grave import

Obituary

Dorothy Louise Baumle, age 98, Burlington born and longtime resident, died Friday, August 10, 2007 at Regency Oaks Retirement Community, Clearwater, Florida. Born May 19,1909, the second daughter of Herman J. and Mabel Bewig Baumle, Dorothy graduated from Burlington High School as Valedictorian in 1926. Every Sunday at Burlington's First Methodist Church when their father was Sunday School superintendent, Dorothy directed the Sunday School orchestra and her sister Marian accompanied on the piano. After church, they rushed home to change into evening gowns to entertain diners at the Burlington Hotel. The Baumles lived on Harrison Avenue. Dorothy's father was Burlington's assistant postmaster. At Columbia School of Music in Chicago, Dorothy majored in violin and orchestra conducting and received a Bachelor of School Music degree in 1934. She played violin in a group called the Russian String Quartet, which toured the Chautauqua educational circuit in Kentucky and Ohio. In 1939 she received a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and membership in Pi Kappa Lambda, music honor society. From 1939-1951 she taught instrumental music at Burlington High School. Orchestral concerts were in Burlington's Memorial Auditorium. Responsible for visiting performers in a cultural arts series, Dorothy valued her conversation with acclaimed violinist Jascha Heifetz in which he said, "Someday I hope to become good enough to be a teacher." In 1951, Dorothy moved to Arlington, Virginia to lead the orchestral programs at Stratford Jr. High and Washington-Lee (W-L) High School. In less than a year, she displayed what Washington Post critic Paul Hume called "expert and musically demanding leadership" as she directed her W-L students in a program "far above (that of) the average high school orchestra." (Excerpted from The Washington Post news obituary article posted online, September 9, 2007, by Staff Writer Matt Schudel: "Dorothy L. Baumle; Arlington Schools Music Director.") In 1953, she became Arlington County Supervisor of Instrumental Music in Public Schools, as well as director of the W-L High School Orchestra. Her orchestra and the W-L Choir presented joint Christmas and spring concerts and performed at Washington, D. C. venues including Hall of the Americas/Pan American Union, DAR Constitution Hall, and National Association of Secondary School Principals conventions. A former W-L student, John L. C. Mitman, wrote in an Alumni Orchestra tribute to Dorothy in 2000: "She set in motion a measure of commitment to fine music in Arlington County that has been sustained for five decades. There was fine music, carefully chosen, challenging, expertly prepared and beautifully performed. The music, coupled with vision, skills and personality of Dorothy Baumle, was the motivation ... "Dorothy's second sphere of influence produced not just musicians but levels of self-confidence, self-esteem and leadership ... Dorothy Baumle trained us, rehearsed us, empowered us, led us, guided us, challenged us and even let us mess up. While leading us to love fine music, she taught us how to get the job done with both efficiency and grace." For 23 years, until she retired in 1974, Dorothy maintained high musical standards and endeared herself to students with kindness, understanding and wit. "She was such a rare person and had an extraordinary influence on so many people," Mitman, a retired Episcopal priest who lives in Connecticut, said. "It was the kind of experience you never, ever forget." Some of her students held seats in the Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Chamber Orchestra and the Washington Bach Consort. Others became composers and recording artists. Still others passed along their love of music to children and grandchildren. In retirement, Dorothy actively supported Arlington Symphony as a lifetime board member and Arlington Temple United Methodist Church. Seasonal visits to Clearwater, Florida friends led to a 1991 move there, joined by her sister who had retired from teaching piano in Burlington. Known as "The Two B's" because of their music-related teaching careers, they became affiliated with Heritage United Methodist Church and became season subscribers to the classical music series at Ruth Eckerd Hall for performing arts. Whenever music began, whether at a concert, in church, or on public TV, Dorothy's hands rose instinctively as if to conduct the performers. Dorothy cherished continued contact with former students, colleagues, and friends. Frequent Hawk Eye clippings in letters from friends Ruth Buehler and Mary Ward kept the Baumles connected with Burlington. The Burlington High School class of 1940 wrote Dorothy from their 60th anniversary reunion banquet: "Whenever my daughter plays her violin, I think of you," a former student wrote. "For guidance that I will never forget - a clarinetist with superior rating. You brought out the best in us," another wrote. "Tell Marian that so many remember and thank her for her patience and encouragement as she was teaching us and later our children," wrote another. Marian died in December 2000.Longtime friend Caroline Jackson accompanied Dorothy in 2001 on her last visit to Burlington. "How heartwarming it was to see the sites of Dorothy's memories on this my first trip to Burlington," Ms. Jackson recalls. 'The Methodist Church sanctuary with those beautiful blue and gold stained glass windows, Memorial Auditorium, their Harrison Avenue home, and the family plot at Aspen Grove Cemetery." Condolences and memories may be sent to Caroline Jackson, 4908 Washington Blvd., Arlington, Virginia 22205. A tribute to Dorothy Baumle's life will be held Friday, 3 p.m., November 16, 2007, at Town Hall, Regency Oaks, 2751 Regency Oaks Blvd., Clearwater, Florida 33759. Memorial donations may be directed to the Rebuilding Fund, First United Methodist Church, 421 Washington Avenue, Burlington, Iowa 52601. Earlier this year, its historic church building was destroyed by fire. Inurnment will be at Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington, May 19, 2008