Sydney Stirling

Sydney Joan “Tita” Massicot Stirling passed away at her home in New Orleans on June 27, 2024, at the age of 95. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 5, 1929. After graduating from McDonagh High School, she began her career as a professional dancer, model, and actress. Tita taught ballet, tap and ballroom dancing for over 40 years at “Tita Stirling School of Dance” touching the lives of hundreds of young women and girls teaching them poise, confidence, and composure through dance. In addition to dancing and acting, she was also an accomplished painter and designer.

Tita’s life was very colorful and far from boring. It was filled with art, music, and entertainment. When NBC was perfecting color TV, she performed a ballroom dancing segment that was beamed from WDSU studios in New Orleans to NBC headquarters in New York to ensure that the color quality held up during transmission. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s Tita choreographed the dance routines for the famous Biloxi Mississippi dinner theater “Fiesta at The Fiesta” where she also performed a ballroom dancing routine to the sounds of the big band orchestra. Her choreography continued into the early 1970’s when she was hired to develop the dance routines for “Vince Vane & the Valiants”.

While teaching and parenting, Tita always found time to volunteer for various causes and contributing through her artistic talents. PTA variety show fundraisers were a favorite where she choreographed, staged, and designed productions and costumes.

After retiring from the physical rigors of dance, Tita moved to Waveland, MS and relaxed by painting and decorating. To channel her creative energy, she began decorating homes, offices, and shopping centers for Christmas Season with trees, garland, and the like- finally retiring from this second career at 87 years old.

She is survived by her sons, Lewis W. Stirling III (Tricia) and Timothy J. Stirling; daughter, Elizabeth A. Stirling; grandchildren, Stirling Skye Downes, Christopher W. Stirling, Alexander D. Stirling; a great grandson, Giovanni Stirling; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tita was preceded in death by her husband, Donald E. Stirling; daughter, Donna J. Stirling; parents, Yvonne S. Massicot, and Sidney J. Massicot; and sisters, Yvonne M. Aiavolasiti and Phyllis M. Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: St. Anthony of Padua Church, American Cancer Society or American Heart Association

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 4640 Canal Street in New Orleans, on August 9, 2024, at 3:00pm. Visitation will begin at 1:30pm at the Church. She will be laid to rest privately in Lake Lawn Park at a later date.