"She taught me when I was in high school. Once, she told me I must be tough. It made a lifetime difference. The world has lost a musical treasure."
In loving memory of
Leonora Suppan-Gehrich
November 19, 2015
Mrs. Leonora Suppan-Gehrich passed away on the 15th of October 2015 at Blessing hospital in Quincy, IL. She died of complications arising from liver cancer which she bravely fought for more than 6 years.
An only child, Mrs. Suppan -Gehrich was born in 1935 to a musical family in Vienna, Austria. Her mother, Josephine Suppan -Rodler was a concert pianist and later a beloved high-school music teacher. Her father Joseph Suppan, an operatic baritone, performed on stages throughout Europe and continued to sing concerts into his mid-eighties, allowing him to share his love of music with Quincy audiences.
Mrs. Suppan-Gehrich began piano lessons at age 5, and music became the defining passion of her life. After being displaced in World War II, her family settled in Leoben, Austria, where she attended the Bundesreal Gymnasium and developed her talents under her mother's tutelage. She was accepted at the Vienna Academy of Music where she studied under the renowned Austrian pianist, Professor Kirschbaumer.
After graduation from the Academy in 1959, she continued her studies at the conservatory of Warsaw, Poland, where she immersed herself in the music of Chopin and placed 2nd in the International Chopin Piano Competition. She furthered her musical studies in Venice, at the Conservatorio Benedetto Marcello prior to accepting American Association of University Women sponsorship to come to the United States in 1962. She studied at Indiana University under Menahem Pressler and became his assistant in 1963 after having received the 1st prize at the University of Indiana's Piano Competition. In April 1964, she had a very successful New York debut in Carnegie Recital Hall.
In 1964, upon completing her Master's degree of Music Performance at Indiana University, Mrs. Leonora Suppan Gehrich accepted a professorship at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. Thanks to the German- speaking community in central Illinois, she met, fell in love and married her husband, Dr. Guenter Gehrich, and settled in Quincy, IL. Following teaching interludes at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL and Culver Stockton College in Canton, MO, she was awarded the status of Artist-in-Residence at Quincy University in 1976. She remained in this position until her retirement in the summer of 2015.
Prior to settling in Quincy, she had played concerts in Austria, Germany, Poland, Italy , France, Portugal, Hungary ,Czechoslovakia, Holland, England, Canada and across the U.S.A. She made recordings for the Austrian Radio Stations in Vienna and Graz, the Polish Radio Stations in Warsaw and Krakow, the Portugese Radio, Lisbon, the B.B.C, London, Radiodiffusion Francaise Paris, Rias Berlin, Sender Freies Berlin, the "Hessische Rundfunk" Frankfurt and the" West-deutsche Rundfunk", Cologne.
Despite leaving the grand stages of classical music while raising her family in Quincy, Mrs. Leonora Suppan- Gehrich continued to perform locally, nationally and internationally often with over 60 concerts per year. She received the first prize and cash awards in the International Recording Competition of the Piano Guild in 1981 and 1982. She was one of 70 pianists from all over the world invited to play at the International Beethoven Festival at Southern Illinois University in 1992. In 1993, she accepted an invitation to perform at the 5th Interdisciplinary Conference on Women in San Juan, Costa Rica. In acknowledgment of her accomplishments, Quincy University awarded Mrs. Leonora Suppan- Gehrich an honorary doctorate in 1987, and the mayor bestowed on her The Arts Award of Quincy in 1988.
In an interview in 1999 Mrs. Suppan-Gehrich was asked: "Does your private life help or hinder your music?", She responded :" It takes love, time and energy , but a satisfying private life creates more energy". With this undaunted energy, she had become a devoted mother to her three children; Alan, Brian and Colleen; two of whom pursued music as a career. She wholeheartedly supported her husband and with his instruction and encouragement, she learned to co-pilot an airplane, play competitive tennis, ride horses, become an accomplished cook, and an astute judge on political discourse.
Mrs. Leonora Suppan- Gehrich always believed in the driving force and ultimately in the transcendence of music. This conviction powered her life and led to the thousands of hours of practice, which allowed her to perform with a brilliant technical prowess. She lived a full and vibrant life which infused her music with expressive power and warmth. Her conviction allowed her to share her talent generously, with unwavering confidence and optimism. It gave her joy to create an environment where her audiences were able to share in the beauty and splendor of classical music.
She is survived by her husband Guenter Gehrich MD. Her eldest son, Alan Gehrich, MD is a colonel in the US Army, assigned in Honolulu, HI with his wife Barbara and children, Roman and Grace. Brian Gehrich, her second son, who is a professional violinist and teacher, and wife Dilieth, are living in Bloomington IL. Her daughter, Colleen, who is teaching piano, is married to Sam Haffar and living with their three children, Dana, Omar and Lana, in Houston, TX.
Friends are invited to gather to celebrate Leonora's life on Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a tribute featuring her music to begin at 6:00 p.m. at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.
Memorials: in lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Leonora Suppan-Gehrich Scholarship at Quincy Univeristy
www.hansenspear.com
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.
