- Date Of Birth: December 26, 1932
- Date Of Death: November 27, 2010
- State: Michigan
REIGEL, Mrs. Esther Miller, Kalamazoo, MI. Died November 27, 2010. Born 1932 in Webster Groves, MO, the youngest of four children. Her musical gifts were recognized early.
In addition to attending public school in Webster, Esther attended the Leo C. Miller Conservatory in St. Louis where she was accepted as a student of Leo C. Miller no relation, music theory with Herbert Fenton, and music composition with Dorothy Gaynor Blake. For nine years, Esther was a frequent soloist on radio stations KMOX, KSD, KFUO – before continuing her music studies at University of Michigan where she graduated as a piano performance major. At U of M she met the love of her life: Tom Reigel, whom she married in 1953.
After Tom’s graduation from U of M Medical School, internship and residency in Pediatrics in Saginaw, and three years of service in Berlin, Germany – Dr. and Mrs. Reigel moved to Kalamazoo Michigan with their three children. With further studies at Western Michigan University, Mrs. Reigel received certification in Choral Education along with a Master’s Degree in Applied Piano, graduating with High Honors. Her awards include: the Artie Mason Carter Scholarship and induction into the Music Honor Fraternities of SAI and Pi Kappa Lambda.
In addition to 20 years as a private piano teacher, Mrs. Reigel served as Choral Director at Kalamazoo Central High School 1972-1976 and Instructor in the Humanities Department at WMU. Esther was active in Kalamazoo Weaver’s Guild having served terms as President, Program Chair, and Publications, in Thursday Musicale, in American Sewing Guild Kalamazoo Chapter, and in her Church life Sunday School teacher, Women’s Guild, Congregational Life, Heart to Hands Stitchers, and as an Elder at First Presbyterian Church Kalamazoo. Throughout her life she continued to perform numerous piano programs both as a soloist and as part of a two piano team.
She is survived by a much beloved family: husband Dr. Thomas Reigel; three daughters and their families: Esther Elizabeth Beth Reigel and Meryem Akram and Martin Akram Baltimore MD, Laura Catherine Jeff Ford and Tom Ford and Jessegrace Ford Kalamazoo, and Wendy Kathleen Don Storey and Erin Storey Jack Terpstra and Christopher Storey S. Lyon, MI also a brother William Doris Miller of California several nieces, nephews and friends.
