Monroeville Arts Council concert celebrates lives of lost members

Hearts and music notes soared at the Monroeville Arts Council concert on Aug. 14.

The concert was held to honor the passing of three of the council’s long-term members: Sheila Cartiff, Margaret Caine and Mary Lou Span. Before guests entered the auditorium, they were invited to view the contents of tables that were filled with photos of the women and notes from their loved ones.

Attendees were welcomed to listen to the East Winds Symphonic Band warm up before the performance at Community College of Allegheny County’s Boyce Campus. Just before the band was set to perform, Vera Perry, MAC president, took the podium to give a heartfelt welcome.

“Thank you for coming out today,” she said. “You are all very much appreciated. On behalf of the arts council, to our families and friends, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The East Wind Symphony gave an impressive performance, taking the audience through multiple themes throughout the night. The musicians began in the cinematic universe, sweeping the audience into scores from movies like “The March” and “The Cowboys.” They quickly got the audience members’ toes tapping with music from traditional dances, and finished the first half of the show with a Broadway theme.

‘Very good friend and role model’

During intermission, Perry introduced family members and friends of the deceased to say a few words about their loved ones. The first speaker was former MAC president Marilyn Wempa, who spoke a few words about her friend Margaret “Peg” Caine.

“I came from Virginia because the Arts Council means so much to me,” said Wempa. “I was the president for seven years, and really miss doing these concerts and showing the community how important music can be.”

Wempa was friends with Caine during their time on the council together.

“I’m glad to tell you some things about Peg,” said Wempa. “She was a very good friend and role model artist for other Monroeville artists. She helped the council flourish and grow for many years as secretary. Peg was a very thoughtful, professional water artist that drew other artists to the organization.”

Wempa brought a watercolor painting created by Caine to show attendees. The picture depicts PPG’s unique skyscrapers in downtown Pittsburgh. Wempa also described more of Caine’s works, including a painting she had done for the Monroeville Historical Society’s Heritage Day Festival.

“Peg was a special woman that we all admire and miss,” said Wempa. “I am proud to tell you about her.”

‘She spent many dedicated hours’

The next speaker was Lillian DeDomenic, who spoke about her friend Sheila Cartiff. She began by thanking guests and other council volunteers for their support.

“Thank you everyone for being here,” said DeDomenic. “This means so much to the Arts Council and to Monroeville, itself. We’re here to pay tribute to three of our volunteers. The Monroeville Arts Council has been very, very fortunate over the years to have so many wonderful volunteers.”

DeDomenic went on to share more about Cartiff’s work in the community and with MAC.

“Sheila continued to be in the background as far as the arts programs are concerned,” said DeDomenic. “She spent many dedicated hours seeing that things happened, meeting with groups and so forth.”

DeDomenic met Cartiff years ago through William Hall, an active volunteer for the Monroeville Arts Festival at the time. He convinced DeDomenic to attend an arts festival meeting where she met Cartiff. The two became fast friends while working together. DeDomenic highlighted all of the work that Cartiff did in the performance realm and her work for the community through MAC, including her focus on art and education.

“That was the start of a very long and fulfilling relationship,” said DeDomenic. “It has been my pleasure and my honor to share her passion and her love of the arts. It’s because of the dedication of these volunteers like Sheila, Mary Lou and Peg that the Monroeville Arts Council is able to continue to present programs. We look forward to a bright and happy future. I am personally grateful to have worked with each and every one of you.”

‘Such a celebration of life’

The final speaker was the late Mary Lou Span’s daughter, Barbara Span. She began by thanking the council’s volunteers and attendees.

“For decades, the Monroeville Arts Council has brought fine arts, art shows, art for children, East Winds Symphony concerts, Pops in the Parks, so many things to folks out here,” said Span. “It would not happen without the volunteers. What you all are doing is such a celebration of life.”

Span began telling a heartfelt story about her mother’s life. Growing up in a religious household, Mary Lou Span discovered her love for the arts through hymns and religious plays. She began attending a religiously affiliated college, where she worked at the campus’s radio station. She ended up transferring to gain more artistic freedom and ended up back in Pittsburgh, where she met and married the late Miles Span.

“On her behalf, I would like you all to leave tonight and think about the stories,” said Mary Lou Span. “What in your life, be it sneaking down the stairs to watch a cowboy movie, being in a smoky jazz club when you were maybe underage, those times the family would gather around the TV to watch a show. Think of the feeling you had when the music, the art, spoke to you. Think about those stories. Take them with you. Share them again and again with your family. That is what Mary Lou Span would want you to take from tonight.”

After the lights went back down, the East Winds Symphonic Band gave a rousing performance of “Memory” from “Cats,” introduced as “Memories,” dedicated to the lost members.

The concert was MAC’s first in two years. The group is hoping to welcome new members and to continue to host events for the community. Any help or volunteers are greatly appreciated.

For more information regarding upcoming events, visit monroevilleartscouncil.org or e-mail trw.695@gmail.com.