Notice regarding Martha T. Connolly
Provost Michael R. Halleran sent the following message to the campus community May 27, 2015 - Ed.
Dear colleagues,
I am sad to pass along the news that Martha T. Connolly, voice instructor at William & Mary who retired just last year, passed away on May 18, 2015. A distinguished lecturer of voice and music, Martha will be greatly missed by her many students, friends and family.
Born on February 7, 1935 in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Martha was the devoted daughter of the late Francis and Eunice Taugher and the sister of the late Frank Taugher. She was a proud graduate of University of Michigan’s class of 1956 and received her master’s in music from Catholic University in 1971. A talented singer and pianist, Martha appeared in recitals, operas and other performances in the Washington D.C. area in the 1970s. She was also an avid boater, serving in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for many years with her beloved friend Van Leer Hoffman.
Martha taught voice as an adjunct at the College faithfully for more than 30 years and was a mainstay of the music department. One of her most successful students, William Joyner, enjoys an international career as an operatic tenor. On a return trip to the College to participate in a master class, Joyner noted that one of the reasons he decided to return to William & Mary was the investment that several of the people here had made in him, including Martha Connolly, “who was incredibly important to my development as a musician and as a man,” he said. During the master class, Ms. Connolly was surprised with a plaque from the Department of Music in recognition of her influence on Joyner and other students like him. William Joyner will be present to sing at her memorial service at the Wren Chapel on Wednesday, June 10 at 5:00 p.m.
Online condolences may be left at www.nelsencares.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Martha's memory to the Martha T. Connolly Fund for Vocal Music. Checks can be made payable to the College of William & Mary and sent to Gift Accounting, College of William & Mary, P.O. Box 1693, Williamsburg, VA 23187-1693. Please note the name of the fund on the check.
Sincerely,
Michael
