Charlotte A. Pittman
LA JOYA, Texas — Charlotte Ann “Cappy” Pittman, of Port Arthur, died at her residence in La Joya, Texas. She was 77.
Miss Pittman was born in Hot Springs, Ark., to Henry and Anita Pittman. Mr. Pittman was the owner of the Riggle & Pittman Concrete Company of Port Arthur, Texas.
Raised in Port Arthur, Texas, Cappy played organ for the First Christian Church and often sang in the choir alongside her friend Janis Joplin. She attended Thomas Jefferson High School, and was a majorette of the Red Hussars Drum and Bugle Corps, then ultimately graduating from San Marcos Academy.
Cappy received a BFA in Music Composition from the University of Miami. While enrolled, Cappy became a member of the Tri Delta sorority, later elected chapter president.
As a student at UM, Cappy was crowned “Miss Miami” and went on to compete for the title of Miss Florida. During the pageant’s talent portion, she performed Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, 18th variation.
She went on to obtain a master’s from Barry College, studying with legendary pianist Ivan Davis. Later, she attended The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., and the Vienna Conservancy in Austria.
When her formal musical education was finished, Cappy continued to be supportive of the fine arts. She was a member of Miami’s Young Patroness of the Opera, Miami Philharmonic and the Miami City Ballet.
All of these organizations had educational programs which benefited from Cappy’s skills.
Cappy married Marty Blitstein of Miami Beach in 1967 and they had a son, Marc. The couple were later divorced in 1982.
Cappy’s talents landed her a position with the internationally acclaimed Houston Grand Opera. She later taught high school music, becoming a well-respected private piano teacher in Houston, taking her students to national and international competitions.
Miss Pittman is survived by her brother, Mark, her sister in-law, Happy Arellano, both of La Joya; her only son, Marc Blitstein, her daughter in-law, Heather Blitstein and her two grandchildren, Jacob and Noah, of Los Angeles.
A visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. today, Dec. 13, 2018, at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, Texas.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Hot Springs, Ark., under the direction of Levingston Funeral Home.