Esther M. Robbins Wideman, 81, musician

Esther M. Robbins Wideman, 81, of Center City, an organist and director of music at the historic Arch Street Presbyterian Church for 40 years, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, of hypercalcemia at home.

Mrs. Wideman gave concerts in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Europe on pianos, organs, and harpsichords. She regularly organized Wednesday noon concerts for city workers, who came with their lunches.

She was a member of the American Guild of Organists and spent many summers touring Europe's famous organs. She also taught music at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa.

Born on Christmas Day outside Tulsa, Okla., Mrs. Wideman received her first instruments, a xylophone and a marimba, as Christmas gifts from her parents when she was young. At 16, she went to Pacific Union College in Napa Valley, Calif., to study piano and organ performance.

She married Donald Cupps in 1949 and gave birth to two daughters.

Mrs. Wideman earned a master's degree in organ performance from the University of Michigan. She then studied at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

After her divorce in the early 1960s, she met her future second husband, Dr. James Wideman, at a concert in Baltimore, where she was performing. They married in 1967 and moved to Philadelphia two years later.

"Without question, her legacy at Arch Street Presbyterian Church was just tremendous, as was her contribution to music ministry in the city of Philadelphia," said J. Donald Dumpson, the church's current minister of music and arts. "Her love for people, she made certain she expressed that through extraordinary music."

She threw musical dinner parties for her friends in the music community, including members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, her daughters said.

Mrs. Wideman loved traveling in England, Germany, France, and Amsterdam, playing every organ she could get her hands on, her daughters said.

"She expressed her whole love of life and living in her music and her other artistic endeavors," said daughter Julene Martin-Morganelli, who got married in a dress her mother made for her.

Mrs. Wideman also enjoyed cooking and needlepoint. She loved celebrating her Cherokee heritage by making moccasins and leather belts as gifts and going to powwows.

She was predeceased by her first and second husbands. In addition to Martin-Morganelli, Mrs. Wideman is survived by daughter Julia B. Aren Robbins; sister June Smith Davis; and two grandchildren.

A viewing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Terranova Funeral Home, 1248 S. Broad St. A Requiem Mass will be said at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1625 Locust St. at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. Donations may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

610-313-8207

@MichaelleBond