Althea Pearl Everitt Hill Cerveny
Parents:
Father: Couer de Vine Everitt
Mother: Mary Leola Winner
Spouse: David Hill
Spouse: Walter Cerveny
Marriage: 1949 Cleveland, Ohio
Althea Pearl Everitt Cerveny
Althea Pearl Everitt Cerveny, beloved mother, wife, sister and friend, gifted musician and teacher, died on Monday, Nov. 22 in Seattle of cancer. She was living with her daughter Lisa Cerveny and son-in-law David Russell, and they and her youngest brother were with her, at home, as she made a beautiful transition.
Althea was born March 5, 1922 in Eden, Idaho to Mary and Couer de Vine Everitt. The family moved to Meridian in 1930. Like most in the area, they became sharecroppers during the Depression, and Althea understood the value of hard work.
She was the middle child of five, the only girl, with wide-set, penetrating blue eyes and a ready laugh. "She was just a sweetheart," Jerry says, "She was a very caring, loving sister."
Althea was also keenly intelligent, observant and musical. A local piano teacher, Fern Davidson, discovered and nurtured her formidable talent, and had a hand in helping her win a scholarship to Colby Junior College in New Hampshire. Althea studied piano at the New England Conservatory as well, and performed with the Boston Symphony.
During this time she met her first husband, David Hill. He was stationed in Boston with the Coast Guard during World War II, and died before the war ended.
Althea then went to Yale University to study music in the master's program, where she was met Walter Cerveny. "I heard about him long before we met," she said. "His reputation as a violinist preceded him." The relationship began as friendship, but evolved quickly. Not long before he died, as she recalled their first kiss, Althea fell silent with a radiant smile.
They married in 1949 in Ohio, where Walter taught music at Kent State University. When he became ill, they went to Idaho to live with Althea's parents while he recovered, and found a lasting home in Caldwell.
Walter joined the music faculty at the College of Idaho, and Althea and Walter's daughter Lisa was born in 1953. "When they handed her to me, it was just like a miracle," Althea said. Lisa brought her tremendous joy, and until the end Althea frequently expressed her gratitude for her daughter's loving presence in her life.
"She and Walter and Lisa were all so supportive of each other," recalls Margo Jensen, a student of Althea's. "Althea and Walter loved children. Their passion was to see the fire in their students' eyes as they caught the spirit of music."
Althea taught piano in the Boise Valley for many years, with great warmth, focus, discipline and style. She was known for being flawlessly groomed.
"She believed a teacher should dress appropriately," Margo recalls. "She was always perfectly coiffed, and wore a dress; her nylons would swish together as she came to the bench. She had incredible decorum, but she was gentle and loving.
"Althea would not let us settle for being musical. She wanted us to be musicians to express our talent with our own hearts. At the time I didn't realize how difficult the things I was playing were, because Althea made it possible — she was my greatest cheerleader."
Ann Griffiths Montgomery, who studied with Althea for 20 years, says "Some of the fondest memories I have are of the times Althea would play along with you to convey a nuance, a phrasing - she couldn't contain herself, she had to get in there and make it happen! And somehow her fabulous musical ability flowed into you those were very exciting lessons."
"She had it all: technique, virtuosity, and musicality," says Linda Cope, Aletha's first student in Idaho. "She was precise to the nth degree. We worked until it was right, no matter how long it took, but it was never adversarial. She had the warmest heart of anybody I've ever known. She was so giving of her time, we were so poor, but there was no such thing as a 30-minute lesson for me; she gave me double the lessons for half the price. I've had teachers from Julliard, Oberlin and Indiana, and nobody ever touched Althea as a teacher and a human being."
In the late 1970s Althea accompanied Walter to Japan to learn the Suzuki method, and incorporated it into her teaching. She and Walter also studied and played in New York and at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home, and spent one glorious summer in Vienna studying music.
After 39 years of marriage, Althea lost Walter to ALS in 1987. Five years later, as her health declined. Althea moved to Seattle, where she continued to savor her passions: friends, music, and good parties. Whenever she could, she saw old friends from Caldwell. Lisa and David's second home in the beach town of Gearhart, Ore. became the gathering place for family holidays and "Brother Weekends," where generations of Everitts met to eat, drink and be merry.
