Catherine Mckeever, a great voice lost
‘Brilliant singer’ loses battle with cancer
Windsor’s musical community is mourning the death of Catherine McKeever, an alto and longtime voice instructor at the University of Windsor.
She died Wednesday at the age of 60 after a four-year battle with cancer.
“She was a brilliant singer and a truly lovely person,” said her friend and colleague Lillian Scheirich, concertmaster of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
Scheirich and McKeever shared the stage at many WSO choral concerts.
“I’ll never be able to listen to Bach or the Messiah again without thinking about her and that gorgeous alto.”
Born in Detroit, McKeever became a Canadian citizen and lived most of her adult life in Windsor. When she was 35 she decided to return to school to obtain a bachelor of arts degree in music at the University of Windsor. Later, she would add a master’s degree in voice from the University of Michigan.
McKeever was a special instructor in voice at the University of Windsor for 15 years and taught many who are professional singers today. She was also on the faculty of the prestigious Berkshire Choral Festival in Sheffield, Mass., and Vancouver, B.C.
“She was a great lady and a great teacher,” said Mina Grossman-Ianni, former WSO general manager.
“She took her fight with cancer with great equanimity. She was determined to live her life to the fullest to the end.”
Susan McKee, a former student and colleague at the University of Windsor, praised her as a performer and a teacher.
“She touched so many people with her voice,” said McKee, who used her training with McKeever as a springboard to join the WSO Chorus.
“She knew what the prognosis was,” McKee said, “but she took it with such grace, poise and a perpetual smile.”
Scheirich said McKeever took life’s hurdles in stride. “She had issues like everyone has, but Cathy tried to have a good outlook on everything. That enthusiasm rubbed off on everyone she met.”
McKeever leaves her husband, Michael, three children and a granddaughter.
Visitation will be held today at 2 and 7 p.m. at Families First, 3260 Dougall Ave. A funeral mass for family and friends will be held Saturday at Assumption Church, followed by cremation.
The family is planning to hold a memorial service in Detroit at a later date.