Claudia Jean Hole

1951 - 2017

(News story) Claudia Jean Hole, a longtime music teacher in Toledo Public Schools and member of area barbershop-style choral groups, died Jan. 16 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg. She was 65.

She received a cancer diagnosis in 2011, said her son, Michael Wesley.

"She loved students, loved music, and instilled that love in music in the children," said Teri Sherwood, who was principal at Walbridge Elementary School when Mrs. Hole taught there.

"She had a great rapport and respect for students and because of that, got respect back," said Ms. Sherwood, now principal at Bowsher High School. "As a principal, it's just exactly what you'd hope for in the quality and caliber of teachers."

For a time, Mrs. Hole's classroom was next to the principal's office, Ms. Sherwood said, meaning she had a constant backdrop of music as she worked. That was great when they were practicing for a holiday concert, Ms. Sherwood joked, but less so when younger students first started learning to play the recorder. But Mrs. Hole's hard work made for packed houses at every school concert or performance, she said.

In addition to her career teaching music, Mrs. Hole dedicated many years to various choral groups that performed in the barbershop style. She was a founding member of the Pride of Toledo Chorus, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in February, said vice president Pat Galvin.

In a 2008 story in The Blade, Mrs. Hole called northwest Ohio "a hotbed of barbershoppers." Perfectly hitting a chord, she said, was a "a religious experience. It hits your soul. It impacts your entire being."

As a member of the quartet "Vocal Choice," Mrs. Hole won the 1984-1985 championship for Region 17, which includes parts of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. She traveled with quartets and the full chorus to competitions around the country and abroad. She served as associate director for the group and director of the Commanders of Harmony Chorus, a men's group.

"She loved the four-part barbershop harmony," Mrs. Galvin said. "As a women's chorus, we sing barbershop style with a feminine flair to enhance the music with our interpretation of the song and choreography."

Robyn Hage, a fellow TPS music teacher, met her colleague through professional development 20 years ago.

"Claudia was by far one of the most positive people I ever had the opportunity to meet," said Ms. Hage, who teaches at Bowsher. "Up until the week she passed away she was still positive, still joking. It's a testament to her personality and how she viewed life."

Her son praised his mother's courage, calling her "one of the strongest people you could meet," who persevered through difficult times, including battling cancer at the same time as her husband.

Born Dec. 3, 1951, to Arthur and Mary Parsons in Toledo, she graduated from Start High School and received a bachelor's degree in education from Bowling Green State University. She later received a master's degree from Marygrove College in Detroit.

She married Daryl Hole on Aug. 18, 1973. He died in 2015.

In addition to her time at Walbridge Elementary and Start High School, Mrs. Hole was a substitute in several area schools, her son said. She retired from Start in 2015 after more than two decades with the district.

Surviving are sons Michael and Justin Wesley; father, Arthur Parsons; sister, Denise Parsons, and three grandchildren.

A gathering in her memory will be held Feb. 2, at 4 p.m. in Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 4030 Douglas Rd., with a memorial service at 6 p.m. A dinner will follow.

The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio or Black Swamp Chorus, 507 E. Garfield Ave., Swanton.

This is a news story by Blade staff writer Lauren Lindstrom. Contact her at llindstrom@theblade.com, 419-724-6154, or on Twitter @lelindstrom.