Alice Hoffman McAvoy

Alice Hoffman McAvoy, 96, passed away April 21, 2015.Alice was born March 7, 1919, to the late Joseph F. Hoffman and Lilly C. Hoffman in Badin, North Carolina, and grew up in High Point, North Carolina. After completing two years at High Point College, Alice was awarded a scholarship to study music at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. She received a bachelor's degree in 1942 from the Conservatory of Music at Oberlin College, and later earned a master's degree in music education from Columbia University in New York. While teaching piano from 1946-1953 at Riverdale Country Day School in New York, New York, Alice met her husband, Robert J. McAvoy. Bob and Alice were married June 20, 1953, at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They settled in Glastonbury in October of 1956, where Alice has resided ever since.Alice's passion in life was music. She got her start in music at a very early age, playing on a local radio show where she accompanied aspiring artists on the piano, often playing by ear without the aid of sheet music. She owned two Steinway pianos, which she used to teach piano lessons in her home for close to 50 years. She loved Broadway musicals, had season tickets for many years to the Hartford Symphony, and was the accompanist for the Nayaug Choir. Alice had perfect pitch and could play beautifully by ear. She continued to play piano regularly right up until her death. Besides playing the piano, Alice enjoyed reading, watching classic movies, and going for walks. She continued to enjoy her daily walks until shortly before her death. She volunteered weekly as a pricer at the Child and Family Services Thrift Shop in Glastonbury. She was very fond of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, having vacationed there as a child. Alice and her husband, Bob, made North Myrtle Beach the destination of their own family vacations, a tradition that has extended for four generations.Alice leaves her son Bob and wife, Joyce, of Hinsdale, Illinois, daughter Beth and husband, Bob Stewart, of Tolland, and son John and wife, Adriane, of Charleston, South Carolina; plus six grandchildren, James McAvoy, Kay and Caroline Stewart, and Drew, Elyse, and Julia McAvoy. In addition, she leaves one sister, Bonnie Lowe; a sister-in-law, Patricia McAvoy; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob; and sisters Elizabeth Reagan and Josephine Perdue.The family thanks the staff at Emeritus at Buckingham Estates for their loving care of Alice.A memorial service will be held at The Congregational Church in South Glastonbury on Sunday, May 17, at 2 p.m. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to The Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, 949 Main St., South Glastonbury, CT 06073.For more information or to leave online condolences, visitwww.glastonburyfuneral.com