Marcia Hishman

Marcia L. Hishman, 88, of Bloomington, passed away at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday October 2, 2024 at her residence.

Marcia was born August 8, 1936. She married Richard Hishman on June 11, 1964, in Winter Park, Florida, he preceded her in death.

Marcia began piano studies with her mother at the age of three and started organ lessons at age 13 or 14. Her hope was to one day play the organ at Ebbets Field for her favorite baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. She was an alumna of Rosemary Hall in Greenwich, CT and attended the St. Mary Institute in St. Louis, MO.

In 1958, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance with distinction and the Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester. Her organ teachers included Catharine Crozier and David Craighead. Marcia served as Craighead's assistant at St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Rochester, NY for three years while studying with him at Eastman.

She earned a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the Yale University School of Music, where she won the Lockwood Prize- the highest honor for outstanding university pianist. During her graduate studies, she served for two years as organist at St. Thomas Episcopal Church of New Haven, CT.

She served on the music faculties of Juniata College of Huntingdon, PA, Rollins College of Winter Park, FL, Illinois State University, and from 1975 until 2012, Illinois Wesleyan University.

Marcia met Richard "Dick" Blair Hishman at Juniata College, where they both served on the music faculty, and were married at Knowles Memorial Chapel of Rollins College on June 11, 1964. Dick was chairman of music education at Illinois Wesleyan University from 1966 until 1992 and preceded her in death in 2013.

Marcia was organist at Wesley United Methodist Church of Bloomington, IL from 1966 until 2017. She was instrumental in the acquisition of a new Austin pipe organ for the Wesley sanctuary, which she inaugurated on October 1, 1992. Marcia and Dick were also members of Wesley.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Dick, and her brother, Alfred Loeffler. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Nancy Loeffler, her niece, Lise Welton, and two nephews, Bruce and David Hishman.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Illinois Wesleyan University music department, Wesley United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Her cremation has been entrusted with Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington.

There will be a celebration of life service at Wesley United Methodist Church on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11:00 a.m. Pre-service music played by Andrew Johnson will begin at 10:40. A meal will follow the service.