Maria Luisa Aldrete-Levy

Obituary Maria Aldrete Levy, beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and friend to hundreds in the opera world tragically died suddenly on the morning of October 16, 2017. Maria led a busy life working as the Artistic Administrator of the Tacoma Opera, attending and volunteering at Saint Patrick Catholic Church, and regularly cooking gourmet meals for family and friends. Above all, she treasured spending time caring for, talking to, and playing games with her two grandsons. Maria was born in San Diego, California to Alberto V. Aldrete and Maria Luisa Aldrete. She grew up in Tecate, Mexico, San Diego, and Northern California, graduating high school from the Dominican Convent High School in San Rafael and earning her college degree in linguistics from the University of San Diego. During the late 1960s Maria worked for KGTV-10 in San Diego while raising her two sons and finding time to be an active supporter and volunteer for the San Diego Opera. In 1985, Maria moved to Davis, California to care for her mother who had cancer. Following her mother's death in 1986, Maria followed her life-long passion for opera by accepting a position as the Marketing Director for the Pittsburgh Opera. During the next thirty-one years, she became a nationally recognized administrator and mentor in the world of opera, serving as the managing director of the Connecticut Opera, returning as the administrator of the Pittsburgh Opera, and then accepting a position as executive administrator for strategic planning for the University of Indiana Jacobs School of Music. During her career she met and formed friendships with many famous names in opera including Beverly Sills and the Three Tenors -- Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras. In 2011, Maria moved to Seattle to help her son, Sebastian, gain half-time custody of his sons and provide a warm and loving home for them. In 2012, they moved to Tacoma where Maria immediately became involved with the Tacoma Opera, serving as the artistic administrator until her death. As noted by the Tacoma Opera, "Maria was loved by everyone who met her and worked with her. She was totally devoted to opera and to everybody involved in our productions, from the singers and musicians to the stagehands, ushers and patrons; Maria loved everyone and was the definition of a selfless woman. Maria had a positive impact on literally thousands of people, from young aspiring opera singers to the greatest luminaries in the industry." As one friend of more than 40 years noted while recalling the treasure of their friendship, "Were that our lives were filled with Marias just like her!" A former colleague noted, "Her home was regularly filled with dinner guests. Family, sitting next to guest artists in town, next to colleagues, next to friends. She would listen and console, laugh and love with the wisdom of elders and the hopefulness of the young. She accepted, without judgment, anyone and everyone." The Tacoma Opera dedicated its production of The Marriage of Figaro to the loving memory of Maria and will host a Celebration of Life for Maria at 3pm on January 7, 2018 at the Annie Wright School Chapel, 827 Tacoma Avenue N. followed by a reception in the Great Hall. Maria is survived by her sons Sean Levy and Sebastian Levy Aldrete; grandsons Jonathan and Ryan Levy, brothers Alberto Aldrete (Lori) and Pedro Aldrete (Teresa), nephew Alberto, and nieces Michelle, Montserat, and Lorenza. She is also survived by her great nieces Chloe, and namesake Maria, great nephews Matthew and Thomas, and numerous additional great nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint James Catholic Church in Davis, California at 11 a.m. on February 10, 2018.