Elaine Jorgensen
Ephraim, Utah
Dr. Elaine Lewis Jorgensen passed away January 3, 2024 in Ephraim. She was born December 23, 1939 in Salt Lake City. She was the beloved child of Professor John R. Lewis and teacher and author Hazel West Lewis. At the age of 10 she began taking flute lessons and the love for this instrument would continue throughout her life.
She graduated from East High School in Salt Lake City and the University of Utah. She earned a Master’s of Music Degree from Manhattan School of Music followed by a three year Special Doctoral Studies Fellowship from Juilliard School of Music in New York where she coached woodwinds and played first flute for two years in the Juilliard Orchestra. Later in life she was awarded a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Manhattan School of Music in Flute Performance.
Elaine studied with many of the most prestigious flutists of our time: William Kincaid, Julius Baker, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Harold Bennett, Eugene Foster, Jeanne Baxtresser, Linda Chesis, and Sandra Church. She also performed and recorded for orchestras with world-class conductors Leopold Stokowsky, Arthur Fiedler, Aaron Copland, Leonard Berstein, Gunther Schuller, Jonel Perlea, and Maurice Abravenel.
Elaine received numerous awards and honors such as Salute to Youth Soloist with the Utah Symphony, Sesquicentennial Legacy Soloist for International TV Broadcast sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Relief Society in Washington D.C., Juilliard Woodwind Quintet member, Ford Foundation Concert Series, and Brigham Young University’s Orpheus Winds Faculty Quintet with performances in the USA and China.
She was a dedicated and passionate teacher at Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Julliard School of Music as a teaching fellow, and at Snow College where she founded the Sounds of Silver Flute Choir and The Youth Conservatory. She was a founding member of the Utah Flute Association. Elaine loved teaching flute privately in her home, and is recognized across the country by fellow flutists for her ability to quickly bring young students to a high level of performance.
In addition to her many musical accomplishments, Elaine raised a family of five wonderful children with her husband, Dan. In 1971 they were called to open the Italy North Mission in Milan. They served with a few hundred of the Church’s most outstanding missionaries.
She was always actively involved in community and church service. She was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many callings in Salt Lake City; New York City; Milan, Italy; Westchester County, NY; Düsseldorf, Germany; New Canaan, CT; and in Provo and Ephraim, UT. She was a faithful friend, loving wife, and mother—she left her mark of unselfish compassionate service in all her labors. Elaine was an eternal optimist, a light and source of joy for all those who knew her. She will be dearly missed.
She is survived by her husband Dan C. Jorgensen; her children: Dan Jr. (Angela), Anna (Matt), Amy, Joan (Jeff), John Henry, and 10 grandchildren. She is also survived by in-laws, Jerry and LaRae Jorgensen and John R. Peterson. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Doris Wright.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 11;00 a.m. in the Ephraim 3rd Ward, 400 East Center Street in Ephraim. Friends may call for viewings: Friday, January 12, 2024, 6-8 pm at Berg Mortuary, 185 E Center Street, Provo, UT 84606 or Saturday, January 13, 2024 from 9:30-10:30 am in the ward chapel in Ephraim. Burial will be in the Ephraim Park Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Livestreaming and online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Elaine Lewis Jorgensen Scholarship for Flute at Snow College or the Dan & Elaine Jorgensen Scholarship for Italian Students at BYU or the Enoch Jorgensen Jordan High School Teaching Excellence Award at the Canyons Education
Foundation.
