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The American mezzo-soprano, Mary Caroline Burriss Yungkurth, graduated as valedictorian from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1947. After a semester at Mt. Union College, where both her parents had gone to school, she took a position in the family business, a prosperous grocery store that served both the town and the surrounding farm community.
Even as a young child, Mary Yungkurth, showedher talent for theater, especially singing, which her mother very much encouraged. By the time she was a young adult she was appearing in theatrical and musical productions in different venues in eastern Ohio, often in the leading role. Although she never intended to make a career of it, love especially of singing remained with her all her life and wherever she was she took a leadership role in promoting local musical organizations.
Mary Yungkurth expressed this lifelong love for music by joining the Binghamton Choral Society, New York and served as their president for four years. She was also a member of the Binghamton Symphony Board and their president for three years. After serving on the board for 12 years, Mary continued her support of the orchestra and chorus, singing with the chorus and working with the Friends of the Symphony on its many activates.
Mary Yungkurth was beloved wife to Charles R. Yungkurth for 56 years. They made their home in Endicott, New York, until 1999 when they moved to Boulder, Colorado. She was very civic-minded and maintained her Republican Party ideals her whole life. She served as precinct committeeperson for Tioga County in New York and a member of the Republican Women's Club. She served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the town of Owego. She served for 11 years including the chairman. In Colorado, she joined the Boulder Republican Women's Club and became an active member of that organization right away, making many friendships which she has treasured.
Mary Yungkurth was very active in the Central Methodist Church in Endicott, Nnew York, and also loved her membership in the Monday Afternoon Club of Binghamton. She continued participation in many groups after the move to Boulder. She joined the Newcomers Club right away and that led to one of her most enjoyable clubs where she soon made a wonderful group of friends; the Monday bridge club at East Boulder Rec. Center. she joined the Boulder Chorale and spent many happy years singing with that group. She passed away on August 17, 2012, at the age of 82, at the Hospice Care Center in Louisville. |
