BELCHER, Mary Wiliams

Mary Williams Belcher was a pianist, composer, and music educator who made a lasting contribution to the musical life of Westfield, New Jersey. After graduating from Western Reserve University in 1920, she taught music in Chicago before moving to Westfield in 1926. She taught piano privately for more than 40 years, served as a church choirmaster and school music director, and founded the Westfield School of Musical Arts and the Westfield Symphony. She was also a longtime member of the Westfield Music Club and served on the board of Westfield Community Concerts. Belcher was married to statistician and organist Donald Ray Belcher. She died at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, and was buried at Long Lake Cemetery in New York.