Virginia "Dinnie" Bach passed away on November 23, 2017, at the age of 89, surrounded by her family at Pendleton Health and Rehabilitation in Mystic CT.
The daughter of August and Mimi Franke, she was born on November 29, 1927 in Plainfield, NJ. She graduated from Plainfield High School and began her piano studies at the French School of Music in Plainfield and continued as a music major at Ithaca College.
She moved to New York and began her career as a professional pianist with the American Ballet Theatre, the Chalif School of Dance and touring with the dancing duo of Francois and Giselle Czony. Her two-piano partnership with her former teacher Ken Walton led to a long-term engagement as accompanists to comedienne Beatrice Lillie. Among the many highlights of this collaboration was a performance for President Harry Truman and his family.
While raising her two children, she began teaching piano privately, which she continued for most of her life. She also spent time in the administrative side of the music business, working in various capacities for Jerry Kravat Entertainment, Herbert Barrett Management and Columbia Artists Management, and was personal assistant to famed pianists Rosalyn Turreck and Valdimir Horowitz.
Dinnie was well-loved by friends and family and throughout her life enjoyed all aspects of the arts. She is survived by her sister, Ceil Pepe of Plainfield, NJ, her son Del-Bourree Bach and his wife Kristen of Mystic, CT, her daughter Robin Bach Berman of Teaneck, NJ, and two grandchildren, Christopher Bach Berman and Katrin Allegra Berman. There will a celebration of her life at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Virginia Bach's name to the Waterford Country School Music Program, 78 Hunts Brook Drive, Quaker Hill CT 06375. ([email protected])
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with her family, please click the link below.