Lorraine Ellen Greenfield Westermark

Lorraine Ellen Greenfield Westermark, age 72, passed unexpectedly November 8, 2021 at New Hanover Medical Center. Lorraine was born in Utica, New York to Robert and Eleanor Greenfield on March 7, 1949. She grew up in a small farming community of Vienna, New York. 

Lorraine attended school in Camden, New York. She was the church organist and was paid three dollars per service each day. On Sundays, she played for 2 masses. Her father would drop her off on his way to work and the school bus would pick her up after mass.

At an early age she wanted to play the violin. She was inspired by her teacher, Mrs. Clayton. Lorraine was born with a mild case of cerebral palsy, which affected the left side of her body. She wore a leg brace until she was thirteen years old. Mrs. Clayton’s inspiration guided Lorraine to sign up for violin lessons in Rome, New York, using the money earned playing the organ at church. One of Lorraine’s early essays was titled “I can and I will” and she lived that motto all her life.

When Lorraine was in high school, the family moved to Melbourne, Florida where she attended Eau Gallie High School. Upon graduation, she attended Stetson University to study music education. During an Easter break, she returned home and visited Florida Institute of Technology. There she met her husband, Hans Westermark, an immigrant from Sweden. They married and spent over two years traveling throughout the US during Hans’ nuclear training program. After the training, Hans was assigned to Charleston, South Carolina, where he served on two nuclear submarines. During that time Lorraine raised two children, received a Bachelor of Arts at the College of Charleston and played with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Following their Navy life they moved to Wilmington, North Carolina where she was the founder of Suzuki Talent Education of Wilmington.

Lorraine began teaching Suzuki Violin to students as young as three. Since 1978, Lorraine has had over 280 private students, many beginning at an early age and graduating when they went off to college. Lorraine also taught students at St. Mary School for 17 years with half the student population taking violin. Lorraine also played with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra for 29 years and served on the WSO Board for many years focusing on youth education.

Lorraine is survived by her husband Hans, their children Hans Mikael Frederick Westermark (Sara Westermark), Heidi Westermark Kenney (Matthew Kenney), Leif Kristoffer Westermark (Miffanwy Grayson); grandchildren Caeli Xiu Mistretta, Amathea Mistretta, Alex Westermark, Hans Oskar Graham, Ava Kenney and Katarina Kenney. She also is survived by her sisters Sharon Benton, Susan Narup; brothers Mark Greenfield, David Greenfield and Robert Greenfield. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Eleanor Greenfield.

Lorraine lived a life with many challenges, but was the most caring and loving person with great teaching talent. She will be remembered by her own words “I can and I will.”

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra or The Sister Isaac Center at the Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary.