Josephine Lombardo Spagnola

Josephine Lombardo, born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, passed away quietly on July 14, 2020 in Redlands, California with family by her side. She was 102 years young, and a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher, opera singer of renown, and a consummate artist and human being of true kindness and generosity. She lived her life focused upon her family and her music, and, in her later years, she was most proud of her proteges who brought her great joy.

Josephine arrived in America in 1929 with her mother, Agata, and her siblings, Saverio and Paola after a long and difficult voyage. Her father, Pietro, already a US citizen, was there to welcome them. He had already established residency and was a respected artisan stone mason. Today his buildings still stand in Altoona Pennsylvania where the family called home through the 1940's.

The Lombardo family assimilated readily and became active members of their community. Josephine excelled in her studies, winning numerous awards including membership in the Quill and Scroll, an honorary writing society, and she studied voice with the local music teacher who urged her to audition for a music scholarship to the Juilliard School in New York City. After one year, however, Josephine made the bold choice to pursue performance more aggressively and dedicated her days to studying acting and dance as well as singing. She was rewarded with consistent employment as a singer during this time and sang at two prestigious dinner houses in Manhattan, often performing an early show only to be whisked off across town to perform Gilbert and Sullivan productions with the Light Opera Company of New York. She also was cast in a number of plays at the famed Provincetown Playhouse.

In the late 1940's, after the birth of her first daughter, Francesca, Josephine moved to Los Angeles where her singing career continued to flourish in the lively dinner theater scene—Café Opera in Beverly Hills—and operatic productions at the Wilshire Ebell with the Los Angeles Civic Grand Opera Company as well as offering her talents to celebrity charity fundraisers throughout southern California. She gave birth to daughter, Toni and son, Michael, and, with her husband, Andy Spagnola, she skillfully balanced the demands of married life and a full career, performing as the leading soprano of the West Coast Opera Company, founded by Louis Palange. She was also associated with the San Carlo Opera Company, and sang an impressive list of dedicated soprano roles including, La Traviata, Madame Butterfly, and La Boheme. When Palange died in 1979, his widow asked Josephine to take on the responsibility of Artistic Director of the West Coast Opera, both as a manager of operations, and as an inspiring guiding light. Operating now in Palm Desert, Josephine renamed the company, West Coast Opera Theatre, to better reflect its evolving repertoire which now included great works of musical theater. Her leadership brought sought after cultural experiences to the desert area as well as opportunities for upcoming local talent to associate with world recognized performers, exemplifying Josephine's life-long commitment to paying it forward with her selfless mentorship to others.

Throughout her life, Josephine was honored with many arts and service awards. Among these are the Golden Grapes Lifetime Achievement Award in Music, twice for the Desert Stars League Award for her work in Madame Butterfly and The Music Man, the Soroptimist International Award of Women of Distinction, and, she was given a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame. She also was a lifetime member of SAG, Musicians Local 42, AGMA, and AGVA. Josephine is survived by her children Francesca Boswell, Toni Spagnola and husband Stew Undem, Michael Spagnola and wife, Dianna, brother Sam Lombardo, sister Jeanette Motta, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her husband Andy Spagnola. At Josephine's request, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to support the Josephine Lombardo Scholarship Endowment at California State University, San Bernardino. Checks may be written and mailed to CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407. You may also make a gift on line at www.csusb.edu/lombardo.

It is said that Josephine began singing at the age of four and never stopped. On the celebration of her 100th birthday, two years ago, she sang for her assembled audience one of her favorite songs, You'll Never Walk Alone, from the musical Carousel. The song speaks to living a life of love and courage and certainly that was a fitting final performance for Josephine. She was a woman of great artistry, perseverance, discipline, love and hope. Everyone who came in contact with her was touched by her beauty, audacity, and warmth, as well as her ability to make you feel immediately at home and valued. The final words of the song best sum up the work of art Josephine made out of her life—Walk on, walk on, with love in your heart and you'll never walk alone.

Camminare con Dio, Josephine!