LIBERTY — Deborah Cook Marlowe, 80, wife of Ronald Marlow, died peacefully, Tuesday, April 22, 2019 in Welaka, FL, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

She was born on July 6, 1938 in Philadelphia, PA. She received her early education and vocal training in the Philadelphia area.

Deborah was an operatic soprano. She sang in several student opera productions at Temple University in the early 1960s, making her debut on October 31, 1965 at the Academy of Music with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company. She appeared in many concerts and performances in the Philadelphia area during the late 1960s. In the early 1970s, after competing in a competition in Chicago, she drew the excitement of the opera world.  

She made her international debut in 1971. In 1976, Deborah made her debut with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden. She had a prolific international opera career during the 1970s and 1980s. A gifted coloratura soprano, she sang a wide repertoire that encompassed English, German, French and Italian from a variety of musical periods.

Her career was primarily focused in Germany where she performed in many of the opera houses and lived during much of that time. She did, however, travel extensively throughout the United States, Europe and all over the world performing in operas, concerts, recitals and recording for radio productions. Her recording as Dinorah in Meyerbeer’s Opera Dinorah received raves from critics worldwide.

Deborah continued to be active in opera houses in Germany until 1985 when she moved back to the US after being united in marriage to her husband, Ronald Marlowe in August 1985.

After returning to the US, Deborah became the executive secretary for the head of oncology at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia and her focus switched from performing to teaching. She taught voice at Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College and Westtown School. She studied privately under the late Cantor, Max Wohlberg and was hired as acting Cantor in several synagogues in Pennsylvania.

After moving to Liberty, Maine in the late 1990s, she began singing concerts frequently throughout Maine including the University of Maine in Orono and was teacher and cantor at major synagogues in Bangor, Portland, Waterville and Rockland. She led services at Beth Israel in Bangor, Adas Yoshuron in Rockland, and Beth Israel in Waterville.  

She edited twelve songs of Amy Marcy Cheney Beach issued by the Hildegard Publishing Company and also wrote a wonderful children’s book entitled Kisses to the Angels in collaboration with Maine artist Wendy Libby, know as “Inkle”.

Other than her parents, Rose and Solomon Cook, Deborah was predeceased by a previous husband, Robert L. Kashoff, who died in 1964.  

She is survived by her husband, Ronald; her son, Jeffery Sacks of Philadelphia; her step daughter, Shari and her husband, Rob Neidich of Philadelphia and their children, Marta and Lucas; her sister, Geri Cook of Arlington, VA and brother, Irving Cook of Palm Coast, FL.

A graveside service will be held Sunday, April 28, at 11 a.m., at Berliawsky-Small Cemetery, Upper Park Street, Rockland. Cantor Daniel Leeman will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 U.S. Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

To share a memory or story with Deborah’s family, visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.