Dolly Schoenberg

MADISON - Dolly J. Schoenberg, age 100, died on January 8, 2014, at Oakwood Village University Woods, a senior community. The middle of three sisters, she was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on October 7, 1913, to Eduard van der Hoop and Lea van der Hoop-Konijn. Her mother died in 1938, and her father, a highly regarded dermatologist, died in 1939. In 1943, her older sister Ella, with her husband and two small children, perished in the Holocaust. With their lives in danger, Dolly and her younger sister Molly went into hiding with the help of Dutch friends. During this very precarious and dangerous period, there was no contact between the sisters. They reunited after the war and remained close even after Molly's emigration to Israel, where she died in 2007.

While on a visit to relatives on Long Island in 1950, Dolly met and subsequently married a widower, the mathematician Isaac J. (Iso) Schoenberg. Their son, Michael, was born in Santa Monica CA. After moving back to Swarthmore PA, the family settled in Madison WI, in 1965. With Iso, an eminent UW-Madison professor and permanent member at the Mathematics Research Center, Dolly built a life rich in friendship, community, and music. She was a gracious hostess for university and visiting mathematicians from the world over.

Dolly volunteered for many years at the UW Hospital. An avid birdwatcher and gardener, she was a longtime member of numerous nature and cultural organizations such as Friends of the Arboretum, the Euterpe Music Club, and the University League. Dolly was active in Madison Friends of International Students, hosting gatherings for International Women, and was a member of the Madison Dutch Club.

Dolly studied piano at the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music, receiving her diploma in 1936. She taught piano to children for over 40 years and participated with gusto as an accompanist for classical singers and instrumentalists, much valued for her skill at sight-reading. Dolly and Iso shared their love of classical music with other musical friends playing chamber music at home and frequently attending concert and opera performances. Iso died in 1990. Dolly celebrated her 100th birthday on October 5, 2013, with a performance by the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society and reception for Oakwood Village residents, family, and friends.

In addition to her son Mike, Dolly is survived by his wife, Mary Randolph; two step-daughters, Elizabeth Brody and Beatrice Rago; and five step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in her honor may be made to the University of Wisconsin Foundation (1848 University Avenue, Madison WI 53726) for the benefit of the School of Music at UW-Madison, or to the Friends of the Arboretum (1207 Seminole Highway, Madison WI 53711). There will be no visitation or service at this time, although a celebration of her life may be held later in the year. Online condolences - and any stories about Dolly you may wish to share -- may be posted on https://www.cressfuneralservice.com. Written communications mailed to Cress Funeral Home (3610 Speedway Road, Madison WI 53705) will be forwarded to the family.