USD Magazine, Summer-Fall 1993

A short time later, May was diagnosed with cancer. He died before graduating. "David donated his extensive record collection to the department," Hart says softly. "His mother told us how much that music meant to him during his illness." In addition to the students and liberal arts emphasis, Hart says she is thankful to have worked with the Religious of the Sacred Heart at USD. "Mother Rossi [the music department founder] was my mentor-I was so fond of her," Hart says witlt_a smile. "She was so forward-thinking about music, and she really wanted to establish an excellent program." Mother Rossi wasn't the only nun who made an impres– sion. Hart remembers Sister Sally Furay, then dean of arts and sciences, helping in the theater for musical concerts, and Sis– ter Alicia Sarre, founder of the Spanish department, sweeping the hallways. "The sisters had such impressive academic credentials, yet they took great pride in the physical surroundings of the school. There wasn't a job too large or too small for them, and they paid attention to every detail. I really learned from and admired their dedication to the educational process." An accomplished cellist, Hart says some of her fondest USD memories center around playing with the Alcala Trio. "We performed free noon concerts for USD and the San Diego community. They were time-consuming but always a pleasure. It was a way to reach out to people who didn't have an opportunity to take a class and to present live music in the French Parlor." Hart also played with musicians from all over California every New Year's. "Every year we would rent a house on the beach near Santa Cruz and enjoy a week of cooking gourmet food and playing chamber music. It was really great fun." Playing chamber music is something Hart will be able to pursue full time now that she is retired. She also hopes to continue research on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's travels throughout Europe. "Mozart wrote a lot of letters, so I've been able to determine all the different places he'd been," she explains. "It's fascinating to visit the cities and places that he described in his letters and study the original manuscripts." Hart is also looking forward to traveling with her husband and spending more time with her four children and eight grandchildren. She will also participate in the USD Retirees Association. Reflecting on her 26 years at USD, Hart notes "You know, I never thought about leaving here. It will always be part of me."

MARJORIE HART Professor of Music Years at USD: 26

The year American composer Aaron Copland came to USD, Marjorie Hart understood better than ever the true value of a liberal arts education. "I'll never forget that," she says, her eyes bright with the memory. "Charles LiMandri, a student who was taking music as an elective, fell in love with Copland's work. He asked if we could bring Copland to campus. At the time, Copland was such a famous figure in music, it never occurred to us that he would come." It never occurred to LiMandri, a 1977 graduate, that Cop– land wouldn't come to campus, so he sent a letter asking the composer if he would visit Alcala Park. "Copland not only came- he stayed for three days," Hart laughs. "That really was one of the highlights of my career here. And that happened because a student was exposed to music that he fell in love with, and he wasn't afraid to try. That's the wonder of a liberal arts education." Hart says she felt fortunate to teach at USD because of the kind of students the school attracts. "I've always enjoyed the students here. They're so motivated and eager to learn. I particularly enjoyed teaching in the preceptorial program because I had the chance to meet students from all different majors." One of those students, David May, provided Hart with perhaps her most poignant memory. "David was a history major, and he was in my 'History of Music' class. One day, he went to Tower Records to buy a recording he had heard in class, and nobody there could help him. David offered to work there part time and organize the classical music section-and they hired him."

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