None Dorothy Gibbs

Dorothy Marguerite (Dawson) Gibbs, a longtime resident of West Roxbury, died Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at the Beth Israel-Deaconness Medical Center in Boston after a brief illness.  She was 87.  Dorothy was born August 17, 1922 in Boston, Massachusetts, the only daughter of Joseph and Marguerite (Faust) Dawson.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Boston University in 1943 and her Masters degree in 1944 from Mannes Music College.  Dorothy earned her Masters degree in History from the Boston University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1969. In the late 1940’s she sang in leading roles for the New York Metropolitan Opera, sang at Carnegie Hall, and also sang at Tanglewood.  Dorothy later sang for many years in the renowned Trinity Church Choir in Boston.  Her opera performances include the role of Cherubino in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro in New York in 1946, the role of Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte in New York from 1949 to 1951, the role of Idamantes in the first US performance of Mozart’s Idomeneo preformed at the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood in 1947, and the role of Czypra in Johann Strauss’ Gypsy Baron at Carnegie Hall in 1948.  In addition she gave many solo performances in opera and Lieder concerts in New York between 1946 and 1952.  Dorothy was also a soloist at Central Synagogue in New York City from 1944 to 1952 and performed for the “Message of Israel” radio program from 1944 to 1951.  In later years she recalled the importance of music to the Jewish community during the war years and shortly thereafter, when many of the people she knew suffered the loss of their entire families.  Days before she died she likened the plight of the Boston Haitian community to that of her Jewish friends in New York in 1945.  In addition to the Trinity Church Choir, Dorothy performed with the Sarah Caldwell’s Opera Company in Boston, and at Temple Ohabei Shalom choir in Brookline, Massachusetts.  She taught Music Theory for 30 years at Massasoit Community College as well as European History.  She was a member of the Metropolitan Opera of New England Auditions Committee from 1990 until her death.  She was the wife of the late Dr. Raymond Weldon Gibbs and the sister of the late Richard Dawson.  Dorothy is survived by her son, Dr. Raymond W. Gibbs Jr., of Santa Cruz, California; her two daughters, Virginia Ross, and her husband Michael, of West Roxbury, and Janet Nicolos, and her husband Vassilios, of Westwood; and her five grandchildren, Jonathan and Melissa Ross, and Dimitri, Alexei, and Andreas Nicolos.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Saturday, February 6th at 11AM at All Saints Church, 209 Ashmont Street, Dorchester followed by burial in Gethsemane Cemetery in West Roxbury.  In lieu of flowers donations to All Saints Church, 209 Ashmont Street, Dorchester, MA 02124 would be appreciated.