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Ethel Rita Sinow

SANIBEL FLORIDA-Ethel Rita Sinow, of Sanibel, Fl., formerly of Dixon, Illinois, died March 26, 2017.

Mrs. Sinow was born April 15, 1924, in Chicago, a daughter of Samuel and Rose Price. She married Sidney Sinow on June 23, 1942. He preceded her in death on December 31, 2001.

She is survived by two sons, Dr. Jack (Violetta) Sinow of Lafayette, CA and Dr. David (Carole) Sinow of Mahomet, IL; one brother, Dr. Charles Price of Redondo Beach, CA; four grandchildren, Renee Mandelbaum of Highland Park, IL, Megan Colston of Salt Lake City, Utah, Victor Sinow of Oakland, CA, and Stephanie Wilson of Walnut Creek, CA; and four great grandchildren, Liam and Annelise Wilson and Hudson and Reese Mandelbaum.

Mrs. Sinow will be remembered for devotion to her family and especially her husband of 59 years, her concern for her many friends, love of music, dance, the arts, and her philanthropic commitment to many charitable organizations.

From age seven, Mrs. Sinow began studying piano in earnest, and at the age of twelve gave her first public piano concert in Orchestra Hall in Chicago. After graduating Hyde Park High School at 16, she continued her piano studies at the Chicago Music College and Roosevelt University. Thereafter, she periodically gave piano concerts for the next 60 years in venues throughout the United States including Chicago, IL, Hot Springs, Ark., Naples and Sanibel, FL. She even performed as a classical pianist on a cruise ship, which cruised the Mediterranean and the Greek Isles. Many of her concerts were major charitable events, which raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for important philanthropic causes. While devoting herself to her sons and husband, she still carved out several hours a day to practice the piano as she always said, The first day you don’t practice, you know it. The second day you don’t practice, your teachers know it. The third day you don’t practice, the world knows it!

Mrs. Sinow raised her family in Dixon, Illinois and was an enthusiastic participant in the community. Prior to moving to Sanibel as a full-time resident, she was an active member of the Dixon Music Club, the Phidian Art Club, the Dixon Country Club, Temple Shalom, and Hadassah.

After vacationing on Sanibel for many years, Mr. & Mrs. Sinow moved there permanently in the mid 1990’s. Immediately, Mrs. Sinow became enamored with the famous shelling on the island, and began self-collecting in earnest. She became very active with the Bailey Matthews National Shell Museum, where she was recently honored for more than 20 years of service to the public as a docent. Moreover, on behalf of the Lee County Florida Visitor and Convention Bureau, Mrs. Sinow appeared in a national television campaign where she portrayed a tourist shelling on the beaches of Sanibel. Additionally, she was a major supporter of Big Arts of Sanibel and a member of Bat Yam Synagogue of Sanibel.

Services were held in Arlington Heights.

Memorial Contributions can be made to the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum of Sanibel, FL.