Rose Resnick

{{about|the American musician, educator, and philanthropist|the American consultant|Rosalind Resnick}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Rose Resnick

| image = RoseResnick1955.png

| alt = A smiling, slim white woman wearing a hat, sunglasses and a corsage, from a 1955 newspaper photo

| caption = Rose Resnick, from a 1955 newspaper

| other_names =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = November 27, 1906

| birth_place = New York City

| death_date = August 14, 2006 (aged 99)

| death_place = San Francisco, California

| occupation = Musician, educator, philanthropist

| years_active =

| known_for =

| notable_works =

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}}

Rose Resnick (November 27, 1906 – August 14, 2006) was an American musician, educator, and philanthropist. She was co-founder and co-director of the Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind in California, and a leader in San Francisco's blind community for decades.

Early life and education

Rose Resnick was born in New York City, the daughter of Harris Resnick and Leah Resnick.{{Cite news|date=1951-01-06|title=PIANIST'S PARENT KILLED; Rose Resnick's Mother Is Run Over by an Oil Truck|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/01/06/archives/pianists-parent-killed-rose-resnicks-mother-is-run-over-by-an-oil.html|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0362-4331}} Both of her parents were Jewish immigrants from Russia; her father sold cloaks and suits. She became blind from glaucoma in childhood. She studied music at the Manhattan School of Music and at the Fontainebleau Conservatory of Music in France, with Nadia Boulanger.{{Cite news|date=1928-05-21|title=BLIND GIRL TO STUDY ABROAD; Miss Rose Resnick to Sail June 16 for Music Scholarship in France.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/05/21/archives/blind-girl-to-study-abroad-miss-rose-resnick-to-sail-june-16-for.html|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite book|last=Bhalerao|first=Usha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7lJHAAAAMAAJ&q=Rose+Resnick+blind|title=Eminent Blind Women of the World: Their Contribution and Achievements|date=1988|publisher=Sterling Publishers|isbn=978-81-207-0849-5|pages=76|language=en}} She graduated from Hunter College in 1928. She later earned a master's degree and a teaching credential at San Francisco State University in 1961, with a master's thesis titled "Learning and Social Development at a Camp for Blind Children."{{Cite book|last=Resnick|first=Rose|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HjzSNwAACAAJ&q=Rose+Resnick+blind|title=Learning and Social Development at a Camp for Blind Children|date=1961|publisher=San Francisco State College|language=en}} She completed doctoral studies in education at the University of San Francisco in 1981.{{Cite web|last=Egelko|first=Bob|date=2006-08-17|title=Rose Resnick -- helped form LightHouse for the Blind|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Rose-Resnick-helped-form-LightHouse-for-the-2490981.php|access-date=2021-09-23|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}

Career

Resnick was a concert pianist, and trained as a teacher, but as a blind woman was barred from employment in the New York City public schools. She taught music to blind students and gave recitals in New York,{{Cite news|last=Downes|first=Olin|date=1933-03-13|title=Yehudi Menuhin Gives Vivid Presentation of Elgar's Second Violin Concerto -- Other Concerts.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/03/13/archives/yehudi-menuhin-gives-vivid-presentation-of-elgars-second-violin.html|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0362-4331}} and was active on stage as an actress with the Lighthouse Players.{{Cite news|date=1926-12-04|title=Lighthouse Players Act Playlets.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1926/12/04/archives/lighthouse-players-act-playlets.html|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|date=1928-11-25|title=BLIND TO GIVE A PLAY.; Lighthouse Players to Produce "Lilies of the Fieid" on Dec. 6.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/11/25/archives/blind-to-give-a-play-lighthouse-players-to-produce-lilies-of-the.html|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|date=1929-02-24|title=Blind Actresses in Little Plays.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/02/24/archives/blind-actresses-in-little-plays.html|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0362-4331}} She moved to California in the 1930s, after visiting San Francisco to compete in a national piano competition.{{Cite news|date=1931-06-13|title=BLIND, WINS MUSIC HONORS; Miss Rose Resnick Victor in Eastern States Competition.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/06/13/archives/blind-wins-music-honors-miss-rose-resnick-victor-in-eastern-states.html|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0362-4331}} She played piano in clubs and on radio during and after World War II.{{Cite news|last=Moore|first=Marilyn N.|date=1974-07-17|title=Blindness Didn't Handicap Her|pages=63|work=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85901400/blindness-didnt-handicap-hermarilyn/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}} She gave school and community presentations combining musical performance and demonstrations with her guide dog, Ilsa.{{Cite journal|date=April 13, 1945|title=Blind Pianist Entertains|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B2DXAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PP36|journal=The Indian Leader|volume=48|pages=4}}{{Cite news|date=1944-03-23|title=PTA To Feature Rose Resnick, Blind Pianist|pages=7|work=Visalia Times-Delta|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85901064/pta-to-feature-rose-resnick-blind/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}}

