Gladys A. Lansing

GLADYS ZEIHER LANSING, 89, passed away on June 19, 2012. Born in Chicago to Henry and Ann Zeiher, Gladys showed early musical talent as a Mezzo-Soprano. She sang with choruses of the Chicago Lyric, San Carlo and Metropolitan Opera companies, and was a finalist in the Met auditions. Married to Robert Lansing in 1943, the couple pursued their opera careers in New York City. In 1949, they moved to Denver, and eventually founded the Capital Opera Co. which produced and performed productions of many grand operas, directed by Robert, and often starring Gladys.

Robert and Gladys were initiators of the "Rocky Mountain Singers", a touring choral group which made numerous musical ambassador international trips. Gladys made another career in Denver, where her electrology business at Michael of the Carlyle Salon. Gladys was founder and President of the Colorado Electrologists Association. After retiring from her successful business, Gladys volunteered many hours with local groups such as Opera Colorado, Denver Visitors Bureau and Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Preceded in death by son, John, 1984, and husband, Robert, 1995, she is survived by daughters Liana Lansing and Athena Lansing of Denver, and sister Ann Marie Zahn of Issaquah, WA.

Services will be on Saturday June 23, 2012 at 3:00pm at Christ Congregational Church, 2500 S. Sheridan Blvd. in Denver. A SINGERS who want to commemorate Gladys, are invited to arrive at the church at 1:00pm to practice the choir selections. Memorial Contributions may be made to Smile TrMemorial contributions to The Denver Hospice, 501 S. Cherry Street, #700, Denver CO 80246 www.TheDenverHospice.org or Smile Train, 41 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10010. Smile Train provides facial reconstruction for children born with cleft lips/palates throughout the world. www.SmileTrain.org

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