Martha Louise Faulhaber
Martha Louise Faulhaber
Obituary
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Martha Faulhaber Obituary
Martha grew up in Dayton Ohio, with 10 brothers and sisters. She graduated from St. Mary's College in 1948 majoring in piano and music theory. In 1950 Martha and Robert were married and moved to Paris France, where she studied at the Ecole Normale de Musique. She received her master's degree from the Chicago Musical College, later studying with Rudolf Ganz, and Phil Cohen. She taught at the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School for Children facing emotional challenges and Head Start, co-wrote three children's music books, had many private piano students, and was the accompanist for the Chicago Children's Choir for 25 years.
A longtime member of the Hyde Park Music club, Martha accompanied singers, played in several chamber groups, and developed a lifelong collaboration with duet partner Laura Fenster, performing together for 50 years. She and Laura were the premiere performers of the Visions de L'Amen, by Olivier Messiaen, a composer Martha spent a lifetime exploring. She performed all over Chicago, including the American Conservatory and Orchestra Hall.
Martha's cheer and curiosity welcomed everyone: she was a magnet to people from all walks of life. She often hosted musicians from other countries and took transplants to the neighborhood under her wing. Echoing sentiments from many people, one of these friends recently wrote:
"I will be forever grateful for our true friendship that went beyond age, culture, and language.
One of my life intentions is to give back what I received from her. She was, is, and will be always my north star that guides me to welcome and love others, to lovingly raise a child, to gracefully age, and ultimately to live life to the full." Tanya (Jeong) Eun Sun
A person of deep faith, she participated in many peace organizations, helped found NOMOR (an anti-nuclear weapons organization), and was a devoted member of Amnesty International Human Rights Group. She was also simply one of the most kind and compassionate humans. To quote her from an email she sent to all of her children, Christmas 2008:
"My thoughts are that God is our Creator and as Creator gives us the gift to create our lives in love with one another and to create in our fields of endeavor: art, music, doctoring, mothering, schooling etc. I like this idea of being an image of God in our creativity- It is a kind of release of our total human energy. May we continue to create in our lives, goodness, and love."
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Suzanne Epstein
March 25, 2024
I was very sorry to hear about Martha´s death, and send deepest condolences to Lizzie and Christina and their families. My mother, my brother, and I all knew Martha in Chicago for many years and thought the world of her as a person and as a musician. Like Martha, my brother studied with Rudolph Ganz and participated in the Hyde Park Music Club where he knew Martha. He remembers some of her performances with Laura Fenster. Martha did something extremely generous for me. She encouraged me to apply for a summer music program and went with me to do the audition to play the piano part of the Shostakovich cello sonata. I would never have applied otherwise, and got to spend the summer immersed in music. In more recent years, I visited Martha in Chicago on 57th St., then at the Windermere, and then a couple of times in Denver including at the time of the eclipse in 2017. She was still wonderful company. I´m sure she will be greatly missed by family and many friends.
Julia Swain
March 7, 2024
A longtime friend of my parents, Martha generously watched over me some afternoons during my earliest years. She was one of the first to encourage my creativity as a budding artist. As I imagined castles and fountains with wooden blocks, Martha joyously sketched my most "unique" constructions alongside me. Throughout the rest of my youth, Martha continued to show me that with a willingness to learn together, people of all ages and experiences can forge meaningful connections. We still have one of her sketches framed at home which I´m sharing here.
Rowena Daly
March 5, 2024
Martha Faulhaber was so incredibly kind. I am so grateful for the kindness and generosity she bestowed upon my parents, Edie and Bob Daly. She understood the dynamics of growing up in a big family and let you know that you were "seen " and appreciated. She made so much of her life and gave so much to others through her music, family life, and commitment to advancing equality, peace, and spirituality. Her curious and kind nature is an example for us all. Peace to all of the Faulhabers near and far!
Lots of love, Rowena Daly, 8th child of the Daly family.
Rashmi Swain
March 5, 2024
So sorry for your loss. Back in the 1980s, when I moved from India to Hyde Park, Martha helped me find my first job by walking door to door on 53rd street, letting employers know that she was my friend and I was looking for a job. She even suggested that I borrow Elizabeth´s jacket (I did borrow it) to survive my first winter in Chicago. Martha had a contagious smile. She was a kind, intelligent and beautiful person and the best friend one could ever ask for. (Rashmi Swain)
You have my deepest sympathy. I first met Martha around 1981 or 82, through Tai Chi classes being taught at the University of Chicago. A small group of us would often meet at Promontory Point to practice Tai Chi, just as the sun was rising over Lake Michigan. For me, this was the start of a friendship that would last throughout my adult life. I feel so grateful to have enjoyed Martha´s kindness, understanding and humor throughout these many years. (David Swain)
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Helen Salz and Jeff Sunshine
March 2, 2024
As friends of Lynne and Peter in Cleveland, we had the pleasure of visiting with Martha many times over the years. So sorry for your loss.
Joan Pederson
March 1, 2024
During a weekend celebration of the 45th anniversary of Chicago Children's Choir, CC aalumni gave a concert at First Unitarian. Most memorable: the thundrous welcome Martha got from us, arrayed in concert formation at the front of the church, as we invited--no, transported--her forward from her seat to join us. She was still fully herself, and the only one we lifted up in that way on that occasion, celebrated and thanked and embraced for all she had done for us and been through with us in countless rehearsals, concerts in school auditoriums and grand halls and everything in between, both in the Chicago area and on tour after tour after tour--travelling mainly by bus! I'm so glad she could receive those thanks and that love soon enough to savor it, and the memory if it, for years to come. She was a blessing. May her memory ever be so.
