REMEMBERING MARIE DIETZ IMEL WILTSHIRE

Posted on May 29, 2020

Marie Dietz was the eldest of five daughters of Klara and Charles E. Dietz, Oregon Symphony French horn player, PJS coach and college professor. Marie followed in her father’s footsteps to become a dedicated French horn player. She attended Ockley Green School and Jefferson High School before entering University of Portland, and ultimately completing her undergraduate degree in music at Marylhurst College. In 1952, Marie passed her audition to play in the Portland Junior Symphony (PJS) and went on to play principal horn in the group until 1957.

The mother of seven children, Marie was an inspiration for her kids’ many and varied artistic pursuits in music, dance and theatre. Two of them played in the PJS: Sarah Imel Rafai, French horn and Theodore Imel, trumpet. Others in her extended family also played in the PJS/PYP: Sister Ellen played cello, 1958-1962, and nephew Charlie Dietz Crabtree, French horn, 2003-2009. Charlie Crabtree now plays in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and teaches horn in Gresham, Oregon for PYP’s Middle School Coaching Project.

Marie remained active in the arts and cultural programs in the Portland area. She played in the Portland Symphony, Salem Symphony, Marylhurst Symphony, Portland Civic Theatre Musicals and music related events for Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB).

She also loved mountain climbing and hiking, especially in old growth forests in Oregon, California and Washington. A basic philosophy for her entire life was Marie’s belief that beautiful music had a divine essence and made everyone who listens to it, kinder and more empathetic towards the world.

She died on March 29, 2019 in Portland, Oregon.

~ Submitted by her sister, Ellen Dietz Moryl