- Date Of Birth: September 3, 1919
- Date Of Death: January 17, 2010
- State: New Mexico
Ruth Magee, 90, a longtime Deming resident passed away Sunday January 17, 2010 at Casa De Oro Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces.
Ruth was born September 3, 1919 in New Rochelle, New York to Alexander Magee and Maud Brown.
She was a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music in New York where she majored in music theory and minored in piano. She was also one of the first graduates of the Turtle Bay School of Music that introduced a brand new course in music therapy which was a new method of treating physically and mentally handicapped patients. Although she started teaching piano at the age of 17, Miss Magee planned a career as a concert artist.
After a battle with polio that ended those plans. She studied violin, organ and guitar at the Pelham Conservatory of music as further preparation for a teaching career. After teaching music theory at the Manhattan School of Music and the New York School of Music Miss Magee decided that she preferred private teaching on an individual basis. She spent the next 25 years going to the homes of her students throughout Westchester Count and the Bronx, NY. Prior to her move to Deming, also included in her credentials, was the Directorship of the Conservatory of Music in Pelham, NY. She was also a founding member of the Westchester Association of Music Teachers. Despite these extra activities, she never gave up her own students.
Miss Magee came to Deming in 1973 with her friend and roommate, Marianne DaMott, because she felt a need for new challenges. She immediately opened her studio of music where she taught piano, violin, organ, guitar and music theory to the children and adults of Luna County. She continued to teach until her death. Many of her students went into various careers in music and music therapy. Her own joy in teaching was enhanced when she started teaching the children of former students.
Miss Magee was a founding member of the Deming Arts Council. She was the music advisor to the council. For her various contributions to the council she was declared a life time member, one of five.
She was also a member of the Deming Gem and Mineral Society.
She is survived by her cousins, Donald and Vincent Slattery of Florida; friend and roommate for 45 years Marianne De Mott.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
