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Dorothy T. McDonald - Remembering a Dedicated Teacher
McDonald remembered for her dedication, compassion. |
Music Education Professor Emeritus Dorothy McDonald, 78, who passed away September 4, 2005, will be remembered as many things—an accomplished academic writer and editor, a keen lover of music and its history, and especially as a devoted teacher.
Irving B. Weber Elementary School Music Teacher Vicki Arnold (BM ‘73/MA ’92), who studied with McDonald both as an undergraduate student and 17 years later as a master’s student, says she remembers McDonald as a dedicated teacher. “She was so knowledgeable about the history of music education as well as the teaching of very young students,” Arnold said. “The most important thing I learned from her was to keep materials and activities appropriate for the age of the students.”
Born in Randolph, Iowa, McDonald graduated from Red Oak High School, received her bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, her master’s from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. She served as professor of Music and Music Education at The University of Iowa from 1970 to 1995, and as program coordinator from 1986 to1995. She also taught music in school districts throughout Iowa, Illinois, and North Carolina.
“It’s been hard to find the right words to describe Dorothy,” said Music Education Professor Don Coffman. “She was unselfish, refraining from self-promotion, often working behind the scenes. She was modest, and she seemed continually amazed that her textbooks were so highly regarded across the country.”
McDonald authored two important books, Music in Our Lives: The Early Years and Musical Growth and Development: Birth through Six, as well as numerous articles for music education. She received many awards including the Distinguished Service to Music Education Award, and was named a Fellow with the Regents Center for Early Childhood Music.
Coffman says McDonald was particularly pleased that the Iowa Music Educator, the state music teachers’ journal that she edited for many years, received a national award from her peers across the country.
“In short, she did the hard work required to serve Music Education and the University, never seeking the limelight,” Coffman said. “Fortunately, her efforts did not go unnoticed.”
McDonald mentored junior faculty and students, tirelessly assisting in examining manuscripts, discussing aspects of teaching, and guiding them through the politics of academia.
Virginia Bennett (PhD ’91) says McDonald’s empathy for her students and colleagues was always combined with adherence to the strictest standards of professionalism.
“Dr. McDonald was a beautiful lady who made a huge impact on the profession as a whole, and on many individual lives and careers,” said Bennett, now a music education lecturer at DePaul University in Chicago. “She was a dear and special person who will live on in the lives of those she touched with her wonderful gifts of compassion, intellect, and wisdom.”
McDonald’s daughter, Mary Anne Sims (BA ‘83), says music education was her mom’s passion and she feels fortunate to have had her mom as a music professor at Iowa.
“She taped her lectures for me so my classmates wouldn’t think I was getting special treatment,” Sims said. “I didn’t get any thing special, just the valuable lessons she shared with all her students, lessons that I still use in my classrooms today.”
Sims teaches vocal music at Des Moines’ Roosevelt High School. |
In
Memoriam
1920s
Dorothy H. Niederhauser (BA ’23)
1930s
James W. Maucker (MA ’36/PhD ’40)
Mildred T. Robertson (MA ’37)
Clifford N. Vestal (MA ’37)
Stewart C. Gaumer, Sr. (BA ’38)
1940s
Rosemary J. Downey (BA ’41)
Doris H. Herrick (BA ’41)
Marjorie L. Lewis (BA ’46/MA ’48)
N.H. Batchelder, Jr. (MA ’48)
Thomas B. Cartwright (BA ’48)
Barbara T. Henryson (BA ’48)
John F. Monaghan (BA ’49)
Martin H. Tonn (BA ’49/MA ’50/ PhD ’64)
Ben G. Whittington (BA ’49/MA ’59)
1950s
Dale A. Nebel (BA ’50/MA ’51)
Lewis E. Dye (MA ’52)
Marion J. Jennings (PhD ’52)
Jo Ellen Smith (BA ’53/MA ’69)
Filomena C. Birosel (MA ’54)
Carolyn T. Snustad (BA ’55)
June G. Creese (BA ’56)
Carl E. Means (BA ’58/MA ’66)
Lyle W. Jeffrey (BA ’59)
Rebecca F. Schellenger (MA ’59)
1960s
Kathryn M. Aden (BA ’60)
James E. Jennings (MA ’60)
Mary Jo Zion (MA ’60)
Mildred M. Carstensen (BA ’61)
Ruth C. Dau (MA ’65)
Aldora L. Anderson (MA ’66)
William T. Banks, (BA ’66)
Barbara E. Curry (MA ’66)
Dorothy J. Hartsock (BA ’66)
Ruth C. Svoboda (BA ’66/MA ’82)
Dale D. Jacobus (MA ’67)
George P. Kelley (MA ’67)
Carol Lee White (BA ’67)
Jean R. Walter (BA ’68/MA ’76)
Barbara Fuszard (MA ’69/PhD ’73)
Linda K. Hill (BBA ’69)
Virginia Oerman (BA ’69)
Marilyn K. Thomas (BA ‘69/MA ’81)
1970s
Clarence B. Hall (MA ’70)
Peter M. Jackin (MA ’70)
Leland J. Belding (BS ’71)
Harlan L. Bell (MA ’71)
John M. Crawford (BA ’72)
Leslie D. Gruis (BA ’72/MA ’73)
Jan Paulson (MA ’72)
Morris D. Wilson, Jr. (PhD ’72)
Marsha L. Mork (BA ’73)
Nancy J. Strom (MA ’74)
Linda J. Horner (BM ’75/MA ’85)
Timothy P. Roche (BA ’76)
Janice M. Yoder (PhD ’77)
1980s
Penni L. Tweeton (BS ’82)
Mae Weller (MA ’86)
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