Obituary of Marilyn R. Hoare

CATSKILL - Marilyn Ruth (Ruelke) Hoare, age 93, died in Hudson on Saturday March 26, 2022 after a short illness. She was born in Brooklyn on May 28, 1928, and grew up in St. Albans, where she attended Andrew Jackson High School. Marilyn began studying piano at the age of five with a teacher from the Damrosch School of Music in New York. She started giving recitals and found her first work as a concert accompanist while a teenager in the metropolitan area. She continued her studies after moving to Greene County and began to instruct others, both privately and as elementary music teacher at Greenville Central School, where she taught for 32 years. Marilyn graduated with honors from the College of St. Rose with a B.S. in music. Her graduate study in music performance, with a major in organ, was at Syracuse University. Earlier she had studied harpsichord with Joyce Lindorff at Julliard School, and organ and choral studies at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Marilyn was a member of the American Guild of Organists and was church organist and choir director in several area churches, most extensively as church organist for many years at Redeemer Lutheran in Kingston. During the summer months she was organist and choir director at All Souls Church in Onteora, and music director for the summer theatre productions of Onteora Playhouse. She performed many concerts and recitals, both as an accompanist and solo performer, throughout the Hudson Valley including at All Saints Cathedral in Albany and Old Dutch Church in Kingston. Marilyn traveled extensively through Europe, and a special thrill for her was being invited to play the pipe organ at the American Cathedral in Paris. Marilyn is survived by sons William and Steven; grandsons Steven, Christopher, and John; granddaughters Erica and Eleanor; and great-grandson Aidan. Her husband Walter and son Kenneth predeceased her. Visitation will be from 10 to 11am on Saturday April 2nd at Christ Episcopal Church in Greenville, followed by a service at 11am at the church and interment in Greenville Cemetery. To honor Marilyn’s life and work, a fund has been established to purchase new musical instruments for Greenville students: checks made payable to Greenville Central School District, PO Box 129, Greenville, NY 12083, with “In memory of Marilyn Hoare” on the memo line. Because of Marilyn’s love for animals, a second fund has been established to support animal welfare. Donations may be sent to Columbia-Greene Humane Society, 111 Humane Society Road, Hudson, NY 12534, with “In memory of Marilyn Hoare” on the memo line. Arrangements by A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville. Condolences can be posted at ajcunninghamfh.com.