Ellen King Kravitz

KRAVITZ, Ph.D., Ellen King, born May 25, 1929, in Fords, New Jersey, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, May 24, 2025. Her beloved husband, Hilard L. Kravitz, M.D. predeceased her on August 9, 2006. She is survived by daughters Julie and Heather; step-sons, Kent, Kerry and Jay Kravitz, as well as many other close family members. She graduated with a B.A. in Music with honors from Georgian Court College, New Jersey in 1964. An M. M. Degree with Honors was earned in 1966, followed by a PH.D. in Music Education in 1970, both from USC. She became Professor in the Music Department of California State University, Los Angeles in 1967 and also in the Education Department of Immaculate Heart College and Loyola University. She taught both graduate and undergraduate Music History from Middle Ages through the 20th Century. Having specialized in related arts, she published Music In Our Culture with a CD Collection in 1997. Her research into the works of Arnold Schoenberg for her Doctoral Dissertation entitled A Correlation Of Concepts Found In German Expressionist Art, Music And Literature led her to work for the establishment of a Consortium to support the Arnold Schoenberg Institute at USC, now located in Vienna. She directed the Fisher Gallery Exhibit of Schoenberg’s visual art and delivered the gallery lecture for the Centennial Celebration in 1974. She edited two issues of the Journal Of The Arnold Schoenberg Institute, and in 1978 with Lawrence A. Schoenberg, published the first “Catalog of Schoenberg’s Paintings, Drawings And Sketches”. She lectured on this subject for California Chapters of the American Musicological Society. She not only served as Thesis Director or Committee Member for many graduate students, but also served on numerous University, School and Department Committees. In 1976, with her husband she founded Friends of Music, Cal State L.A. to raise funds for talented music students. Musicales were held in their home to showcase these students. She chaired galas at the Music Center to establish endowed scholarships in the name of such celebrities as harpist, Susann McDonald and jazz artist, Woody Herman. In 1981 Faculty/Staff Extravaganzas became biennial fundraisers. She retired as Professor Emerita in 1999. Until her death, she was cited in International Who’s Who In Classical Music, Who’s Who In America and Who’s Who of American Women. She loved to travel with Hilard, especially to the South of France, Spain, Positano and the Amalfi Coast, to Venice by the Orient Express, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Ring Cycle of Wagner in Seattle and with daughters, Julie and Heather to Hawaii during winter holidays. We will always remember her love of family, of life, and the arts. A graveside service will take place at noon on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, located at 6001 Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made on her behalf to the Founders Scholarship, Friends of Music, California State University, Los Angeles, Adm. 809, 515 State University Drive, Los Angeles, California, 90032.