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Marjorie Finlay 1928 - 2003

Marjorie (Moehlenkamp) Finlay of Reading, Berks County, PA was born on October 5, 1928 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee United States. She was married to Robert Bruce Finlay, and had a child Andrea Gardner Finlay. Marjorie Finlay died at age 74 years old on June 1, 2003 in Reading, Berks County, PA.

Marjorie (Moehlenkamp) Finlay

Reading, Berks County, PA 19611

October 5, 1928

Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States

June 1, 2003

Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States

Female

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Marjorie Finlay Marjorie Finlay (1928 - 2003)

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Marjorie (Moehlenkamp) Finlay's History: 1928 - 2003

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Introduction

Marjorie (Moehlenkamp) Finlay was born to Elmer Henry (1897-1972) and Cora Lee (1900-1962) (Morrow) Moehlenkamp and had a sister Virginia Humphrey (1924-2005). In the 1930 census, when Marjorie was one year old, she was living with her grandparents Henry J. (age 72) and Emma (age 66) Moehlenkamp. Also in the St. Louis Missouri household were her parents and Martin (age 35), Irene (age 35), Ruth (age 16), and Virginia (age 5) Moehlenkamp. Marjorie married Robert Bruce Finlay (1920 -2003) on March 22nd 1952 in Palm Beach Florida. Bruce was president of Raymond Construction Co. See Moehlenkamp, Finlay Wedding in South Mar. 22 for a copy of Marjorie and Bruce's wedding announcement which appeared in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat in Missouri. Marjorie had a love and talent for music, especially singing, since an early age. She began her singing career while in high school at St. Charles High School in Saint Charles Missouri. Her first singing teacher was Miss Pearl Walker of Lindenwood College, who she studied under while attending high school, and who she continued studying with while attending Lindenwood. After college Marjorie's signing career really took off. An article in the January 13th 1962 edition of the St Louis Globe Democrat says that Marjorie, a native of St. Charles and former Lindenwood College student sang with the Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys and the St. Louis Symphony at it's 3rd pop concert of the season. Marjorie was a soprano and sang 2 operatic arias: "Fanciulla Sbocciato d l'amore" (Puccini, "La Rondine") and the "Jewel Song" (Gounod's "Faust"), however, she also sang several popular songs. Marjorie toured after graduation with the "Music With the Girls' network radio show (as a soloist.), and was described in the paper as "the attractive soprano". After marrying her husband Robert, whose work took him to Havana, Puerto Rico, then to Caracas and back to Puerto Rico, Marjorie sang with symphony orchestras and in opera at each city. In San Juan, she had her own tv program called "El Show Pan-Americano". Musical talent (and beauty) obviously runs in the family as she is the grandmother of the famous singer Taylor Swift. Track 13 on Taylor Swifts' album released on December 11 2020 is titled "marjorie" - a song dedicated to and about her grandmother. Read the lyrics: Marjorie Lyrics - Taylor Swift - they embody what all of us feel when someone we love and admire passes and what AncientFaces is all about. Swift said about Marjorie "starring my grandmother, Marjorie, who still visits me sometimes . . . if only in my dreams." In the track, Swift honors her late grandmother, singing, "And if I didn't know better, I'd think you were talking to me now. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were still around." Grandma Marjorie died in June 2003 in Swift's hometown of Reading, PA, when Swift was 13 years old.
10/5

1928

Birthday

October 5, 1928

Birthdate

Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Marjorie was Caucasian - her ancestors were from Germany. She was raised in St. Charles Missouri and lived in Central and South America due to her husband's job.
Nationality & Locations

Marjorie was a United States citizen. She was born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee and lived in many places in South America due to her husband's work at his construction company. These locations included Havana Cuba, Caracas, and Puerto Rico. She was well known in her hometowns of St. Louis and St. Charles Missouri and died in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Early Life & Education

Marjorie attended St. Charles High School in Saint Charles Missouri and then graduated from Lindenwood College in 1949 with a Bachelor's degree. She was a member of the sorority Mu Phi Epsilon and Delta Phi Delta. She also attended Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood, Massachusetts. Lindenwood University gave Marjorie an alumni award in 1961.
Professional Career