After founding Recreation for the Blind{{Cite news|date=1948-03-19|title=Miss Rose Resnick, Blind Pianist, Will Entertain BPWC|pages=7|work=Los Gatos Times-Saratoga Observer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85900278/miss-rose-resnick-blind-pianist-will/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}} and running a few summer camps at other locations in the late 1940s,{{Cite journal|date=September 16, 1949|title=Out of Darkness|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IT87AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA28-PA13|journal=Fortnight: The Newsmagazine of California|volume=7|pages=13}}{{Cite news|last=Herbert|first=Frank|date=1949-08-10|title=38 Blind Youngsters Have Their Day at Carnival|pages=11|work=The Evening Press and Santa Rosa Republican|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85901193/38-blind-youngsters-have-their-day-at/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}} Resnick bought land and, with Nina Brandt,{{Cite news|date=1955-03-11|title=Rose Resnick is Welcome Club Speaker|pages=11|work=Daily Independent Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85900543/rose-resnick-is-welcome-club-speaker/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|date=1954-08-06|title=Marin Auxiliary for Blind Hosts First Membership Tea|pages=13|work=Daily Independent Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85904581/marin-auxiliary-for-blind-hosts-first/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}} became co-founder and co-director of the Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa County in 1950.{{Cite news|last=East|first=Barbara|date=1950-08-13|title=Blind Children Swim, Ride in Summer Camp|pages=17|work=The San Francisco Examiner|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85900101/blind-children-swim-ride-in-summer/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|date=1950-04-27|title=Guest Artist|pages=39|work=The Sacramento Bee|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85900376/guest-artist/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}} "When children play in groups, it's natural to bridge that gap between the sighted world and the world of the blind," she explained in 1949.{{Cite news|last=Mezquida|first=Anna Blake|date=1949-01-16|title=Donna Danced|pages=93|work=The San Francisco Examiner|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85900816/donna-dancedanna-blake-mezquida/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}} She left active directorship of the camp in 1961.

Resnick was founder and executive director of the California League of the Handicapped in San Francisco from 1961 to 1991.{{Cite news|last=Olderman|first=Murray|date=1975-12-10|title=Rose Resnick Sees More than Most|pages=13|work=The Journal Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85901616/rose-resnick-sees-more-than-mostmurray/|access-date=2021-09-24|via=Newspapers.com}} In 1965 she helped establish the Garden of Fragrance at Golden Gate Park, a multi-sensory park experience with blind signage. She started a library of audiotape materials for California prisoners with reading disabilities. Resnick's programs merged with the San Francisco Association for the Blind to become the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind,{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://lighthouse-sf.org/about/history/|access-date=2021-09-23|website=LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired|language=en-US}} and eventually the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

She wrote two autobiographies, Sun and Shadow: The Autobiography of a Woman who Cleared a Pathway to the Seeing World for the Blind (1975),{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UxgsBHor_LgC&pg=PA379|title=The Best in Children's Books: The University of Chicago Guide to Children's Literature, 1973-78|date=1980|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-78059-7|pages=379|language=en}} and Dare to Dream: The Rose Resnick Story (1988).{{Cite journal|last=Resnick|first=Rose|date=1988-09-01|title=Random Thoughts on Education|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/105345128802400120|journal=Academic Therapy|language=en|volume=24|issue=1|pages=113–116|doi=10.1177/105345128802400120|s2cid=144749142|issn=0001-396X|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite book|last=Resnick|first=Rose|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/17841822|title=Dare to dream : the Rose Resnick story|date=1988|publisher=Strawberry Hill Press|isbn=9780894070891|oclc=17841822}}

Honors and awards

Resnick won several scholarships and competitions as a young musician. Resnick's contributions were recognized by the National Council of Jewish Women, with the Hannah G. Solomon Award for community service. Hadassah presented Resnick with the Myrtle Wreath Award.{{Cite news|last=Wall|first=Alix|date=2006-08-18|title=Rose Resnick, 99, blind activist for the disabled|url=https://www.jweekly.com/2006/08/18/rose-resnick-99-blind-activist-for-the-disabled/|access-date=2021-09-24|website=J.|language=en-US}} In 1974 she was named Handicapped Professional Woman of the Year by Pilot Club International. In 1983, she received the Migel Award from the American Foundation for the Blind.{{Cite web|title=Previous Honorees|url=https://www.afb.org/about-afb/events-and-awards/migel-medal-awards/previous-honorees|access-date=2021-09-24|website=The American Foundation for the Blind|language=en-US}}

Personal life

Resnick traveled for work and pleasure, including study in France as a young woman, and a consulting trip to Israel in the 1980s. She died in 2006, in San Francisco, aged 99 years. Enchanted Hills Camp continues to serve blind children, teens, and adults in the 21st century,{{Cite web|last=Dills|first=Isabelle|date=July 31, 2011|title=Blind youngsters forge bonds at Enchanted Hills summer camp|url=https://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/blind-youngsters-forge-bonds-at-enchanted-hills-summer-camp/article_4efda410-bb20-11e0-8afb-001cc4c002e0.html|access-date=2021-09-24|website=Napa Valley Register|language=en}} though about half of the campground's structures were damaged by wildfires in 2017.{{Cite web|last=Hotchkiss|first=Sarah|date=November 14, 2017|title=Napa Camp for the Blind to Rebuild for Future Generations|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13814764/napa-camp-for-the-blind-to-rebuild-for-future-generations|access-date=2021-09-24|website=KQED|language=en-us}}

References

External links

[https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/126432#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&r=0&xywh=-411%2C-353%2C8219%2C6589 A photograph of Rose Resnick playing piano in the 1930s], from the San Francisco Examiner Photograph Archive, Berkeley Library
[https://dl.tufts.edu/concern/audios/5138jr352 A short audio clip of Resnick talking about prayer], from the Tufts Digital Library

Category:1906 births

Category:2006 deaths

Category:20th-century American pianists

Category:American women pianists

Category:Blind classical musicians

Category:American blind pianists

Category:American music educators

Category:Hunter College alumni

Category:San Francisco State University alumni

Category:University of San Francisco alumni

Category:American disability rights activists

Category:American autobiographers