John Dietz

Dr. John Louis Dietz died peacefully Friday, December 30, 2016, at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. His wife, Maria and his four children were with him. Dr. Dietz was born August 30, 1929, in Cleveland, Ohio, to John L. Dietz and Anne (Sweeney) Dietz. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, attending Cleveland Heights High School and receiving a Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Music degree both from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He continued his education receiving a Doctor Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Dietz enjoyed a professional career as a baritone, singing as soloist with the Cleveland Symphony, soloist with the Karamu Opera Company in Cleveland, Ohio, and baritone soloist with the Robert Shaw quartet at the First Unitarian Church in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He also appeared as soloist with the Robert Shaw Choral at the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico. While he enjoyed performing opera and was soloist at several churches in the Cleveland area he truly loved recital work, singing German Lieder, Bach and art songs. He was well-known for his impressive knowledge and interpretation of these works. Dr. Dietz also loved his work as a professor of voice at University of Detroit-Mercy, Cornell College in Mount Vernon Iowa and the thirty years he was a full professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He continued to have strong and close relationships with many of his students, and former colleagues. Certainly his wife Maria (Gallagher), whom he married in 1965, and the blessing of four wonderful children were a source of great comfort and pride to him. The family’s collie, Maggie, provided him with loyal love and support. Being born with a birth defect, which caused blindness, John was remarkable with all that he accomplished in life. In addition to his beloved music, he had a passion for reading, which was made possible to him through Talking Books for the Blind. He loved going to auctions and with the very limited sight he had could spot a fine piece of china, crystal or silver. One of his greatest loves was walking—because he could not drive he walked almost everywhere. He was a frequent visitor to stores in Indiana, PA and he had close friendships with the people in these stores. Favorite times were spent at the cottage in Mentor, Ohio, which his father and grandfather built. He loved to travel and spent time at Beyreuth in Germany, and at opera companies in Chicago, New York and Vienna. John was a member and regional officer of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. He was an honorary member of the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity. For many years, he was on the board of the Indiana County Blind Association, and he was a member of St. Thomas More University Parish. John leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Maria (Gallagher) Dietz, children Elizabeth Lucco (Steven); Stephanie B. Dietz (Warren Shlomchik); John D. Dietz and Eric Paul Dietz (Michele). He is also survived by wonderful grandchildren: Henry and Frances Lucco; Matthew and Andrew Shlomchik; Isabella and Emma Dietz. He is survived by a loving sister-in-law Dorothy Anderson Dietz and many nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father John L. Dietz, his mother Anne (Sweeney) Dietz, his brother James W. Dietz, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. In addition to his family, John will be so missed by his students and many friends who grew to love that smile and friendly conversation. Visitation will be held at the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home of Indiana, Monday, January 2, 2017, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday morning at 10:00AM at St. Thomas More University Parish on Oakland Avenue in Indiana. Rev. Alan Polczynski, celebrant. Burial will be in the St. Bernard Cemetery, Indiana. Contributions in John’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice.