Myrtle Cobb Tremblay

Myrtle Cobb Tremblay, 102 years 8 months and 20 days on Monday, August 29, 2011, died peacefully at Garden Spot Village, New Holland. Born Dec. 9, 1908 in Albion, MI, Pearl Myrtle was the only child of Arthur E. & Pearl Crich Cobb. She was married to Louis R. Tremblay. The couple moved to New Holland in 1952. They had no children. He died in 1972. In 1920, Myrtle and her family moved to Bay City, MI after living in Toronto Canada. Because her school did not have an art teacher, she taught herself to draw by copying pictures. At age 15, she attended Bay City Jr. College. It, too, had no art teacher, but her talent was recognized and she was asked to be the art editor of the 1927 year book, illustrating Ivanhoe. In 1929 she earned her Bachelor of Science degree and art life certificate from Central State Michigan University. In 1931 she attended the Art Institute in Chicago and later attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia and the Art Center in New York. She taught art at Bay City Jr. High School for 15 years. In the 1940’s, Tremblay was commissioned to sketch active service men and women for the USO in Detroit and to sketch at the American Theater Wing in New York City. Tremblay traveled worldwide, beginning in 1937, to Columbia, South America, Europe, and Asia and throughout the Northwest US, painting in every location. During her life Tremblay studied with numerous nationally acclaimed watercolor artists: James E. McBurney of Chicago, John Pike, Tom Hill, Don Stone, Milford Zornes and Tony Van Hasselt. Tremblay has won numerous awards. Her paintings were collected in the US and Europe. She has had work in numerous solo exhibits and art shows. Tremblay’s various artistic skills include police sketch artist, advertising illustrator for Hudson’s Dept. Store in Detroit, poet, jewelry designer and photographer. Tremblay was a resident of GSV for 16 years. She was a signature member of Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, member of Old Bergen Art Guild, and Life member of Lancaster County Art Association. Although the majority of her 2000 to 3000 paintings are watercolors, Tremblay also painted in oils, acrylics and pastels, and drew in pencil, pen and ink. Tremblay painted landscapes, portraits, still life and commissioned work. Locally, Tremblay’s trademark paintings are watercolor scenes of farms and historic sites. Those who know Myrtle personally will remember her painting & sketching on location. Though proud of her awards and newspaper coverage, she remained humble, kind, caring with a dose of humor, willing to be agreeable to disagreeable. Tremblay believed in lifelong learning, taught & remained a student into her 90’s. Myrtle supported the GFWC New Holland Woman’s Club, New Holland Summer Arts, Hospice of Lancaster County, Elanco Library, Demuth Museum, GSV Fall Festival Auction; often, gifting original watercolors to benefit their fund raising projects. Myrtle Tremblay contributed immeasurably to the art world and especially Lancaster County. She lived an extraordinary life. Since 2006, the household staff at Springwood GSV became her friends and family, always treating her with respect. A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 8 at 10am with visitation from 9:30 – 10am at Garden Spot Village Chapel, 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland. Funeral arrangements by Beck Funeral Home, New Holland. Grave site marker by Delp Monument, Blue Ball. Photograph by Steve Witmer, Lancaster. Memorial contributions may be made to your preferred art charity in her name. Private internment will be held at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Tremblay’s estate will establish art scholarships in Michigan and Lancaster County, PA.