The Idaho Statesman, Saturday, December 4, 2004 Local 5
Parents:
Father: Couer de Vine Everitt
Mother: Mary Leola Winner
Spouse: David Hill
Spouse: Walter Cerveny
Marriage: 1949 Cleveland, Ohio
Althea Pearl Everitt Cerveny
Althea Pearl Everitt Cerveny, beloved mother, wife, sister and friend, gifted musician and teacher, died on Monday, Nov. 22 in Seattle of cancer. She was living with her daughter Lisa Cerveny and son-in-law David Russell, and they and her youngest brother were with her, at home, as she made a beautiful transition.
Althea was born March 5, 1922 in Eden, Idaho to Mary and Couer de Vine Everitt. The family moved to Meridian in 1930. Like most in the area, they became sharecroppers during the Depression, and Althea understood the value of hard work.
She was the middle child of five, the only girl, with wide-set, penetrating blue eyes and a ready laugh. "She was just a sweetheart," Jerry says, "She was a very caring, loving sister."
Althea was also keenly intelligent, observant and musical. A local piano teacher, Fern Davidson, discovered and nurtured her formidable talent, and had a hand in helping her win a scholarship to Colby Junior College in New Hampshire. Althea studied piano at the New England Conservatory as well, and performed with the Boston Symphony.
During this time she met her first husband, David Hill. He was stationed in Boston with the Coast Guard during World War II, and died before the war ended.
Althea then went to Yale University to study music in the master's program, where she was met Walter Cerveny. "I heard about him long before we met," she said. "His reputation as a violinist preceded him." The relationship began as friendship, but evolved quickly. Not long before he died, as she recalled their first kiss, Althea fell silent with a radiant smile.
They married in 1949 in Ohio, where Walter taught music at Kent State University. When he became ill, they went to Idaho to live with Althea's parents while he recovered, and found a lasting home in Caldwell.
Walter joined the music faculty at the College of Idaho, and Althea and Walter's daughter Lisa was born in 1953. "When they handed her to me, it was just like a miracle," Althea said. Lisa brought her tremendous joy, and until the end Althea frequently expressed her gratitude for her daughter's loving presence in her life.
"She and Walter and Lisa were all so supportive of each other," recalls Margo Jensen, a student of Althea's. "Althea and Walter loved children. Their passion was to see the fire in their students' eyes as they caught the spirit of music."
Althea taught piano in the Boise Valley for many years, with great warmth, focus, discipline and style. She was known for being flawlessly groomed.
"She believed a teacher should dress appropriately," Margo recalls. "She was always perfectly coiffed, and wore a dress; her nylons would swish together as she came to the bench. She had incredible decorum, but she was gentle and loving.
"Althea would not let us settle for being musical. She wanted us to be musicians to express our talent with our own hearts. At the time I didn't realize how difficult the things I was playing were, because Althea made it possible — she was my greatest cheerleader."
Ann Griffiths Montgomery, who studied with Althea for 20 years, says "Some of the fondest memories I have are of the times Althea would play along with you to convey a nuance, a phrasing - she couldn't contain herself, she had to get in there and make it happen! And somehow her fabulous musical ability flowed into you those were very exciting lessons."
"She had it all: technique, virtuosity, and musicality," says Linda Cope, Aletha's first student in Idaho. "She was precise to the nth degree. We worked until it was right, no matter how long it took, but it was never adversarial. She had the warmest heart of anybody I've ever known. She was so giving of her time, we were so poor, but there was no such thing as a 30-minute lesson for me; she gave me double the lessons for half the price. I've had teachers from Julliard, Oberlin and Indiana, and nobody ever touched Althea as a teacher and a human being."
In the late 1970s Althea accompanied Walter to Japan to learn the Suzuki method, and incorporated it into her teaching. She and Walter also studied and played in New York and at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home, and spent one glorious summer in Vienna studying music.
After 39 years of marriage, Althea lost Walter to ALS in 1987. Five years later, as her health declined. Althea moved to Seattle, where she continued to savor her passions: friends, music, and good parties. Whenever she could, she saw old friends from Caldwell. Lisa and David's second home in the beach town of Gearhart, Ore. became the gathering place for family holidays and "Brother Weekends," where generations of Everitts met to eat, drink and be merry.
