Seven new musicians join the PSO

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of seven new musicians. They will be part of the 2016-17 season:

• Max Blair, associate principal oboe, a former fellow with the New World Symphony;

• Joseph Campagna, bass, a former member of the New Jersey Symphony;

• Will Chow, cello, a recent graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music;

• Jeffrey Dee, principal bass trombone, formerly of the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Jacksonville Symphony;

• Victoria Luperi, associate principal clarinet, formerly of the Fort Worth Symphony and the Winnipeg Symphony, who is married to PSO assistant conductor Andres Franco;

• Brandon McLean, associate principal bass, formerly of the Colorado Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony, the Florida Orchestra and the New World Symphony;

• Karissa Zadinsky, cello, who is completing studies at the Colburn Conservatory of Music.

James R. Dornenburg of Whitehall enjoyed a 37-year medical career after serving in the Army during World War II. But his favorite nurse was always Marjorie Parrish, whom he met at a party while both were stationed at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. They were married for 63 years until she died in 2009.

Dr. Dornenburg celebrated his 100th birthday last week with family and friends, including their four children — Judy Gergich of Upper St. Clair, James of Marietta, Ga., John of Oakland, Calif., and Jeff of Simsbury, Conn., — seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They applauded as they listened to the surgeon’s many accomplishments listed in an Allegheny County Council proclamation.

He was born on July 10, 1916, in Carnegie to Peter and Honora Dornenburg. He received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. After serving as a lieutenant colonel, he did his residency at Mercy Hospital and began his practice in 1949 at Pittsburgh Hospital.

Dr. Dornenburg became chief of surgery at Forbes Hospital and helped with the formation of Forbes Health System, now part of Allegheny Health Network. He was on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield board of directors for 15 years and served as president of the Allegheny County Medical Society.

Heandhiswifetraveledbefore and after his retirement in 1986 in the United States,

Mary Constantini Donofrio’s secret for a long life sounds like the recipe for a great party: “good food, good wine, good company and a loving family.”

Mrs. Donofrio was born in Naples, Italy, on May 28, 1916. On Aug. 31, 1934, she married Gaetano “Guy” Donofrio, who was also born in Naples. They lived in Swissvale and had two children: Linda Jacobs of Murrysville and the late Anthony Donofrio.

Mrs. Donofrio is a longtime member of Madonna del Castello Roman Catholic Church in Swissvale, where she served as past president of the Holy Rosary Society and Altar Society. She is a lifelong member of Italian Sons and Daughters of America and enjoyed crocheting and gardening.

Her husband died in 2007 after 73 years of marriage. She has six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Two years ago, she moved to Concordia of Monroeville.

Century in Overbrook

Rita Spratt has spent all of her 100 years on or near Mullooly Street in Overbrook. Mrs. Spratt, who turned 100 on Friday, grew up on Mullooly and bought a home up the street from her childhood home when she married Cliff Spratt, a mail handler for the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad.

She was born July 22, 1916, the fourth of Lil and John “Cookie” Theobald’s 12 children. Two brothers also survive: Bob Theobald of Olmsted Falls, Ohio, and Pete Theobald of Lake Placid, Fla.

Mrs. Spratt is a lifelong member of St. Norbert Church, and she and her mother belonged to its Ladies Guild and “Kitchen Symfunny,” whose members sang along with music made with kazoos, spoons, pots, pans and other instruments. For many years, Mrs. Spratt helped with Lenten fish fries and also helped clean the church and iron the altar cloths. She had to stop at age 98 when her eyesight declined.

She and her husband, who died in 1981 after 44 years of marriage, had three children: Cliff of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Mary Ann Augustine of Mount Oliver and Kathy Walsh of Overbrook, with whom she lives. She has five grandchildren and 11 greatgrandchildren, many of whom celebrated with her July 16 at Royal Place restaurant in Castle Shannon.