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Janet Marie Erb Clithero ’51

Janet Marie Erb Clither ’51, March 24, 2010, in Longview, Washington. Janet began playing violin when she was five years old, and studied music at Reed for two years. She met Harold Freiberg ’49 at the college; they married in 1948, and raised a family of four. Janet was a charter member of the Southwest Washington Symphony, and performed with the symphony for 35 years, holding the positions of assistant concertmaster and concertmaster. She also established the Evergreen String Quartet, taught music to children and adults, and was a teacher's aide for middle and high school orchestras. In her public obituary, we read: “The key to her teaching success was her seemingly infinite positive spirit and patience, as well as her genuine love for her students.” In 1970, she became the library technician for the Longview Public Library, and later for Lower Columbia College Library. After retiring in 1995, Janet enjoyed growing and tending to 75-plus rosebushes. Survivors include her husband of 33 years, Raymond L. Clithero; two sons and two daughters; two stepchildren; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Appeared in Reed magazine: December 2010

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