Steve Glatter
March 1, 2024
How many years our family had the pleasure of Martha´s company at our Thanksgiving meals. She was a voracious eater, and I love that about her, but even better she was a fantastic Scattergories player. We´re so sorry for your loss, and so grateful for the wonderful memories that Martha gave us.
Luther Snow
March 1, 2024
Martha was always great with us kids on the block on Harper. At CCC, she was patient and kind with us as kids, and covered our mistakes on the piano! What a rich and long life. Blessings with the Faulhabers.
Erica Wiley Morris
February 29, 2024
When I was a child in Hyde Park, Chicago, Martha was my piano teacher from when I was 8 till I was 15 years of age. She prepared me for numerous piano competitions, of which many such opportunities abounded in Chicago. I felt extremely fortunate that she accompanied me & quietly cheered for me at every one of my competitions. As you well know, Martha was an accompanist with the Chicago Children´s Choir for about 25 years. I sang with the choir for 7 years. When I was 12 I had the amazing experience of touring with the choir for 6 weeks in Europe -- & luckily for us, Martha was among the staff on that tour. I have played piano professionally these past 11 years at University of the Arts & at a number of fine professional ballet schools -- thanks to dear Martha! Thank you Lizzie & Christina for your loving care for her. Peace & blessings, with dearest love.
Janet Hamada
February 29, 2024
I was one of Martha´s piano students in the 1970s and through my mother and her good friend, Anne, continued to see Martha until our last visit with her in 2021. Martha was a special part of my childhood and adulthood. I will always remember her for her genuine kindness. For years, she donated to the social services´ organization where I work just to support me-something I will always cherish. She will be missed!
Anne Hamada
February 29, 2024
My dear friend Martha and I played
piano and `cello music together for 50 years in Hyde Park. She was my
very professional accompanist, as well as a loving. intelligent and generous friend with whom I shared not only our musical hours together
but political discussions (never arguments!) as well. She was a humanist and cared greatly about the world situation. It didn´t matter in which decade we were living. We lived a half a block apart all those years... i miss her and our enduring friendship terribly.
-anne hamada
29 February, 2024
Peter Daly
February 29, 2024
I remember Martha Faulhaber in her kindness and support to the Daly family and her many years of friendship with my parents Bob and Edie Daly. Martha was a cheerful, creative and smiling presence.
David Finke
February 29, 2024
Aunt Martha taught me how to count in French when I was just "knee high" and I still remember it...at least to ten.
David Finke
Mary
February 29, 2024
I met her briefly at the Finke reunions and she was very warm and welcoming. I learned today what an amazing and accomplished woman she was too. So sorry for your loss. Both Cork and I hope you cherish your memories of her.
Richard Finke
February 29, 2024
We will all miss her! I remember fondly time spent together during my Chicago years. Trips to her home in Hyde Park, meet up for a piano concert, a bite to eat, stories about growing up with so many brothers and sisters and so on. I recall her always being curious about the world and this really pulled me in. In the late 1990s to pass the time, we disected Israel-Palestine and globalization on a car ride from Chicago to Dayton. More recently I have been able to continue the conversation through her grandson and you can see she has left her mark with all of us.
Nicole Heaston Lane
February 29, 2024
Martha was the pianist for the Chicago Children´s Choir when I was there and I remember her always being kind and a lovely pianist.
Sam Fenster
February 28, 2024
Duet with my mother Laura in 2004. They were friends my whole life. Martha was a beautiful person.
Marion Baumgarten
February 28, 2024
Martha and the whole Faulhaber family have always been so kind and welcoming, she will be missed.
Elizabeth Barnet
February 28, 2024
Martha has been a presence in my life always. She was deeply admired by and a loyal friend to my mother, Millie Barnet. They met in Chicago at Friendship House. As I was the only person in my family to pursue classical piano, and the Faulhabers were dear and admired friends, Martha was a musical guide and model. Gentle, intelligent, kind, and curious, I am so very grateful to have known Martha and to know all that she brought in to this world. I hope she meets up with my mom, Millie, and they have some long good conversations. Big hug to all who knew Martha.
Catherine
February 28, 2024
So sorry to hear of Aunt Martha´s passing. The obituary was beautifully written.
Gwyneth Aubrey
February 28, 2024
Her smile, and her wonderful piano playing.
Susan Turner Jones
February 28, 2024
As accompanist to the CCC, Martha was always ready, always patient, always steady and always kind. At the time I don´t think we appreciated her enough. But looking back I see that she was a force of strength and stability for the choir. And she was dedicated to the mission of excellence through music.
Jackie Johnson
February 28, 2024
A fond memory of being in Chicago Children's Choir was seeing Martha at the piano for rehearsals and concerts. She would have a smile & twinkle in her eyes while playing songs like Little Ms Muffett and the best serious face while playing Handel's Messiah. I'm glad to have been able to perform with her during my early days with the choir. Sending lots of love and light to the family as they mourn her loss and celebrate her life.
CeCe Hill
February 28, 2024
Her smile was very welcoming when attending Chicago Children's Choir rehearsals. She was an excellent pianist!
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