Mari Jo Tynon

Mari Jo Tynon passed away during the morning of February 11, 2020 at home in Caldwell, ID. She was 69 years old, and did have heart issues. There was no pain, and she passed very peacefully.
   She was born on March 31, 1950 in Hastings, Nebraska. She was the only child of John Cornell Tynon, and Martha Lenser Tynon. She grew up in Greely, Colorado, and Saratoga, Wyoming where her dad was superintendent of schools in both areas. She loved to sing in school, and in church. She graduated from Saratoga High School in 1968.
   She started her Bachelors of Music degree at the University of Oregon. While there she studied Voice Performance, Vocal Literature, Vocal Pedagogy, Foreign Language Diction, Opera History, and Opera Production. She transferred, and graduated from Denver University in 1974 with her Bachelors of Music Degree.
She completed a Masters in Music degree from Colorado State University in 1976. After that she travelled to Europe, and started living her dream. She sang in many European opera productions, and Opera Oratorios in Germany. In 1978 she was an instructor of English as a Foreign Language at Volkshochschulen Stuttgart, Waiblingen and Unteres Remstal, while still singing in different European Operas.
In 1980 she moved back to the states and was offered the position as Coordinator for Arts & Humanities, and an Administrative Assistant for the Center for European Studies, at City University of New York Graduate School.
In 1984 Mari Jo’s world changed. She gave birth to a daughter who she named Emily Alyse Tynon. During that year she moved back to Saratoga, Wyoming. Soon after that she received a teaching opportunity as an Assistant Professor of Music and Fine Arts at the College of St. Teresa in 1985. While there she also served as their division chair.

In 1987 she moved her family to Bloomington, Indiana to start her doctorial program at the University of Indiana. While there she also served as an Academic Advisor in the University division.
In 1990 she accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Music from the College of Idaho, in Caldwell, Idaho. She spent 28 years at the college teaching Voice. Mari Jo also taught vocal pedagogy, opera history, master classes, lead the yearly opera production, served as department chair for many years, and performed in several college events. In the treasure valley she also had opportunities to perform with the Boise Master Chorale and the Boise Philharmonic.
While teaching at the College of Idaho she completed her Doctorate of Music from Indiana University in 1995. She retired from the College of Idaho in the spring of 2018 as a member of the Emeritus Faculty.
When Mari Jo wasn’t teaching she absolutely loved to travel, especially with her daughter Emily. Having that National Parks pass was one of the best things that ever happened to her. Some of her favorite places were Arches, Canyonlands, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, and Yosemite. However, she would never pass up a trip to the Oregon Coast, Lake Tahoe, or Orca Island.
Mari Jo loved her family, friends, and students so much! She will be missed by so many. Mari Jo was preceded in death by her Parents John and Martha, and survived by her Daughter Emily.

condolences may be shared with the family. There will be no services held.


 

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