Tributes
"Sadly, I have just learned of Leonora's death. My deepest sympathy geos to her family and colleagues. She came to Keokuk many times and offered her talent and graciousness to us, performing free of charge. She was a gifted,kind, and lovely person - giving so much of herself to everyone. She will be missed by everyone who ever knew her. Sincerely, Prudence A. Backlin, Keokuk Fine Arts Council"
"Our heartfelt condolences to Leonora's family and dear friends. We were fortunate to have heard Leonora perform many times at the Stiegemeier home. Her virtuosity, immersion, and interpretation of music created entrancing performances. The world lost a truly gifted artist and wonderful soul."
"Our sincerest condolences and profound gratitude to the family of Mrs. Gehrich. She touched the lives of so many families in Quincy in so many ways. Thank you for your gracious dedication and support of her artistic contribution to our community. We share her memory with you in our hearts."
"We will miss you,Lore,"
"One of the highlights of living here in Quincy, has been the concerts preformed by this remarkable woman, her Son, and others. Music was the very soul of Leonora, which she shared with us that sat in her presence. We were truly blessed by her talents. The silence is now poignant! I feel so fortunate to have heard her in concerts. May flights of angels greet thee...."
"Dear Lore, we will miss you."
"Our deepest condolences to Guenter and Family. Leonora (Lore) has been a friend for many years. We enjoyed and appreciated her musical talent very much, also the family gatherings for many years. It will be greatly missed."
"Even though Leonora was beyond fabulous as a gifted performer, she always made all students and co workers very comfortable with her caring and humble words and actions. She was not afraid to laugh at herself. That in itself is a trait many should emulate. Thank you, Leonora, for all the gifts of yourself that you shared with SO many making the Quincy area's music a beautiful, flourishing, and continuing legacy. Our condolences to all her family and our thanks for sharing her with us."
"So sorry for your loss."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with you."
"I treasure my lessons with her during college. I will always feel it a privilege to have studied with her. Memories of her playing beside, or sitting on top of her desk listening to me, pulling all the potential from me. Great, great memories. My books with her handwritten notes will always mean the world to me. Regrets I did not keep in touch. Praying for peace, comfort and warm memories...so very sorry for your loss."
"She was the one who jump-started my recital career when I moved to Quincy. Ever wanting to do new music in new places, we shared many wonderful experiences making music together, whether in Chicago, Quincy, or her living room! A light has gone out in Quincy, and certainly in her family. I send my condolences to her wonderful family and to all who loved her."
"Prayers that God welcome Leonara Suppan-Gehrich, and condolences to all of her family. A fine colleague at Quincy University, she left a great legacy."
"Joe and I send our deepest condolences to Ted and children. Leanora was a special lady, very intelligent, and a wonderful pianist. I apprecaite the times I heard her play. She was the greatest."
"What a great loss for all of us in Quincy! We have lost a talented, kind lady who was a great influence in the music community. My condolences to the family."
"We wish to extend our sincere condolences to the Gehrich family and friends. Leonora was always kind and such a wonderful lady when we had the good fortune to talk with her. We will miss her..."
"My deepest condolences to the family. Leonora was a truly gifted musician, I always enjoyed listening to her play, for my German class, and Sunday Music Series. The classical music she played was beautiful. Thoughts and prayers to you all."
"I had the great blessing of knowing Leanora and Dr.Gehrich and their wonderful family. She was a very gifted and a dedicated artist, wife, and mother, and grand-mother. She was loved and gave so much love. What a blessing!!!!!!How precious the memoreis. May you all be comforted, there in."
"Many fond memories of lessons with Leonora starting about 30 years ago and continuing until I left to major in piano pedagogy at University of Illinois. I regret not knowing she was ailing. She gave me a great underpinning in the core repertoire that has stood me in very good stead in graduate school and in my professional activities. My condolences to family and friends."
"My condolences to Leonora's family and friends. I had the pleasure of knowing her for many years and enjoying the lovely music she played on the piano, as well as studying the German language under her instruction at Quincy University. May she rest in the eternal peace of God!"
"We are sending you our deepest condolences on the loss of your wife and mother. We so loved her music performances and the wonderful kindness she showed everyone. May all your memories of her be a comfort in the days ahead."
"Leonora was my piano teacher and collaborator on recitals as an undergraduate at Quincy University from 1999-2004. Though I was never the greatest piano student, I believe that she appreciated my love and zest for interpreting Lieder, art songs and arias. I got the feeling that she genuinely enjoyed collaborating with me, and the feeling was mutual. There was also a bit of mystique working with someone born in the country of so many famed composers whose compositions she loved to perform. I took away several great skills from what she taught me, especially her helpful, insightful feedback on my German diction. I last saw Leonora in February of last year when I was in Quincy to sing with Muddy River Opera. We had a very pleasant conversation, including talk my recent vacation to her home country of Austria. It's sad that we won't have that opportunity again. Rest in peace, Leonora."
"What a gifted pianist and teacher we have lost! Leonora's dedication to music and to her students was matched by her modesty and kindness. She will be greatly missed."