Highlights of Gloria's Life
January 17, 2022
- Gloria was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 15, 1926 to Isaac (Izzy) and Sophie Greenberg.
- Gloria began studying piano at age 5. At age 11 she won a gold metal at an Amateur Musicians Contest from New York City Department of Parks.
- She met her future husband, Nathan Hieger, as a teenager, and they grew their friendship by playing violin and piano sonatas together.
- She married her husband on March 31,1945 in Brooklyn, NY, after he returned from World War II.
- She debuted as a professional concert pianist on October 7, 1945 at The New York Times Hall, and was reviewed as showing “much promise of fine things to come” and “unusual natural talent.”
- She and Nathan moved to Pittsburgh, PA, a year or so later, when Nathan was hired as a violinist at the Pittsburgh Symphony under Maestro Fritz Reiner.
- In Pittsburgh she continued her musical career, serving as staff pianist for the Pittsburgh Symphony and as accompanist for the then-fledgling Pittsburgh Opera company, as well as co-hosting string quartet evenings in her home.
- In Pittsburgh she gave birth to her daughter, Joanie, in 1949, and her son Carl in 1957.
- in 1957 the family moved to Los Angeles in search of new musical ventures.
- Her third child and second son, Robert (Bobby) was born in 1962.
- In Los Angeles she continued her musical career, teaching piano, working as a vocal coach, serving as an accompanist to multiple organizations, playing with the San Gabriel Orchestra and other musical groups, all while working at a social service agency and raising her three children.
- After she and Nathan retired, they enjoyed traveling, visiting Hawaii, China, and their son Carl, who sings with the Zurich Opera in Switzerland.
- Two years after Nathan passed in 2013, she moved east to Manchester, New Jersey to be closer to her children Joanie and Bobby.
- She suffered from heart disease and other ailments during her final years, and Joanie and Bobby became her caregivers. During those years she enjoyed several outings to New York City and celebrated with a great variety of friends on her birthdays and other holidays.
- She passed away on January 5, 2022, just short of her 96th birthday.