Clarissa Hart Kramer
04/29/1944 - 11/10/2024
Clarissa Hartt (May) Kramer (80), of Sarasota, FL, passed away peacefully on November 10th, 2024 while in the loving care of her husband Larry, and the wonderful staff of Arden Courts Memory Care Community of Sarasota.
Clarissa was born on April 29, 1944, in Perrysburg, OH to the late Dennis Howard and Julia Hart May. There was much rejoicing at her birth as her four older brothers, Tom, Phil, Fred, and Bob, finally had a sister. At age 11, Clarissa and her family moved to the rolling hills of Raemelton Farm in Mansfield, OH. Growing up on the farm, Clarissa roamed free and developed her lifelong love of nature and adventure.
Thanks to her parents and the wonderful music teachers in the Mansfield Schools, Clarissa discovered a love of music and became an accomplished violinist. She continued her musical studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY graduating with high honors. After college Clarissa returned to Mansfield, serving as a music teacher and member of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra. In the symphony, Clarissa met the love of her life, clarinetist Larry Kramer. They were married on July 23, 1966, at Grace Episcopal Church in Mansfield.
Clarissa was a musical force of nature in Mansfield. In addition to playing in the symphony, she taught countless violin students, presented recitals, sang in the Grace Church choir, and ran the “Little Mozarts” youth musicians club. She also performed in the Lakeside, OH summer orchestra and the Sun Valley, ID summer music festival. Clarissa and her family were even named the “Musical Family of the Year in Ohio” in a proclamation by Senator Sherrod Brown.
In the summers Clarissa shared her love of nature and travel with her family by planning road and camping trips that took them across the country. Highlights included hiking in Glacier National Park, camping in the Rocky and Smokey Mountains and walks on the beaches of North Carolina and Florida. There were also yearly visits to Lakeside and the beautiful state parks of Ohio and West Virginia for cherished family reunions.
After enduring Ohio winters for her entire life, Clarissa spent her retirement in beautiful, sunny Sarasota. She continued to teach music in Sarasota while finding time to volunteer as an usher for countless cultural events and sing in the Christ Episcopal Church Choir. Clarissa and Larry enjoyed their many years in Sarasota exploring Florida and hosting their children and grandchildren during their many visits.
Clarissa is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Larry Kramer, her daughter and son-in-law Kathy and Kyle Johnson, her son and daughter-in-law David and Virginia Kramer and her daughter and son-in-law Sarah and Doug Everhart. She is also survived by her six beautiful grandchildren, Julia, Samantha, Nicole, John, Emma, and Grant, and her brother and sister-in-law Fred and Nancy May, her sisters-in-law Mary May, Eunie May, Meredith May, Gwen Kramer, and her many nieces and nephews.
Clarissa’s family would like to thank the staff at Arden Courts of Sarasota and Tidewell Hospice for the care they provided for Clarissa as she battled memory loss. Instead of flowers, the family invites you to donate to Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton, FL or your favorite charity in honor of Clarissa.
Celebrations of Clarissa’s life will take place in Bradenton, FL, and Mansfield, OH at later dates.
Clarissa was born on April 29, 1944, in Perrysburg, OH to the late Dennis Howard and Julia Hart May. There was much rejoicing at her birth as her four older brothers, Tom, Phil, Fred, and Bob, finally had a sister. At age 11, Clarissa and her family moved to the rolling hills of Raemelton Farm in Mansfield, OH. Growing up on the farm, Clarissa roamed free and developed her lifelong love of nature and adventure.
Thanks to her parents and the wonderful music teachers in the Mansfield Schools, Clarissa discovered a love of music and became an accomplished violinist. She continued her musical studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY graduating with high honors. After college Clarissa returned to Mansfield, serving as a music teacher and member of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra. In the symphony, Clarissa met the love of her life, clarinetist Larry Kramer. They were married on July 23, 1966, at Grace Episcopal Church in Mansfield.
Clarissa was a musical force of nature in Mansfield. In addition to playing in the symphony, she taught countless violin students, presented recitals, sang in the Grace Church choir, and ran the “Little Mozarts” youth musicians club. She also performed in the Lakeside, OH summer orchestra and the Sun Valley, ID summer music festival. Clarissa and her family were even named the “Musical Family of the Year in Ohio” in a proclamation by Senator Sherrod Brown.
In the summers Clarissa shared her love of nature and travel with her family by planning road and camping trips that took them across the country. Highlights included hiking in Glacier National Park, camping in the Rocky and Smokey Mountains and walks on the beaches of North Carolina and Florida. There were also yearly visits to Lakeside and the beautiful state parks of Ohio and West Virginia for cherished family reunions.
After enduring Ohio winters for her entire life, Clarissa spent her retirement in beautiful, sunny Sarasota. She continued to teach music in Sarasota while finding time to volunteer as an usher for countless cultural events and sing in the Christ Episcopal Church Choir. Clarissa and Larry enjoyed their many years in Sarasota exploring Florida and hosting their children and grandchildren during their many visits.
Clarissa is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Larry Kramer, her daughter and son-in-law Kathy and Kyle Johnson, her son and daughter-in-law David and Virginia Kramer and her daughter and son-in-law Sarah and Doug Everhart. She is also survived by her six beautiful grandchildren, Julia, Samantha, Nicole, John, Emma, and Grant, and her brother and sister-in-law Fred and Nancy May, her sisters-in-law Mary May, Eunie May, Meredith May, Gwen Kramer, and her many nieces and nephews.
Clarissa’s family would like to thank the staff at Arden Courts of Sarasota and Tidewell Hospice for the care they provided for Clarissa as she battled memory loss. Instead of flowers, the family invites you to donate to Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton, FL or your favorite charity in honor of Clarissa.
Celebrations of Clarissa’s life will take place in Bradenton, FL, and Mansfield, OH at later dates.