“She was not only a music educator but a life educator. She was wonderfully open minded, an optimist, and accepting of others,” said Roxanne Engle, who taught with her at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center and Evendale Cultural Arts Center.  “Atarah was inspirational in developing her own unique way to bring musicality and expression into playing the piano.  Teaching and performing were in her thoughts up to the end. She was looking at the score of the Beethoven Pastorale Sonata in her last few weeks and asked me, ‘When will we teach piano again?'”

Mrs. Jablonsky, a longtime resident of Wyoming, OH, died on July 14 at Wellspring Health Care Center. She was 92.

A noteworthy teacher, she was adjunct assistant professor of music at the College of Mount St. Joseph from 1970 to 2001.  She taught piano from 1958-70 at the University Cincinnati, where she was also an adjudicator from 1970 to 2001. She also was a lecturer at Edgecliff College (1972-74).

Mrs. Jablonsky was born on November 25, 1927 in Jerusalem, Israel. She came to the United States in 1929 with her parents, Abraham and Sarah Wishengrad. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 1948, and taught piano at New York’s Neighborhood Music School from 1947-52.

She married Marvin Jablonsky in 1947, and the couple had five children.

Speaking about the music she was about to play at a recent music club meeting.

“She had a myriad of stories to entertain you from her life in Israel, her college days in NYC, and her Cincinnati musical experiences. She was most generous with her talents, and she was one of the few teachers of improvisation,” said Mary Pennycuff, a fellow member of Matinée Musicale, Clifton Music Club and Woman’s Clef Music Club.

“I admired her ‘spunk’, strong will tempered with grace and her genuine empathy for the less fortunate,” said Nancy Martin, board member of Matinée Musicale. “Throughout her days of retirement from the music faculty at Mt. St. Joseph College, Atarah taught piano to underprivileged students at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center and she was a strong advocate for their Music Enrichment Program.”

Mrs. Jablonsky performed as soloist and collaborator for numerous music club recitals and in venues around Cincinnati. She was taught during the golden age of piano, and valued touch, thoughtful interpretation and beautiful tone, which she strove to achieve in her own playing. She was working on music up until her final illness.

“We sometimes played chamber music together, often at her synagogue,” said Gayna Bassin, a violinist and former member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. “A few months ago, she asked me if I would play the ‘Spring Sonata’ by Beethoven with her, so I mailed her a copy of the piano part. She taught my son Michael piano for a few years. She was a remarkable lady and will be missed by many.”

Mrs. Jablonsky earned a Master of Science in Education from Xavier University in 1969.

“Her students adored her and are deeply saddened by this loss,” said Susan Gordy, director of the Evendale Cultural Arts Center. “Atarah would not host piano recitals; rather she hosted piano parties with stories and songs and laughter. She instilled a love for music in each and every one of us. To listen to her play and practice soothed your soul. She was a great friend to the arts in Evendale.”

Besides teaching students at Peaslee and Evendale, she taught piano at the Toedtman School Music (1986-2002).

Among her music educator awards, Mrs. Jablonsky was named National Certified Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Music Teachers Association in 2000; Foundation Fellow of the Music Teachers National Association in 2005; and the Ohio Teachers Music Association Teacher of the Year award in 2000. She was a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, among others.

She has been listed as a noteworthy music educator by Marquis Who’s Who.

Mrs. Jablonsky was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin. She is survived by her children Karen and Tsviki Dinur, Andrew Jablonsky, Eugene and Liz Jablonsky, Elliot and Vickie Jablonsky and Ben and Dawn Jablonsky, and her sister Barbara Rush, as well as by 20 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Services have been held. Memorials may be made to the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, which offers quality music lessons to low-income families in Over-the-Rhine.