Mary Camille Olaeta

Born July 20, 1920 in Oakland, Mary Camille Olaeta was adopted in infancy by Beatrice Stone and her husband Joseph Goff of Eureka. Camille demonstrated a musical gift at a very early age and was given voice and piano lessons. She excelled both musically and academically entering the former College of the Pacific in Stockton at age 16. There she fell in love and married Joey Olaeta. After graduation, several moves and two children, the couple settled in Monterey in 1945 and by 1958 had added six more children to their family. She came to love her husband’s family as her own and spent each summer in his hometown of Lovelock, Nevada. She took pride in the unique Basque heritage and enjoyed Basque food and festivals.

While managing her growing household (she did all her own housework and was an outstanding cook), Camille found time to give many piano performances. She was a soloist with the Monterey Symphony in 1948 under the direction of Clifford Anderson, and was duo pianist with Wade Parks under Jon Gosling in 1964. She became the symphony’s keyboard artist under Maestro Haymo Taeuber. She derived particular joy from chamber music and in the early 60’s joined violinist Welton Lee and cellist Louise Vadetsky to form the Cypress Trio, who performed many times in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. As accompanist for Nancy Bowman’s Opera Workshop, she became familiar with the operatic repertoire. During the years that she taught piano at Santa Catalina with Dorothy Heer, they gave many duo-piano concerts. Peninsula music lovers will also remember her as the accompanist for the Monterey Peninsula College Chorus first under the direction of Dr. Harvey Marshall and then, Dr. Sal Farentelli. Students of all ages admired her as a piano teacher and as a model of professional musicianship because she was always prepared and seldom, if ever, missed or was late to class, rehearsal or performance. When Sandor Salgo directed the Bach Festival, she accompanied many rehearsals for vocalists, both soloists and choruses, reading from orchestral reductions (she was a remarkably gifted sight reader). She donated her services as organist at St. Angela’s church for 30 years where she found spiritual sustenance and solace in the beautiful, centuries-old, traditional church music. She appreciated jazz music as well and admired musicians Bob Phillips, Joe Principato and Kenny Stahl to name a few.

She endured the loss of her dearest love Joey Olaeta, who died in 1969. Sons Laurence and Michael died in 2007 and 2011, respectively. She is survived by her children Carmen Scholis of Pacific Grove, Joseph Olaeta of Monterey, Camille Wilson of Charlottesville, VA, Ramona Reed of Seaside, Daniel Olaeta of San Francisco, and Juanita Dangerfield of Shingle Springs, CA; daughters-in-law Ann and Nancy Olaeta and sons-in-law David Wilson and Ron Dangerfield. She also leaves twelve grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Visitation is from 3 to 6pm Sunday, April 7 at Paul Mortuary, and mass at San Carlos Cathedral at 9:30am Monday, April 8 and burial at Mission Memorial Park in Seaside. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Monterey Symphony, 2560 Garden Rd., Suite 101, Monterey, CA 93940.