| Josephine Bertolini Comberiate |
2006
Josephine Bertolini Comberiate, 89, a musician and composer who won many awards for her songs and poems, died June 1
of bladder cancer at her home in Highland.
Mrs. Comberiate was born in Washington and graduated from Eastern High School, where she received honors in music. For
two years, she was pianist and mistress of ceremonies with Charles W. Guinon's Washingtonians dance band, and she also
performed in recitals and on radio.
In 1935, she graduated from a comptometer school in Washington (a comptometer was a calculating device), and she
graduated from Strayer University in 1937. She later attended Catholic University and the University of Maryland.
From 1933 to 1944, she held a series of clerical jobs and was an assistant economist and draftsman with a number of federal
agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board.
Mrs. Comberiate wrote songs, slogans and poems for a variety of occasions and won prizes in many contests. In 1955, she
received a gold watch for a slogan for the National Safety Council, and in 1963 she won first prize for baby slogans in a
national
contest.
In 1986, her song Let the World in Your Heart won a contest sponsored by a recording company, and in 1989 she received the
Golden Poet Award from World of Poetry, a digital poetry anthology.
Many of Mrs. Comberiate's 400 songs have been professionally recorded, and 13 of her songs appear on Loving and Living
from MSR Records. Her poetry was published in newspapers, magazines and books.
She also made greeting cards and photo collages and compiled private collections of her poetry and songs. She gave private
piano lessons.
Mrs. Comberiate lived in Adelphi for many years and was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Takoma Park.
She had lived in Highland since 1980.
Her other interests included swimming, travel, interior decorating, dogs, cooking Italian food and collecting music boxes,
clocks, spoons and musical memorabilia.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Michael B. Comberiate of Highland; three children, Catherine M. Strasburg of
Arlington, Michael A. Comberiate of Highland and Anthony B. Comberiate of Clarksville; and 15 grandchildren.
Josephine Bertolini Comberiate, 89, a musician and composer who won many awards for her songs and poems, died June 1
of bladder cancer at her home in Highland.
Mrs. Comberiate was born in Washington and graduated from Eastern High School, where she received honors in music. For
two years, she was pianist and mistress of ceremonies with Charles W. Guinon's Washingtonians dance band, and she also
performed in recitals and on radio.
In 1935, she graduated from a comptometer school in Washington (a comptometer was a calculating device), and she
graduated from Strayer University in 1937. She later attended Catholic University and the University of Maryland.
From 1933 to 1944, she held a series of clerical jobs and was an assistant economist and draftsman with a number of federal
agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board.
Mrs. Comberiate wrote songs, slogans and poems for a variety of occasions and won prizes in many contests. In 1955, she
received a gold watch for a slogan for the National Safety Council, and in 1963 she won first prize for baby slogans in a
national
contest.
In 1986, her song Let the World in Your Heart won a contest sponsored by a recording company, and in 1989 she received the
Golden Poet Award from World of Poetry, a digital poetry anthology.
Many of Mrs. Comberiate's 400 songs have been professionally recorded, and 13 of her songs appear on Loving and Living
from MSR Records. Her poetry was published in newspapers, magazines and books.
She also made greeting cards and photo collages and compiled private collections of her poetry and songs. She gave private
piano lessons.
Mrs. Comberiate lived in Adelphi for many years and was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Takoma Park.
She had lived in Highland since 1980.
Her other interests included swimming, travel, interior decorating, dogs, cooking Italian food and collecting music boxes,
clocks, spoons and musical memorabilia.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Michael B. Comberiate of Highland; three children, Catherine M. Strasburg of
Arlington, Michael A. Comberiate of Highland and Anthony B. Comberiate of Clarksville; and 15 grandchildren.