Nina Marie Nash-Robertson

Dr. Nina Marie Nash-Robertson, 70, of Mt. Pleasant passed away Saturday, January 6, 2018, at Mid-Michigan Healthcare Center in Midland, with her family by her side. She had recently retired as the Director of Choral Activities at Central Michigan University, a position she had held since 1982. In that capacity, she directed the CMU Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Festival Chorus. Nina was born May 19, 1947, in Dublin, Ireland, daughter of the late Christopher J. and Josephine (Byrne) Nash. As a young girl she began her performance career in Dublin as an Irish dancer and singer. She remained a proud citizen of Ireland throughout her life. At the age of 9, Nina and her parents and younger brother emigrated to Milwaukee, where she continued to perform as a dancer and singer. She performed with joy and distinction in Irish-dancing competitions and at Milwaukees Irish Fest well into her 20s, as well as founded her own school of Irish dancing in Milwaukee. A few years ago, in Milwaukee, a Nina Nash Award for Excellence in Irish Dancing was created at a ceremony that she attended with her family. Nina graduated from Alverno College with a Bachelors degree in Music, after which she taught music at Greendale High School in Milwaukee. She eventually enrolled as a student at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, training under the esteemed choral conductor Margaret Hawkins and graduating with a Masters degree in choral conducting. She subsequently enrolled in the doctoral program in Music at the University of Illinois and graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts, completing her doctoral dissertation even while pursuing a fulfilling but demanding career at CMU and raising her daughter, Jenny, who was born in 1986. Nina came to Central Michigan University as its new Director of Choral Activities in August 1982, and on the first day of new faculty orientation met John Robertson, a new professor in the Department of History whom she married in July 1983. As the Director of Choral Activities at CMU, Nina compiled a distinguished record of achievements much too long to enumerate here. She was elected president of the Michigan chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, from which she received the Maynard Klein Award for Distinguished Service. Her career at CMU was highlighted by four performances with the CMU Concert Choir at Carnegie Hall, as well as performance tours with CMU choral ensembles in China (twice), Ireland (twice), Slovakia, France, and Italy. Her annual Festival Chorus concerts, madrigal dinners, and Yuletide concerts, as well as choral concerts every fall and spring, thrilled audiences over the span of her career. Yet these many achievements are almost dwarfed by the impact she had on hundreds, not only as a conductor and musician, but also as a colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend. Ninas funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 12, at First Presbyterian Church, 1250 Watson, Mt. Pleasant, with Father Wayne Nicholson officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery after the luncheon. The family will receive friends at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home on Thursday from 3-8 p.m. and at the church on Friday one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the wishes of the family for a future scholarship fund in Ninas name. Nina is survived by her husband of over 34 years, John Robertson; daughter, Jenny Robertson of New York, NY; granddaughter, Riley Shea McGuire; brother, Kieran Nash of Milwaukee, WI; nephew, Connor Nash of Milwaukee, WI; and countless family and friends in the U.S. and Ireland. She was preceded in death by her parents.