Shortly after college, Marjorie sang with the Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys and the St. Louis Symphony at it's 3rd pop concert of the season. In 1950 when Marjorie was twenty-one years old she worked as a receptionist at Boatmen's National Bank at 300 N. Broadway. It was during this time that she became one of the five final contestants for ABC's "Music With The Girls." (See St. Charles Soprano Wins 1st 'Music With The Girls' Trials). Marjorie became a successful entertainer and opera singer who had great success in South America and before she was married was a guest soloist with a NBC and CBS network show "Music With The Girls". She was also very popular in Puerto Rico, entertaining for an hour each night on APA-TV in Santuce P.R. on the television show "El Show Pan-Americano". A copy of a newspaper article about her career can be found at Margie - the Parr of Puerto Rico.
Personal Life & Family

Marjorie (Moehlenkamp) Finlay was born to Elmer Henry (1897-1972) and Cora Lee (Morrow) Moehlenkamp (1900-1962) and had a sister Virginia Humphrey (1924-2005). The family lived at 1941 Elm in St. Charles Missouri. Previously, Elmer had lived at 1503 Palm St. in St. Louis. Marjorie married Robert Finlay who was the president of Raymond Construction Company in Palm Beach Florida on March 22nd 1952 and stayed at Casa Rosada (See Moehlenkamp, Finlay Wedding in South Mar. 22.) After their marriage, the couple traveled extensively as Raymond's job took him to Havana where the company was located, then to Puerto Rico due to political unrest, then to Caracas, and back to Puerto Rico. At each stop Marjorie sang with the symphony orchestras and in various operas. At the Finlay's home in San Juan Marjorie had her own television program El Show Pan-Americano on APA-TV in Santurce. She also performed concerts, sang opera and at supper clubs, and was an honorary captain of the Puerto Rican National Guard. Marjorie dedicated much of her life to the appreciation of music and to entertaining others. Beginning at a young age, in high school through college, and then of course in her adult life performing in the States but also abroad particularly in South America.
06/1

2003

Death

June 1, 2003

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania United States
Death location

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13 Memories, Stories & Photos about Marjorie

Delta Phi Delta - 1947 Lindenwood College for Women

Daniel Pinna

9.26k+ favorites

12/11/2020

Delta Phi Delta - 1947 Lindenwood College for Women

The 1947 Lindenwood College for Women yearbook photo of Delta Phi Delta officers. Shown here is President Sarah Hall, and Secretary-Treasurer Marjorie Moehlenkamp

Delta Phi Delta is an honorary music sorority organized to foster a greater love and appreciation of music. It also encourages active participation in civic music affairs. One of the main social events this year was the tea given jointly with Mu Phi Epsilon for all music majors. Other activities included the carol singing at Christmas and the student recital presented late in the winter. Membership is open to all public school music majors as well as freshmen and sophomores who are applied music majors.

Seated: Hall, McCormac
Second row: Morris, Steward, Moehlenkamp, Watt
Not pictured: Bates, Becker, Gordon, Mayhall

Date & Place: 1947 at Lindenwood College for Women 209 S Kingshighway St, in Saint Charles, St. Charles County, Missouri 63301, United States

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Marjorie Moehlenkamp - Talent Contest Winner

Daniel Pinna

9.26k+ favorites

08/09/2022

Marjorie Moehlenkamp - Talent Contest Winner

This photo appeared in The St. Louis Star and Times in St. Louis Missouri on Monday February 27th 1950. It reads:
Singer Wins Radio Spot - Miss Marjorie Moehlenkamp, 21-year-old singer, receives a congratulatory kiss from hal Fredericks of KXOK, The Star-Times station, as she was announced yesterday as the winner of a talent contest held in connection with the St. Louis appearance of the American Broadcasting Co. network program, "Music With The Girls."

A full transcription of the article can be found at St. Charles Soprano Wins 1st 'Music With The Girls' Trials

Date & Place: February 26, 1950 in St. Louis, Missouri United States

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Marjorie Moehlenkamp Wedding Announcement

Daniel Pinna

9.26k+ favorites

08/09/2022

Marjorie Moehlenkamp Wedding Announcement

The following wedding announcement of Marjorie Moehlenkamp was found in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat newspaper in St. Louis Missouri on Sunday February 24th 1952. It reads:

Miss Marjorie Moehlenkamp, who is to be married Mar. 22 to Robert Bruce Finlay. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer H. Moehlenkamp.

