 | On Friday, June 1, 2001, LHS and the entire music world lost a dear friend and collegue. Mrs. Mary Langdon passed away after a long battle with cancer. Mrs. Langdon was best known to Ledyard residents as a voice teacher for LHS Music students. As you will see from her obituary below, Mrs. Langdon was much, much more. She not only helped make her students better singers, but also better people. She was the type of person that each and every one of us aspires to be. Mrs Langdon was dearly loved by all who knew her and she will be greatly missed. |
| Mary Langdon Music teacher and Soloist Mystic - Mary Leather Langdon, 82, died Friday at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London after a long battle with cancer. She was a resident of 27 Gravel St., Mystic, for 56 years. She was born on April 9, 1919, in Fall River, Mass. On Aug. 27, 1938, she married Wilbur S. Langdon, who predeceased her in 1991. Mrs. Langdon was a 1936 graduate of Williams Memorial Institute. She continued her studies at Hartt College of Music, the University of Hartford, Julliard School of Music, and the Manhattan School of Music. From 1947 until her death, she had a long career as a voice teacher and soloist in concert, opera oratorio, and recitals throughout New England. She appeared in orchestras including the Hartford Symphony, The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, The Eastern Connecticut Symphony, and the Boston Festival Symphony. She also was a soloist for several colleges, in cluding Yale University, Connecticut College, Brown University, Wesleyan University, M.I.T., the U. S. Coast Guard Academy, and the Universities of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine. She also was a soloist with the Westerly Community Chorus, Hartford Chorale, Rhode Island Civic Chorale, New London Chorale, and the Westerly Men's Chorus. Mrs. Langdon, a mezzo-soprano, performed 39 different opera roles, mostly at the Amato Opera Company in New York. She had her New York debut at Carnegie Hall in 1954. She taught voice in her studio at her home in Mystic from 1950 until one week before her death. In 1970, Mrs. Langdon created a production called "Opera Potpourri" as a way to showcase her students and to give them a performing opportunity. Often she designed elaborate costumes for these productions. The proceeds benefited many local charities. Her last Opera Potpourri, in March 2000, raised more that $5,000 for the local Habitat for Humanity. At the time of her death, she was preparing to co-produce "Amahl and the Night Visitors," which is scheduled for three performances at the Ivoryton Playhouse in December. During the 15 years she taught at the University of Rhode Island, she headed the voice and opera departments. She retired as professor emeriti in 1989. She was also a part-time adjunct professor of voice and opera at Connecticut College from 1980 to 1995. Following her retirement from both institutions, she was a part-time voice teacher at Ledyard High School. A member of the National Association of Singing Teachers (NATS) since 1977, she served as regional governor of New England and the Canadian Maritime Provinces from 1987 to 1991. She also served as Connecticut Governor from 1982 to 1987, and from 1995 to 1999. She was the chairperson for many NATS workshops and festivals throughout New England. She was a member of the Mystic Congregational Church, Mystic Women's Club, The Nystic Art Association, Mystic Seaport, the Mystic Historical Society and the Touch and Go Music Club. For several years, she wrote classical music reviews for The Day. Honors include Pi Kappa Lambda, the music honor society, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Williams School in 1990. Her biography was featured in five editions of "Who's Who of American Women." Arch Crossley, in his review of one of her performances, said "Mary Langdon holds a soundly earned status as the area's prima donna in performance, vocal instruction and musical affairs. As a performer, she possesses a voice of power, depth, unusual range under excellent control." She is survived by a son, Wilbur Langdon of Mystic; a daughter, Carol Kohankie of Flower Mound, Texas; a grandchild; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Mystic Congregational Church. Burial will be private, at sea, and at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Langdon Memorial Scholarship for Voice, c/o University of Rhode Island Foundation, Davis Hall, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, or the Mystic River Ambulance Association, P. O. Box 64, Mystic, CT 06355. The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic, is in charge of the arrangements. |