BURLINGTON, VT (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Rachel Bissex, died from cancer, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005, at her home in Burlington, Vermont.
She was born Dec. 27, 1956, in Boston, Mass., the daughter of Harriet Abeel Bissex and Henry S. Bissex.
She graduated from Newton South High School in Massachusetts, and then from Johnson State College in Johnson, Vt. in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in fine arts in performing arts.
Ms. Bissex was self-employed as a singer, songwriter and an author. She enjoyed music, theater and community work.
She's opened for many fab famous people like Ray Charles, Joan Armatrading, Shawn Colvin, and many more. Her pals over the years include Catie Curtis, Rick Kolow, Dar Williams, Karen Savoca, and many more who she's shared the stage with, singing harmony and grooving on their great vibes.
Rachel's poise on stage and ease with her audience made her a favorite at coffeehouses and at folk concerts from Miami to Vermont. Her stage patter was full of wit and humor, and the content of her songs was sometimes political, sometimes personal, and usually powerful.
Survivors include her husband, Stephen Goldberg, of Burlington; a daughter, Emma Goldberg, also of Burlington; two sons, Matthew Cosgrove of Bloomington, Ind., and Jonas Goldberg of Maplewood, NJ; four brothers, Donald Bissex of Melrose, Mass., Karl Bissex of Plainfield, Vt., Paul Bissex of Northampton, Mass., and Walter Bissex of Huntington, N.Y.
A service was held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at The First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 152 Pearl St., Burlington, Vt. There were no calling hours.
A scholarship fund for her children is being established.
The family is in charge of the arrangements.