The Idaho Statesman, Saturday, December 4, 2004 Local 5
Althea Pearl Everitt Hill Cerveny
Parents:
Father: Couer de Vine Everitt
Mother: Mary Leola Winner
Spouse: David Hill
Spouse: Walter Cerveny
Marriage: 1949 Cleveland, Ohio
Althea Pearl Everitt Cerveny
Althea Pearl Everitt Cerveny, beloved mother, wife, sister and friend, gifted musician and teacher, died on Monday, Nov. 22 in Seattle of cancer. She was living with her daughter Lisa Cerveny and son-in-law David Russell, and they and her youngest brother were with her, at home, as she made a beautiful transition.
Althea was born March 5, 1922 in Eden, Idaho to Mary and Couer de Vine Everitt. The family moved to Meridian in 1930. Like most in the area, they became sharecroppers during the Depression, and Althea understood the value of hard work.
She was the middle child of five, the only girl, with wide-set, penetrating blue eyes and a ready laugh. "She was just a sweetheart," Jerry says, "She was a very caring, loving sister."
Althea was also keenly intelligent, observant and musical. A local piano teacher, Fern Davidson, discovered and nurtured her formidable talent, and had a hand in helping her win a scholarship to Colby Junior College in New Hampshire. Althea studied piano at the New England Conservatory as well, and performed with the Boston Symphony.
During this time she met her first husband, David Hill. He was stationed in Boston with the Coast Guard during World War II, and died before the war ended.
Althea then went to Yale University to study music in the master's program, where she was met Walter Cerveny. "I heard about him long before we met," she said. "His reputation as a violinist preceded him." The relationship began as friendship, but evolved quickly. Not long before he died, as she recalled their first kiss, Althea fell silent with a radiant smile.
They married in 1949 in Ohio, where Walter taught music at Kent State University. When he became ill, they went to Idaho to live with Althea's parents while he recovered, and found a lasting home in Caldwell.
Walter joined the music faculty at the College of Idaho, and Althea and Walter's daughter Lisa was born in 1953. "When they handed her to me, it was just like a miracle," Althea said. Lisa brought her tremendous joy, and until the end Althea frequently expressed her gratitude for her daughter's loving presence in her life.
"She and Walter and Lisa were all so supportive of each other," recalls Margo Jensen, a student of Althea's. "Althea and Walter loved children. Their passion was to see the fire in their students' eyes as they caught the spirit of music."
Althea taught piano in the Boise Valley for many years, with great warmth, focus, discipline and style. She was known for being flawlessly groomed.
"She believed a teacher should dress appropriately," Margo recalls. "She was always perfectly coiffed, and wore a dress; her nylons would swish together as she came to the bench. She had incredible decorum, but she was gentle and loving.
"Althea would not let us settle for being musical. She wanted us to be musicians to express our talent with our own hearts. At the time I didn't realize how difficult the things I was playing were, because Althea made it possible — she was my greatest cheerleader."
Ann Griffiths Montgomery, who studied with Althea for 20 years, says "Some of the fondest memories I have are of the times Althea would play along with you to convey a nuance, a phrasing - she couldn't contain herself, she had to get in there and make it happen! And somehow her fabulous musical ability flowed into you those were very exciting lessons."
"She had it all: technique, virtuosity, and musicality," says Linda Cope, Aletha's first student in Idaho. "She was precise to the nth degree. We worked until it was right, no matter how long it took, but it was never adversarial. She had the warmest heart of anybody I've ever known. She was so giving of her time, we were so poor, but there was no such thing as a 30-minute lesson for me; she gave me double the lessons for half the price. I've had teachers from Julliard, Oberlin and Indiana, and nobody ever touched Althea as a teacher and a human being."
In the late 1970s Althea accompanied Walter to Japan to learn the Suzuki method, and incorporated it into her teaching. She and Walter also studied and played in New York and at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home, and spent one glorious summer in Vienna studying music.
After 39 years of marriage, Althea lost Walter to ALS in 1987. Five years later, as her health declined. Althea moved to Seattle, where she continued to savor her passions: friends, music, and good parties. Whenever she could, she saw old friends from Caldwell. Lisa and David's second home in the beach town of Gearhart, Ore. became the gathering place for family holidays and "Brother Weekends," where generations of Everitts met to eat, drink and be merry.
