Marilyn J. Hauck

Marilyn J. Hauck died peacefully on September 17, 2026, at the 3030 Park Senior Living Community in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was 97. Born in New York City, she lived in Richmond Hill, Queens until the summer of her twelfth year when her father, a retired sea captain, moved the family to Seward, Alaska, to become the Harbormaster. She would often regale her friends with stories of her time in Alaska, including adventures such as climbing Mt. Marathon with friends and spending evenings serving as a hat check girl at the USO during WWII. It was at the USO where she discovered and developed her love of opera, after finding a Victrola and a collection of 78-RPM recordings in the coat room. During her time in Alaska, she continued studying the piano and became the organist of her church in her early teens, after members of the choir heard her playing beautifully one day.

When the war ended, her family moved back to New York and she enrolled in Hunter College, where she received both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Education degrees. Upon graduation, she embarked on a long career as an elementary school music teacher, serving in both the Valley Stream, NY and North Bellmore, NY school districts. She was a beloved teacher who made a lasting impression on generations of young students. During those years, she was also an active member of the Long Island Chorale Society (then under the direction of the renowned conductor Laszlo Halasz), the Bellmore Presbyterian Church choir, and at one point was organist and choir director of the Merrick Presbyterian Church.

She retired from teaching in the late 1980s and moved to Hamden, CT, where she became active in a number of organizations. At Spring Glen Church, she sang in the choir, played in the handbell choir, acted in the church theater ensemble, and was the Treasurer for many years. She also served as Treasurer of the Hamden Women’s Club and served on the board of her condominium association. As if that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, she also took piano lessons and flute lessons at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven for many years, and had a season pass to the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center. She truly embraced the concept of “lifelong learning”.

Marilyn can best be described as a sweet, kind, woman who always had a smile on her face and who embodied the Golden Rule in everything she did. She had the rare ability to maintain an unwavering optimism about life, no matter what the circumstances. Those who knew her best will remember her as being a loyal friend, being passionate about opera and choral music, being a lover of cats, and for her loving devotion to her nephew, Neil, and his family.

She is survived by her nephew Neil Hauck (Ann) of Fairfield, Connecticut, her grandniece Megan Hauck, of Washington, DC, her grandnephew Peter Hauck (Wesley), of Fairfax, Virginia, and great grandnieces Sloane Hauck, Violet Hauck, and Charlotte Hauck. She was predeceased by her brother, William J. Hauck.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Neighborhood Music School, 100 Audubon Street, New Haven, CT, 06510 .