Patt Timothy-Riffle, (81) of Brookline, MA died on March 19, 2020. She had been a resident of Brookline since 1991.
Born in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of the late Col. And Mrs. Robert W. Timothy. She graduated from Moorestown High School, New Jersey and studied piano at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music before earning her B.S. and M.A. degrees from Skidmore College and Trenton State College, respectfully. Marshall Heinbaugh, her Philadelphia voice teacher became her operatic mentor throughout her study of twenty roles. Her post graduate work was pursued at The Peabody Conservatory of Music, St. Petersburg Junior College, Florida State University, New England Conservatory and Longy School of Music. Among those teachers with whom she studied included Allison Drake, William Waters, Martha King Loew, Betty Jane Grimm, Janice Harsanyi, and Barbara Winchester.
Mrs. Timothy-Riffle taught sixteen years in public schools on the elementary and secondary vocal school music levels in Columbus, Indiana, Mt. Laurel and Medford, New Jersey. She directed the church choirs at the Protestant Community Church in Medford Lakes, New Jersey as well as teaching voice privately.
Patt Timothy-Riffle’s personal life disclosed a marriage with James F. Riffle which was finalized in divorce. Her avocation embraced an active membership with the Princeton Opera Association where she participated in the Workshops, bringing her stage experience to the South Jersey Opera Festival and her high school students.
After a relocation to St. Petersburg, Florida and further performances with continued study, she resided in Pikesville, Maryland briefly. From there she moved to Massachusetts, settling in Brookline. An attraction to the Fine Arts enabled her to study with the late Judith Bell, Louise Weinberg, Vanessa Irzyk, Wendy Soneson and John Murray. Her watercolor portraits have been exhibited locally in numerous shows as well as her acrylics exhibited at Coolidge Corner Brance Library.
She won a grant from Brookline Commission for the Arts for the event “Honorary Singing Artists of Brookline” and exhibited her work at a concert at the Brookline School of Music. Subsequently, she acquired a baby grand piano for O’Shea House whereupon another grant was awarded by the Brookline Community Foundation to reconstruct the piano professionally.
Patricia is predeceased by her parents, Colonel Robert W. Timothy and Suzanne Phillips Timothy. She is survived by her only sibling, Robert P. Timothy, and his wife, Martha A. Timothy, both of Fernandino, Florida, and by her cherished and loyal son, Bryan D. Riffle, of Malden, MA, and her accomplished and beloved grandsons, Adam J. Riffle and Toby P. Riffle. She was adored by those who were close to her, and gave inspiration to her nieces, her nephews, and her grand and great grand nieces and nephews, and her many friends, including Tobey Taylor and Kathy Turner.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers may be made to The Brookline Center, 41 Garrison Road, Brookline, MA 02445.
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