A full transcription of the wedding announcement can be found at Moehlenkamp, Finlay Wedding in South Mar. 22

Date & Place: February 24, 1952 in St. Louis, Missouri United States

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Marjorie Finlay - In Our Town by Bob Goddard

Daniel Pinna

9.26k+ favorites

08/09/2022

Marjorie Finlay - In Our Town by Bob Goddard

The following newspaper article appeared in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat in St. Louis Missouri on Tuesday January 9th 1962.

A full transcription an be found at In Our Town - St Louis Globe-Democrat

Date & Place: January 9, 1962 in St. Louis, Missouri United States

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Daniel Pinna

9.26k+ favorites

08/09/2022

In Our Town - St Louis Globe-Democrat

The following appeared in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat in St. Louis Missouri on Tuesday January 9th 1962 written by Bob Goodard:

Marjorie Finlay, the attractive soprano who'll appear as a soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at its pop concert Sunday afternoon, is better known out St. Charles way as Marjorie Moehlenkamp. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Moehlenkamp, 1941 Elm, St. Charles. Marjorie began her signing career while in high school. Her first teacher was Miss Pearl Walker of Lindenwood College, and she kept right on studying with her while attending Lindenwood.

After graduation, Marjorie toured, as a soloist with the "Music With the Girls" network radio show, studied at Tanglewood in the Massachusetts Berkshires, and then in New York, where she met and married Robert Finlay. His work with a heavy contracting company took him first to Hanava, then to Puerto Rico, then to Caracas, and back to Puerto Rico. At each stop Marjorie sang with the symphony orchestras and in opera. In San Juan, where the Finlays now live, she has had her own tv program, does concert, opera and supper club singing. She's also an honorary captain of the Puerto Rican National Guard. Last October she returned to Lindenwood to receive a citation as one of the school's outstanding graduates.

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Daniel Pinna

9.26k+ favorites

08/09/2022

St. Charles Soprano Wins 1st 'Music With The Girls' Trials

The following appeared in The St. Louis Star and Times in St. Louis Missouri on Monday February 27th 1950:
Miss Marjorie Moehlenkamp, 21-year-old receptionist at Boatmen's National Bank, 300 N. Broadway, yesterday won over four other contestants the right to appear March 19 on the network broadcast from St. Louis of the American Broadcasting Co. program, "Music With the Girls." The program is broadcast over KXOK, The Star-Times station.

Miss Moehlenkamp, a soprano, was one of five St. Louis area girls who completed in the after-broadcast show yesterday in the Gold Room of the Hotel Jefferson. She was chosen on the reading of an electric applause meter winning five points more than her closest competitor.

A large crowd witnessed the program, first of five to originate in St. Louis and which are being presented here on behalf of the 1950 St. Louis Red Cross fund drive. The competitive show followed the regular broadcast from 5:30 to 6p.m. Former Mayor Aloys P. Kaufmann, chairman of this year's drive, spoke after the broadcast.

Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer H. Moehlenkamp of St. Charles, Mo., Miss Mohlenkamp is a graduate of Lindenwood College and prior to graduation last June was a soloist with the Lindenwood choir.

The other four contestants participating yesterday were Miss Harriet Libby, vocalist and pianist, of 4 Layton terr., Richmand Heights; Miss Bea Caplin, vocalist, of 4307 Lexington ave.; Miss Audrey McEwen, whistler, of 3949 Washington ave.; Miss Betty Kleinman, saxophonist, of Granite City, and Miss Leah Bradley of Murphysboro, Ill., an instrumental duet.

The second of the five St. Louis-originated broadcasts and after-broadcast shows will be next Sunday from loretto Gymnasium of Webster College, Webster Groves. Tickets for this broadcast are available at the St. Louis and Webster Groves chapters, American Red Cross, and at The Star-Times Building. Another local talent hunt, featuring five girl acts from the St. Louis area, will follow the broadcast.

A photo that appeared in the article can be found at Marjorie Moehlenkamp - Talent Contest Winner

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