Inez (Larson) Candiello

Inez Candiello, 100, passed away on October 1, 2017. Inez Larson was born on September 28, 1917 in Binghamton, Arizona. She was reared by her father and mother, Seth and Gretta Larson, in Silver City, New Mexico.

Her two sisters, Ruth Merz and Louise Sterchi, were constant companions and good friends. Enamored by the violin during high school, Inez began playing in the school orchestra in Mesa, Arizona. Her string teacher, Mr. Bond, saw her gifts of talent and determination increase as she progressed musically. He invited her to accompany him and his wife to travel to Brussels, Belgium during the summer to study violin there. Inez remained in Brussels for two years, studying at the Royal Conservatory of Music, passing her stringent performance finals with flying colors.

Inez wrote a book, My Sister and I, about this experience. She then attended Northwestern University in Chicago, graduating with two degrees in Musical Performance and Music Education. As president of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, her leadership abilities were highly valued. Inez taught Suzuki violin and piano in her home and in the studio, The Academy of Music, she had built in Sierra Vista.

In her mid 50’s, Inez went to the University of Arizona to earn her Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling. Securing a position on Fort Huachuca as an education counselor, she worked for 10 years to help soldiers discover how to pursue further education that would enhance their careers. Her late husband, Vincent S. Candiello, was devoted to her.

They traveled to 90 countries together. Inez is survived by their three children, Kathleen (Ronald) Schell of Wisconsin, Pamela (Jack) Gore of Sierra Vista, and Vincent (Roseann) Candiello of Pennsylvania. They witnessed her 100th birthday on September 28, 2017. Inez and Vincent also had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the local Cochise Music Teacher’s Association (CMTA) would be appreciated. Please send donations to Rosemary Isbell-Hendrickson, the CMTA secretary, at 2132 Roselie Way, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. These donations will help promising students in the area further their musical studies.

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