BYRNINA BROOKS SOCOLOFSKY

Byrnina Brooks Socolofsky Byrnina Brooks Socolofsky, 97, passed away peacefully in her home on July 14, 2015. She was graduated cum laude from Ottawa University in Kansas with a BA in music, studying violin, viola and conducting with Everett Fetter. Later, she studied viola with Harry Zaratzian, principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and with Leonard Magill, also of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She played violin and viola professionally, including participating for eight years in conducting workshops of the American Symphony Orchestra League in Virginia and California. She was a founding member and principal viola of the Woodbury Symphony for fourteen years and principal viola of the Haddonfield Symphony for three years. In 1960, Mrs. Socolofsky organized a string program in the Glassboro Public Schools, and the same year, started the Glassboro High School Orchestra. In 1965, this orchestra was chosen by competitive audition to represent New Jersey at the Eastern Division of the Music Educators National Conference held in Buffalo, NY. In January of 1983, Mrs. Socolofsky conducted the All South Jersey High School Orchestra the first woman to have this honor. Later that year, in conjunction with members of the music faculty of Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), she organized the Youth Orchestra at GSC, with a membership of 83 students. She conducted this orchestra for three years. In later years, when she was in her 80's, she performed with The Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey as a member of the viola section. In 2013, Mrs. Socolofsky received an award from the Gloucester County Education Association for outstanding service to the students and employees of the Gloucester County Public Schools. In 2014, Mrs. Socolofsky was a finalist for the first Ovation Award, given by the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, for inspirational leadership in music education. Mrs. Socolofsky was a member of MENC, had twice been a member of the New Jersey State Board of Directors for the American String Teachers Association, and was a member of the New Jersey All State Orchestra Procedures Committee for four years. Mrs. Socolofsky taught string music, primarily viola and violin, for more than 70 years! In fact, she taught until illness forced her to retire a few months shy of her 94th birthday! Hundreds of fine viola and violin performers and music educators trace their roots to years of intense and well-prepared lessons in Mrs. Socolofsky's studio. In addition to teaching students how to play well, she also gave them many life lessons, such as the value of hard work, determination, confidence, and mastery of the English language. An inspiration to everyone, she was a stickler for hard work and success, and she always got it, not only from her students, but especially from herself. She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Socolofsky, who was involved in the development of the first synthetic oil for the automobile, Mobil 1, at Mobil Research and Development in Paulsboro, NJ. She was also preceded in death by her older sister, Alberta Brooks Fogdall, of Lake Oswego, OR. She is survived by her loving and devoted children, Diane and David. Funeral services at Hillcrest Memorial Park will be private. A public memorial service will be scheduled for a later date. Please check Kelley Funeral Home website at www.kelleyfhpitman.com for the memorial service details to be announced at a later date and to leave a condolence for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to Rowan University Foundation, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ 08028, directed to the Byrnina B. Socolofsky Memorial Music Scholarship Fund SJB17socolofsky.jpg.jpgKelley Funeral Home 125 Pitman Ave. Pitman, NJ 08071 856-589-6308