GLOUCESTER – Nina (Hollifield) Bergeron died October 17, 2007 at Addison Gilbert Hospital, following a long battle with cancer. She was 52 years old. Nina was born in Asheville, NC and graduated cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Music in piano and a Bachelor of Arts in German. She was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda Honorary Society and Mu Phi Epsilon Honorary Society. As a Fulbright scholar, she continued her music in Germany at the Hamburg Musikhochschule, studying organ under Heinz Wunderlich. In Boston she completed applied studies for the Master of Music in organ at New England Conservatory. She was a certified Master Teacher of the Ward Method through the Center for Ward Method Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where she studied under Theodore Marier. She appeared as a recitalist and accompanist both in the United States and Europe. She was the co-founder and director of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Regional Choir School and the Lawrence Boy Choir in Lawrence, MA from 1984-89. She taught at the Cape Ann Waldorf School, Beverly Farms from 1997-99. She also was past music director/organist at the St. Ann Catholic Church in Gloucester and the Central Congregational Church in Newburyport. Much beloved as a musician, teacher and friend, she had a thriving private music studio for piano, voice, and music theory. She was a current member of the Cape Ann Symphony Board of Directors. Nina was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Gloucester.
With family, friends, choir members, and students, Nina filled her home with singing, laughter, celebration, and abundant gourmet food. She will be missed and remembered for her wit, her mild southern drawl, her laughter, and her open-hearted hospitality. Nina¹s voice and piano students will remember her as a patient and gentle teacher whose lessons were always followed with homemade baked treats and tea. She loved teaching and she loved her students.
In the last year of her life, with the help of her children, Nina planted a lush garden at her home. Its flowers and shrubs attracted butterflies and humming birds, a great source of delight and comfort to Nina, even as her health and energy ebbed away.
In the first weeks of receiving Hospice care Nina wrote to each of her students to say goodbye. The spirit of her feelings for them is best expressed in her own words. “It has been a real joy for me to be your music teacher. I would prefer to teach you for many years to come, but it was not meant to be. I am very proud of your progress and hope you will always find time in your life for music. Much love, Nina.”
Nina Bergeron is survived by her husband of 26 years, David G. Bergeron of Gloucester, sons, Andrew of Somerville, Aaron, Ethan, and a daughter, Elizabeth, all of Gloucester, a sister, Karen Groves of Baton Rouge, LA, parents, Leroy and Elise (Hutchins) Hollifield of Black Mountain, NC, and many friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 27th at 11 a.m. in the Independent Christian Church Unitarian Universalist at Church and Middle Streets in Gloucester. Visiting hours will be at the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester on Friday from 4 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will follow the service at the Seaside Cemetery, Gloucester. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Independent Christian Church Restoration Fund, 10 Church St. or the Cape Ann Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 1343, Gloucester, MA 01930.