In the Spotlight

Mireille Leitich, a dedicated supporter of both opera and symphony, passed away earlier this year.  She was born in Geneva, Switzerland, one of nine siblings, and, following a year in Italy, came to the United States as a young adult to stay with her sister in Chicago. While working as a laboratory technician at Grant Hospital, she met a young surgeon, John Leitich, married him and moved with him to Hawaii. John died thirteen years ago.

Mireille epitomized joie de vivre.  She loved people and, while she and John had no children, she said that her many friends were her family so that she never felt alone, even during her final illness.  Mireille's passions were music, French culture, food and wine.

Mireille spoke English, French and Italian fluently as well as some German. She was a long time Board member of the Alliance Francaise Hawaii, and organized the Europa Ball - an annual event in which all the European clubs in Hawaii  participate. She attained Cordon Bleu certificates, was a member of the Chaines des Rotisseurs and gave cooking classes. HOT benefited from her expertise in her donation of a dinner for eight in her gracious home to the Opera Ball silent auction for many years.

Mireille's presence at the opera will be missed, but she would be happy to know that her generous gift through the Opera Legacy Society contributes to the furtherance of HOT's tradition and the splendor of grand opera in Hawaii.