The Idaho Statesman, Saturday, December 4, 2004 Local 5
Parents:
Father: Couer de Vine Everitt
Mother: Mary Leola Winner
Spouse: David Hill
Spouse: Walter Cerveny
Marriage: 1949 Cleveland, Ohio
Althea Pearl Everitt Cerveny
Althea Pearl Everitt Cerveny, beloved mother, wife, sister and friend, gifted musician and teacher, died on Monday, Nov. 22 in Seattle of cancer. She was living with her daughter Lisa Cerveny and son-in-law David Russell, and they and her youngest brother were with her, at home, as she made a beautiful transition.
Althea was born March 5, 1922 in Eden, Idaho to Mary and Couer de Vine Everitt. The family moved to Meridian in 1930. Like most in the area, they became sharecroppers during the Depression, and Althea understood the value of hard work.
She was the middle child of five, the only girl, with wide-set, penetrating blue eyes and a ready laugh. "She was just a sweetheart," Jerry says, "She was a very caring, loving sister."
Althea was also keenly intelligent, observant and musical. A local piano teacher, Fern Davidson, discovered and nurtured her formidable talent, and had a hand in helping her win a scholarship to Colby Junior College in New Hampshire. Althea studied piano at the New England Conservatory as well, and performed with the Boston Symphony.
During this time she met her first husband, David Hill. He was stationed in Boston with the Coast Guard during World War II, and died before the war ended.
Althea then went to Yale University to study music in the master's program, where she was met Walter Cerveny. "I heard about him long before we met," she said. "His reputation as a violinist preceded him." The relationship began as friendship, but evolved quickly. Not long before he died, as she recalled their first kiss, Althea fell silent with a radiant smile.
They married in 1949 in Ohio, where Walter taught music at Kent State University. When he became ill, they went to Idaho to live with Althea's parents while he recovered, and found a lasting home in Caldwell.
Walter joined the music faculty at the College of Idaho, and Althea and Walter's daughter Lisa was born in 1953. "When they handed her to me, it was just like a miracle," Althea said. Lisa brought her tremendous joy, and until the end Althea frequently expressed her gratitude for her daughter's loving presence in her life.
"She and Walter and Lisa were all so supportive of each other," recalls Margo Jensen, a student of Althea's. "Althea and Walter loved children. Their passion was to see the fire in their students' eyes as they caught the spirit of music."
Althea taught piano in the Boise Valley for many years, with great warmth, focus, discipline and style. She was known for being flawlessly groomed.
"She believed a teacher should dress appropriately," Margo recalls. "She was always perfectly coiffed, and wore a dress; her nylons would swish together as she came to the bench. She had incredible decorum, but she was gentle and loving.
"Althea would not let us settle for being musical. She wanted us to be musicians to express our talent with our own hearts. At the time I didn't realize how difficult the things I was playing were, because Althea made it possible — she was my greatest cheerleader."
Ann Griffiths Montgomery, who studied with Althea for 20 years, says "Some of the fondest memories I have are of the times Althea would play along with you to convey a nuance, a phrasing - she couldn't contain herself, she had to get in there and make it happen! And somehow her fabulous musical ability flowed into you those were very exciting lessons."
"She had it all: technique, virtuosity, and musicality," says Linda Cope, Aletha's first student in Idaho. "She was precise to the nth degree. We worked until it was right, no matter how long it took, but it was never adversarial. She had the warmest heart of anybody I've ever known. She was so giving of her time, we were so poor, but there was no such thing as a 30-minute lesson for me; she gave me double the lessons for half the price. I've had teachers from Julliard, Oberlin and Indiana, and nobody ever touched Althea as a teacher and a human being."
In the late 1970s Althea accompanied Walter to Japan to learn the Suzuki method, and incorporated it into her teaching. She and Walter also studied and played in New York and at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home, and spent one glorious summer in Vienna studying music.
After 39 years of marriage, Althea lost Walter to ALS in 1987. Five years later, as her health declined. Althea moved to Seattle, where she continued to savor her passions: friends, music, and good parties. Whenever she could, she saw old friends from Caldwell. Lisa and David's second home in the beach town of Gearhart, Ore. became the gathering place for family holidays and "Brother Weekends," where generations of Everitts met to eat, drink and be merry.
The Idaho Statesman, Saturday, December 4, 2004 Local 5
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