Shirien Kay Taylor-Donahue

On Thursday, December 9, 2021, Shirien Kay Taylor-Donahue passed away at University of New Mexico Medical Center in Albuquerque, after suffering a stroke.

Shirien grew up in Albuquerque, before accepting a job with the orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where she served as principal second violin until her retirement in 2016. During her time at the Met, she performed in hundreds of operas with conductors from all over the world, and in scores of concerts at Carnegie Hall. She also appeared at the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado.

As concertmaster at the Windham Chamber Music Festival, located in New York's Catskill Mountains, Shirien gave a 2011 recital with the acclaimed pianist, Peter Serkin.

But many music aficionados may have been unaware of her love for cooking. As her husband writes, "To her, music was a career, but cooking was a passion. You had to watch out if you were invited to a holiday dinner." Some of her favorite dishes were oyster stuffing, salmon mousse, asparagus with beurre blanc, fish tacos, Dijon chicken, and of course, green chile stew, a mainstay from her home state of New Mexico.

Shirien was predeceased by her father, Edward Taylor of Rochester, New York. She is survived by her mother, Sharlyn Matthews; her sister, Lynn Ann Taylor-both of Green Valley, Arizona; a cousin, Heidi Flickenger of New York City; and a son and daughter by a previous marriage, Craig Wasserman of New York City, and Livia Wasserman of Denver, Colorado.

Shirien leaves behind her loving husband of 18 years, Paul V. Donahue, Jr., also in Albuquerque. She considered herself blessed to be the stepmother of Patrick Donahue of Merrimack, New Hampshire, Lucy and Michael Donahue of Garden City, New York, and Christopher Donahue of Lake Mohegan, New York.

A Memorial Service is being planned for a later date.