MARY ELLEN PRACHT
Mary Ellen Pracht was born to Lura Gallaher and Webster Pracht in Shadyside, Ohio, on February 4th, 1934. She died on March 29th, 2021, in Manhattan, NY, surrounded by her daughter, Esther Crow, her son-in-law, Dan Crow, and her grandson, Vincent Crow. She is predeceased by her parents, and her brother, Byron Pracht (1935-2007).
She worked at Chase Bank, Time Magazine, and the Metropolitan Opera House, where she enjoyed an almost two decades-long career as a Soprano, from 1961-1980. Her 3 favorite roles, in over 300 performances, were Mimi in La Boheme, Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress, and Rosina in The Barber of Seville. She was a featured soloist on RCA Victor’s release, A Treasury of Great Operetta, which can be found on both Apple Music and Spotify. Other live appearances include: the San Francisco Spring Opera, the Central City Opera Festival, the Cincinnati Summer Opera, the Pittsburgh Light Opera, the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood, the Oglebay Park outdoor amphitheater and the Wheeling Symphony. She was full of kindness, humor, and loved her Bichon Frise (LuLu) sunset views from her terrace, and listening to jazz and classical music.
She is survived by her loving daughter, Esther, grandson, Vincent (7), and her stepdaughter, Rachelle Carzino.