Dorothy MacNab

Dorothy "Sis" May Ismond MacNab was born in Chicago on November 24, 1920, the second child of Edward Enoch Ismond and Theresa May Hurd Ismond, and baby sister of Edward Richard Ismond. The family moved to Detroit, and later to Lakewood, Ohio, where she attended Franklin Elementary School, and Emerson Junior High. She was a boarding student at Kingswood Cranbrook School, and then attended Laurel School, from which she graduated in 1939. She graduated from Oberlin College in 1943, with a major in piano and a minor in organ.

She married Robert Edward MacNab on December 9, 1945, and this union produced three sons: Robert Tracy MacNab, James Richard MacNab, and Thomas Edward MacNab. The family ran a cattle farm in southeast Ohio, raising 650 Black Angus cows from 1948 through 1953. Leaving farming behind, Sis, Bob and their two boys returned to the Cleveland area, where Bob was employed at Hatfield Electric. They settled in Moreland Hills.

In 1954, pregnant with her third child, Sis contracted polio during the great epidemic. This event confined her to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. She raised three rambunctious boys from that wheelchair with style and remarkable composure.

After launching the children, Bob and Sis moved to a home in Hunting Valley, and then to Bratenahl Place, their home for the rest of their lives. Throughout her life Sis maintained an active interest in the arts, particularly music, and especially the piano. She regularly practiced and performed recitals, the final one at her 93rd birthday celebration. She was also actively involved with music and arts organizations: notably Dancing Wheels where she was an Emeritus Board Member. She also supported and worked for The Music Settlement, and the Musical Arts Society, and the Cleveland Symphony. She always had piano students, and continued to teach until several months before her death. Hundreds of people speak of the encouraging, passionate, and spiritual impact of her music.

She is survived by her three sons and their wives: Marushka Glissen, Laurel Jean Harper-MacNab, and Amy Lynn Gerber-MacNab; her 10 grandchildren: Christopher James MacNab, Robert Edward MacNab II, Theresa Adele MacNab-Garibay, Erin Rae Brundage, Caroline MacNab Dahlstrom (Ryan), Rachel Kuta Woods, Rachel Elizabeth MacNab, Lucas Robert MacNab, Katherine Susan MacNab, and MacKenzie May MacNab; and her 4 great grandchildren: Elijah Rae MacNab, Nathan Xavier Woods, Robert Eric Dahlstrom, and Samuel Robert MacNab.

The family prefers that those who wish make contributions in her name to the Musical Arts Association, 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. Funeral Services will be held in the Penthouse at One Bratenahl Place, Bratenahl, OH 44108 on Saturday, March 29th at 1:00 PM.



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