Rockland — Annette LeSiege, an accomplished classical composer with more than 70 published pieces to her credit, died Aug. 26, 2012, in Marina, Calif. Born in Oakland, Calif., to Armand and Mabel LeSiege, Annette was raised in Sunnyvale, Calif., with the devoted attention of her stepfather Raymond Phelps, after the death of her birth father. She earned a masters degree in composition from San Jose State and a doctorate from Eastman School of Music. Many of her compositions were commissioned and have been performed throughout the United States and abroad. During her distinguished career, she was a tenured professor at Wake Forest University, managing director of the Symphony for United Nations, development officer at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, chairman of the Department of Music at Santa Catalina School, sought-after guest lecturer, and assistant dean and associate professor at New Jersey City University. After retiring from NJCU in 2009, Dr. LeSiege was named Professor Emerita in recognition of her exemplary accomplishments, character, and life. Beloved by her students and respected by her colleagues, she consistently exhibited integrity of purpose, collaborative spirit, intelligence, professionalism, and collegiality.

In addition to her many professional accomplishments, Annette was an active supporter of the arts, most recently in her adopted community of Rockland. She will be remembered as a generous, creative, thoughtful, intelligent, and committed person.

Annette loved life and encouraged her friends, family, colleagues, and students to do the same. She perceived life to be God’s good gift and relished feasting, celebrating, and embracing life in the company of others. She playfully and skillfully inspired students to create art, arranged musical notes into unique compositions, transformed ordinary ingredients into sumptuous meals, and shared the challenge to look, listen, taste, and learn from life’s richness with her cherished friends and family.

Two celebrations of her life will be held: One at New Jersey City University on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. and another at 1st Presbyterian Church of Monterey on Jan. 20, 2013 at 3 p.m. Gifts in memory of her may be sent to New Jersey City University Foundation (specify for the Music, Dance and Theater Department).