Celeste Hurst

Feb. 28, 1928 - Nov. 25, 2024

Celeste Hurst of Bloomington, Indiana, passed away peacefully in her home on November 25, comforted by her husband, Larry, and both daughters, Kris and Katie. She was 96. She moved to Bloomington in 1986 with her husband and began a long and involved patronage and support of the IU Jacobs School of Music. In 1997 she served as administrative assistant to the School of Music Dean Search Committee, and in 2012 was asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Music, an important support group for the Jacobs School of Music. The organization asked her for her biography, and the following is what she submitted to the group as the most important aspects of her life:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree: Wifedom and Motherhood

Master’s degree: Domestic Engineering

Doctorate: Life Experiences

I was the eighth child of Italian immigrants. From a young age I aspired to be either a music teacher or an English teacher. There were no colleges in Utica, New York, where we lived at the time, and Italian mamas did not send their daughters to strange schools in strange cities. However, a small “School of Commerce” (now called “Business College") did exist in Utica, and I, surprisingly, enjoyed and excelled in all of the courses that trained and produced top-notch secretaries.

I married young and worked while my husband attended the University of Michigan School of Business Administration. I had the good fortune of being secretary to two wonderful associate directors of a hospital for three years, followed by one year at a place of business called the Music Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was at the latter place that I first came in contact with many students from the UM School of Music. I found them to be fascinating – exciting – fun!

After a rather long-term marriage and two wonderful daughters, I was divorced and worked at the School of Dentistry for three years in the community dentistry and orthodontics departments, and also in the office of the dean. I found the world of dentistry rather boring, and longed to be closer to music. That’s how I found Larry Hurst!

He was at the UM School of Music as professor of double bass, director of the UM Division at Interlochen, and associate dean. He interviewed me, hired me, and proposed three years and eight months later. I continued to work for (and with) him for four more incredibly busy, exciting, and fulfilling years.

In 1986 the Indiana University School of Music beckoned, and here we have been for 26 beautiful years. Larry will be retired from teaching as of June 1, 2012. Our plan is to spend several months at Interlochen, Michigan, each year, continue our travels, and enjoy all that the Jacob School of Music and Bloomington have to offer. Our motto is, and will continue to be carpe diem.

Together we have travelled extensively: China (twice), Japan, Fiji, New Zealand, Italy (four times) and most other European countries, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and many others with the most recent one being South Africa.

Celeste is survived by her husband of 43 years, Larry, eldest daughter Kristen Linsday (Steve), younger daughter Katie Kiyo (Dwight Diener), grandson Christopher Linsday (Nicole), great grandson Joathan Karey, and great granddaughters Isabelle and Amaya.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations in her name be sent to the Lawrence and Celeste Hurst Double Bass Friends of Music Scholarship, c/o Melissa Dickson, Head of Development, IU Jacobs School of Music, Simon Music Building - C187, 200 Eagleson Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405

A celebration of her life will be held at Interlochen, Michigan, next summer (2025), with time and place to be announced.