Emily (Faldetta) Sullivan, of Newton an accomplished vocalist and Newton school teacher, died at her home in Newton on Nov. 24, 2007 after a brief illness
Born in Fall River, she graduated from Girls Latin High School and received a degree in chemistry from Emmanuel and a masters degree in speech and drama from Emerson College. She also studied voice at the New England Conservatory of Music. Mrs. Sullivan received many distinguished awards for her outstanding teaching in the Newton Public Schools, where she taught for many years at the John Ward, Memorial Spaulding and Lincoln Elliot elementary schools.
Emily hosted the Easy Beazy Friendship Club, a live, weekly show produced by WBZ television in Boston, and hosted a popular classical music program on WERS-FM. With singers from the New York Metropolitan Opera, Emily performed in the Lowell Opera Co. production of Carmen as Michela, and performed the leading role of Gilda, in Rigaletto. Emily also performed in a Verdi Festival with the Opera Group of Boston, under the direction of Sarah Caldwell. Her repertoire in opera incuded "La Boheme," "Madame Butterfly," "Cosi Fan Tutte," Fledermaus," "La Traviata," and "Amahl and the Night Visitors." She sung leading roles in "Carousel," "The King and I," "Little Mary Sunshine," "The Student Prince," "The Merry Widow", "West Side Story," and "H.M.S Pinafore". She also sang with the "Show Toppers", touring nationally and appearing regularly at the Statler Hilton Hotel. She began her career at age 16, debuting in a solo appearances at Jordan Hall as well as Symphony Hall. Mrs. Sullivan loved teaching, and continued to teach voice students at her home until recently
Mrs. Sullivan was President of the BU Women’s Council, was a member of the Newton Social Sciences Club and had chaired many events with the Friends of the Emerson Majestic Theatre (now the Cutler Majestic) to restore it to its magnificence.
Wife of the late Daniel G. Sullivan, she is survived by her daughter Maria Sullivan and her husband Paul Donovan of Newton, was a loving Nonni to her granddaughters Luisa, Grace and Isabella, and sister of Mary DiMaio of So. Yarmouth, Helen Carino of Everett and the late John and Frank Faldetta.
Visiting hours will be in the Eaton & Mackay Funeral Home 465 Centre St. Newton Corner on Tues 4-8 PM
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wed. Nov 28 at 10 AM in St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, Chestnut Hill. Interment will follow at Newton Cemetery.