was also active with the Gamble House, the Pacific Asia Museum and Pi Beta Phi. In late 2001, she had a non-speaking appearance in Frasier. Evelyn is survived by her stepson, Dennis English, and his wife Jan, of Hoboken, NJ; her stepdaughter, Carol English Miller, and step-grandsons, Ryan and Brent, of San Diego, CA; as well as a niece and nephews. Memorial Contributions in Evelyn's memory may be sent to The Fine Arts Club of Pasadena, c/o Mr. Norman R. Sarafian, 5109 Gould Avenue, La Canada, CA 91011-2441. Make checks payable to The Fine Arts Club of Pasadena, with "The English Operating Endowment" in the memo line. Contributions are tax-deductible. A memorial service will be held twelve-noon, Saturday, January 22, 2011 at Saint Andrew Catholic Church, 311 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103. Monsignor Tobias English, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Andrew and cousin of Evelyn's husband Lawrence English, will officiate.