Olga Gagliardi Getto, 103, of DuBois died Friday, March 22, 2013 at her residence.
Mrs. Getto was born Nov. 8, 1909 in Thompson II to Elizabeth Gibello and Tranquillo John Gagliardi and moved to Jeannette when still a young girl, where she grew up with her sister, Ida Gagliardi, who preceded her in death.
A graduate of Jeannette High School, Mrs. Getto attended the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music in 1928, studying piano with Alexandre Kelberine, chamber music under Boris Toutzen, and theory with Olga Samarof, wife of Leopold Stokowski. She played for radio and accompanied the baritone Conrad Thibault.
Mrs. Getto entered Temple University and earned her her Bachelor of Science in 1933 in Music Supervision Public Schools as well as a music education major. She continued to study with Kelberine, getting a diploma from the Constantine Von Sternberg School of Music on a piano scholarship the same year.
Mrs. Getto initially taught English in the Jeannette school system and consequently was orchestra and vocal conductor at the high school and supervisor of music for the school system until 1939 when she married Dr. Ernest Getto, also a Jeannette native and long-time family friend who preceded her in death in 1976.
Mrs. Getto taught choral music at St. Catherine’s High School as a volunteer for three years and taught for 10 years as an elementary school music teacher in the DuBois Public School System.
Her many years of community service included her role as a founding member of the Community Concert Association and membership and leadership in the DuBois Hospital Auxiliary. She was an active member of AAUW and served as co-chairman of the United Way Drive. She made many outstanding contributions to the world of music.
Mrs. Getto is survived by, a daughter Elissa Getto, of Clearwater, FL, a son Ernest Getto and his wife, Judith of Santa Barbara, CA, and their three children, Matthew, Christopher and his wife Nicole, and Sarah Getto, nieces Annette Wilps Simulia, Jane Getto, Pat Getto Plumblee, nephews Mike Getto, Robert Getto, Ralph Wilps, Charles Getto, Paul Rudolph Getto, and cousins Ellen Gagliardi, Lucien Gagliardi, Martine Gagliardi, Judy Hendrickson, Kay Mugavero, and Marcia Belden Lappas.
Friends will be received from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Monday at the Goble-Baronick Funeral Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church with Fr. John Chaplin as celebrant.
Burial will be in Twin Valley Memorial Park in Delmont.
Memorials may be placed with the charity of the donor’s choice.