Widow to Hartt School Founder Moshe Paranov, Elizabeth Warner-Paranov, died at the age of 91 on Wednesday, January 5, 2011. Mrs. Paranov was a well known figure in the Greater-Hartford area and was beloved in the music community. She devoted many years to the Hartt School.
Born on January 25, 1919 in Bridgewater, Conn. daughter of Levi and Caroline Beardsley Warner, she attended Mount Holyoke College and Columbia University, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Institute of Musical Art of the Juilliard Foundation in 1941, and earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Hartt School of Music in 1943. She studied organ with a number of professors including Moshe Paranov. For many years, Mrs. Paranov served as a church organist with Hartford area churches. Mrs. Paranov was a widely acclaimed piano soloist, accompanist, chamber music performer, and teacher. She joined the Hartt School piano faculty in 1942.
“Warner-Paranov helped grow Hartt from a small regional music school to the nationally and internationally regarded performing arts conservatory it is today”, says Hartt School Dean Aaron Flagg. She also served as Hartt’s registrar from 1947 to 1960 and played an integral role in the merging of Hartt, the Hartford Art School, and Hillyer College to form the University of Hartford in 1957. Mrs. Paranov became Assistant Dean of the Hartt School in 1960, then was promoted to Dean in 1966. She retired in 1983 and was appointed Dean Emerita in 1985.
Elizabeth was named “Outstanding Alumna of the Year” by the Hartt Alumni Association in 1962 and 1984. She was also a trustee of the Hartt School and most recently helped celebrate Hartt’s 90th anniversary, this year, as a guest of honor.
She is survived by a step-daughter, Nina Paranov Fagan, and many cousins. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by a step-daughter Tanya Paranov.
A memorial service will be held at a later, unannounced, date at The Hartt School. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Moshe and Pauine Paranov Scholarship Fund at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, Conn. 06117.
Hartt School students and faculty received an email from Dean Aaron Flagg about Elizabeth Warner-Paranov on Friday afternoon.
