Dr. Cornelia “Nellie” Vertenstein, a child prodigy, concert pianist and beloved piano teacher for 79 years, passed away Feb. 12, 2021, in Denver after a brief illness. She was 93. Rabbi Sara Gilbert officiated at the Feb. 16 graveside service at Rose Hill Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
“Nellie displayed an amazing adaptability, resilience and ability to learn throughout her life,” her loved ones said. Once the pandemic hit, “she quickly learned how to give lessons over FaceTime and moved her entire studio online at age 92.
“Always a woman of incredible, strong will, she gave one last piano lesson just before going to the hospital for the final time.”
Dr. Vertenstein, who was born in Sibiu, Romania, began playing piano as a child, quickly established her superior talents and started giving piano lessons at 14.
She survived the Holocaust in her early teens, continued her education and became a concert pianist in Bucharest.
In 1961, Mrs. Vertenstein, her husband and young daughter were forced to flee Communist Romania and make the harrowing journey to Israel.
Two years later, the family immigrated to the US and settled in Denver, where she built a successful piano studio.
Dr. Vertenstein, fluent in six languages, learned Hebrew and English to continue giving lessons to students.
She earned her PhD in music in 1980 at CU.
“Nellie continuously adapted her style and explored new pedagogical methods to instill a deep love of music and learning in her students,” her family said.
Dr. Cornelia “Nellie” Vertenstein is survived by her daughter Mariana Vertenstein and son-in-law Steve Goldhaber; grandchildren Tanya and Daniel Goldhaber; nephews Michael and Mark Yaron.
Copyright © 2021 by the Intermountain Jewish News
