Margaret Main peacefully departed Long Beach CA, at the age of 95, looking forward to her next adventure. She was born in Sterling CO, the fourth child of Earl Bryan Simpson and Clara Louise Hoffman.
Margaret was a beloved music teacher in Long Beach where she taught violin, viola, and piano in her home for about 70 years. She decided at the age of 90, it was time to retire.
She also taught band, orchestra, and English in the Palos Verdes School District, as well as wind and string instruments at Cal State Long Beach. Margaret and her quartet friends had fun playing for weddings until she was in her 80s. She wasn't going to let age stop her from doing what she loved most. For Margaret, music was life!
Margaret was introduced to the viola at the age of 8 by Fred Ohlendorf, founder of Arrowbear Music Camp. At age 14, she was the youngest person ever to play viola with the Long Beach Symphony.
At 16, she graduated from Poly high school, leaving California just long enough to attend the prestigious Eastman School of Music in New York. Her mother agreed to allow this, only if Margaret promised to also become a credentialed school teacher. Clara feared if playing music was Margaret's only vocation, she'd be so poor she "wouldn't have two nickels to rub together." Clara could not have imagined how successful her talented daughter would be in the world of music.
Margaret went on to train at UCLA under some of the great masters of her era. She studied privately with violist William Primrose, and chamber music with violinist Jascha Heifetz & cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. It was her heartfelt honor to teach the bowings and fingerings of these masters to new generations.
She played several years in the Carmel Bach Festival and at various times with every major symphony in California. Margaret played her entire adult career on a viola she bought at Main's Violin Shop, where she met her second husband, Lewis Main Jr.
Not only did Margaret have a fulfilling life through playing and teaching music, some of her students went on to have remarkable careers playing their instruments.
If Margaret learned of a child with a passion for music who couldn't afford lessons, she would offer them a scholarship. Ensuring young musicians could carry forward the knowledge she imparted was important to her. She succeeded. Many students kept in contact with Margaret, even after 60 years. Some became true friends.
After retirement, Margaret kept her mind sharp by working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles, and reading crime novels. She had been a voracious reader since childhood. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting gifts for family and friends.
She was a lifelong lover of animals. Margaret shared her home with a dog, or a cat or two, most of her life, starting in childhood with her cats Sharp and Flat, named after the musical terms.
Margaret joined the women's service organization Daughters of the American Revolution at the age of 91, leaving the gift of verified lineage to her Revolutionary War patriot ancestor, Paul McClarney.
She was preceded in death by her three siblings: Richard Eugene, Robert Earl, and Agnes Louise Abercrombie (Wayne). Margaret and sister Louise traveled the world together during many summers, while Margaret was on break from teaching school.
Margaret is survived by son Phillip Cimbalo (Angie) from her first marriage, granddaughter Sarah Esquivel (Omar), and three great-grandchildren, Mariah, Isabella, and Elijah; daughter Margaret Downey (Robert) from her second marriage, grandsons Shawn (Shinobu) and Shane (Amber) Downey, and great- granddaughters, Sylah and Aurora.
The family gratefully acknowledges Margaret's dear friends, Sue and Janae, and their families. Their love and kindness through the years was especially treasured by Margaret.
The family's gratitude also goes to the dedicated caregivers and staff at Bay Towers where Margaret was well-cared-for after assisted living became necessary.
And to the countless students throughout the decades who dropped by Margaret's house, called, and wrote to give her updates on your lives, thank you all for bringing such joy to her heart. She loved hearing from each and every one of you.
Margaret approached death the way she did life, with gusto. She expressed the following sentiment in her final weeks after it became clear her body was winding down, "I'm old, I'm tired, and I'm ready to go. I want everybody to be happy for me. I've had a wonderful life!"
Margaret lived - and died - with style, grace, and compassion. She is fondly remembered, and deeply missed, by all whose lives were enriched by knowing her.
Margaret was a beloved music teacher in Long Beach where she taught violin, viola, and piano in her home for about 70 years. She decided at the age of 90, it was time to retire.
She also taught band, orchestra, and English in the Palos Verdes School District, as well as wind and string instruments at Cal State Long Beach. Margaret and her quartet friends had fun playing for weddings until she was in her 80s. She wasn't going to let age stop her from doing what she loved most. For Margaret, music was life!
Margaret was introduced to the viola at the age of 8 by Fred Ohlendorf, founder of Arrowbear Music Camp. At age 14, she was the youngest person ever to play viola with the Long Beach Symphony.
At 16, she graduated from Poly high school, leaving California just long enough to attend the prestigious Eastman School of Music in New York. Her mother agreed to allow this, only if Margaret promised to also become a credentialed school teacher. Clara feared if playing music was Margaret's only vocation, she'd be so poor she "wouldn't have two nickels to rub together." Clara could not have imagined how successful her talented daughter would be in the world of music.
Margaret went on to train at UCLA under some of the great masters of her era. She studied privately with violist William Primrose, and chamber music with violinist Jascha Heifetz & cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. It was her heartfelt honor to teach the bowings and fingerings of these masters to new generations.
She played several years in the Carmel Bach Festival and at various times with every major symphony in California. Margaret played her entire adult career on a viola she bought at Main's Violin Shop, where she met her second husband, Lewis Main Jr.
Not only did Margaret have a fulfilling life through playing and teaching music, some of her students went on to have remarkable careers playing their instruments.
If Margaret learned of a child with a passion for music who couldn't afford lessons, she would offer them a scholarship. Ensuring young musicians could carry forward the knowledge she imparted was important to her. She succeeded. Many students kept in contact with Margaret, even after 60 years. Some became true friends.
After retirement, Margaret kept her mind sharp by working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles, and reading crime novels. She had been a voracious reader since childhood. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting gifts for family and friends.
She was a lifelong lover of animals. Margaret shared her home with a dog, or a cat or two, most of her life, starting in childhood with her cats Sharp and Flat, named after the musical terms.
Margaret joined the women's service organization Daughters of the American Revolution at the age of 91, leaving the gift of verified lineage to her Revolutionary War patriot ancestor, Paul McClarney.
She was preceded in death by her three siblings: Richard Eugene, Robert Earl, and Agnes Louise Abercrombie (Wayne). Margaret and sister Louise traveled the world together during many summers, while Margaret was on break from teaching school.
Margaret is survived by son Phillip Cimbalo (Angie) from her first marriage, granddaughter Sarah Esquivel (Omar), and three great-grandchildren, Mariah, Isabella, and Elijah; daughter Margaret Downey (Robert) from her second marriage, grandsons Shawn (Shinobu) and Shane (Amber) Downey, and great- granddaughters, Sylah and Aurora.
The family gratefully acknowledges Margaret's dear friends, Sue and Janae, and their families. Their love and kindness through the years was especially treasured by Margaret.
The family's gratitude also goes to the dedicated caregivers and staff at Bay Towers where Margaret was well-cared-for after assisted living became necessary.
And to the countless students throughout the decades who dropped by Margaret's house, called, and wrote to give her updates on your lives, thank you all for bringing such joy to her heart. She loved hearing from each and every one of you.
Margaret approached death the way she did life, with gusto. She expressed the following sentiment in her final weeks after it became clear her body was winding down, "I'm old, I'm tired, and I'm ready to go. I want everybody to be happy for me. I've had a wonderful life!"
Margaret lived - and died - with style, grace, and compassion. She is fondly remembered, and deeply missed, by all whose lives were enriched by knowing her.
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