Marilynn Dean Kline Biography

All of your biographical essays are inspiring! Looking back at and focusing on the turning points of life requires insight and value judgements. I hope that everybody will join in. My big pivotal moment that propelled me to study piano at the university level was the fantastic experience I had playing with the Houston Symphony at the Music Hall during my senior year at Jones. The "icing on the cake" was being invited back to play a different piano concerto at Hermann Park after graduation. But, as wonderful as all of that was, after reaching college, I realized that I truly enjoyed being with people and not being isolated in a practice room with the piano as my master. I was more isolated in high school than I cared to admit.

During college years, I made changes to accommodate this discovery. I directed my career path toward ensemble playing (Austin, 1962-1992) touring with various musicians and participating in music festivals and symposiums, often in Europe. Playing with chamber groups, preparing opera performances with various singers, coaching with high school students entering competitions, or simply playing for graduate recitals became the backbone of my involvement in music over a lifetime. The three high points of this part of my life were: working with Robert Shaw on two special occasions, getting to know and work with the earthy Mitch Miller on two projects, and, because of some of these events, meeting my sweet and brilliant husband of 18 years, who was on the faculty of UT/Austin until he entered into his own consulting business in 1987, and who happens to be quite a good singer.

The domestic part of my life was spent raising two sons from my first marriage, and trying to see that they had every available opportunity for education, as well as a healthy outlook on life with a respect for values and compassion for others. They turned out well, both married, one living

just outside Washington, DC, and the other just north of Boston; one is in the legal application side of the telecom industry, and the other on the management side of computer network servicing for major businesses accounts.

Bob and I lived in Switzerland for a year (1986-87) where he did research and some teaching in Neuchatel, and I assisted him and did a little coaching work with a violinist. In 1992, we left Texas and lived in DC for about three years. There, I fell in love with the four seasons and got my first introduction to perennial gardening, which I have pursued to this day. In 1995, we returned to Houston for a couple of years where I enjoyed working with the reunion committee and came to appreciate all the follow-up work that has been ongoing for 40 years with great dedication, by a very few people. You know who you are! Thank you!

But, there was more in store. We did a brief sojourn in Orange County, California, where I renewed a valuable friendship with Lynne Fay Brez. We remodeled yet another house (this was our 5th remodeling or new building project since 1983), and learned that no matter how beautiful and desirable the California climate is, there are too many people there already! We decided in 1998, that it was time to choose the place where we wished to grow old and get there before we were too old to enjoy ourselves.

So, here we are in humidity-free Santa Fe, New Mexico, in what I would call my dream house, overlooking the city and surrounding mountains. We are about 9 miles from the Santa Fe Ski area and have entertained a lot of company since moving here. It is high on our four children’s agendas to visit since they can enjoy so much rugged scenery, hiking, skiing, white water rafting and - - shopping for us girls.

It has been quite a mixed journey since high school. There are several things I always try to remind myself of. No matter what happens, you can choose happiness; you are never as subtle when criticizing someone as you think you are; and you must learn to forgive yourself, over and over and over.

I’ll be at the reunion ONLY Friday night; because of another commitment on Saturday night that cannot be changed, I must return to Santa Fe. I hope to see each and every one of you enjoying yourselves AND WEARING NAMETAGS!

Marilynn Dean Kline

1107 Piedra Rondo

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 505-989-7176