Mrs. Jean Soroka

January 20, 1919 - November 5, 2008

Jean Sue Phillips Soroka died on November 5th, 2008 following a stroke to her Left-brain. She was hospitalized at Piedmont Hospital in Fulton County GA where she had been residing at Hearthstone Assisted Living in Roswell GA.

Born on January 20, 1919 in Mexico City to Ellen Ramsey Phillips and Rev. Harry Mebane Phillips, her creative talents were discovered by the famous Mexican conductor and composer Julian Carrillo and she performed with symphonies like the Dallas and Mexico City symphonies by the age of 10. Growing up in Jalapa, she was home-schooled and graduated from High School in San Antonio. She studied mathematics and music at the Texas College for Women in Denton, Texas. By graduation, she appeared in Who's Who and moved to NY to study violin at Julliard. In NY, she joined the all girl orchestra called "The Hour of Charm" where she performed regularly throughout the USA and she was featured as a solo violinist and singer on radio and TV. She and her husband moved to Bergen County after resigning from the orchestra to start a family.

She continued performing in local symphonies and regular quartet playing. She inaugurated a Suzuki violin program for children through the public school system and Music Teachers Guild and became regionally recognized in the NY metro area. Some of her students became internationally noted string players. When her husband died in 1987, she moved to Venice, Florida where she continued performing and teaching violin. Her later years in Virginia with her daughter Ellen will be remembered through her painting.

Her two daughters, Ellen Soroka 60, Yvonne Matz Soroka 55, and her grandson David Ricker Polsdorfer 20, survive her. Donations may be sent to: Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203.

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