TERESA FISCHLOWITZ
The San Diego Opera family lost a great friend and champion with the passing of Teresa Fischlowitz on January 17th. A longtime member of the company’s Board of Directors, Teresa was among a select group of patrons to be named an Honorary Life Director in recognition of her dedicated service and many years of generous support.
Born in what is now Slovakia, Teresa moved to Hungary with her family in 1940. Four years later, when the Nazis invaded Hungary, Teresa and her family spent her seventh birthday in a cattle car enroute to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. After six months in the camp, they were rescued and found refuge in Switzerland. Teresa then spent time in a French orphanage; moved with her family to Prague, Paris, Caracas, and Los Angeles; and attended 17 schools in nine cities before graduating from high school in Los Angeles – learning six languages along the way!
Teresa went on to earn a degree from UCLA and, immediately after graduating, signed a contract with New York City Opera, where she performed as a mezzo-soprano. Offered a second contract as the first one drew to a close – but sorely missing her mother, with whom she had been through so much – she opted instead to return to Los Angeles, where she earned a degree from USC and taught elementary school for 30 years.
On retiring and moving to San Diego, Teresa became deeply involved in the local Jewish community and in the performing arts, with particular focus on San Diego Opera. At SDO, Teresa developed strong friendships with patrons and artists alike. Maestro Edoardo Müller, who conducted dozens of SDO productions over the years, became a close friend, and Teresa showed the renowned mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and her mother around San Diego (in fluent Italian) when Ms. Bartoli was in town to give a recital in SDO’s 1995-96 season. Teresa was especially generous in supporting young singers who were associated with the company, and she enjoyed participating as a supernumerary in SDO productions and as a puppeteer with SDO’s education program. As an additional way to support the company and her beloved art form, Teresa’s generosity and foresight also led her to include San Diego Opera in her estate plan.
Teresa is survived by her two sons - Richard (Tammy and granddaughter Summer) and Robert (Camden).
The entire SDO community is indebted to Teresa Fischlowitz for her service to the company. She will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives she touched.