Jina Aleksandra Varis, February 26, 1940 – June 2, 2023

On the afternoon of June 2, 2023, Jina Varis, passed quietly at the age of 83, nearly three years after suffering a debilitating stroke. Jina was born in Lithuania to Paulius and Kunigunda Varekojis. The family emigrated to the United States in 1948, changing their name to Varis. She attended Julliard School of Music and the Curtis Institute and was offered a Fulbright Fellowship to sing in Europe. Instead, she married John Teunis Vergeer in 1964 and focused on raising their son, John (now Vytas). In her spare time, she made painstakingly made perfect replicas of famous paintings by Picasso and Rousseau. She also worked as an administrative assistant at V. Mueller once John reached his teens. After she and John Teunis divorced in 1983, Jina once again pursued her career in music. She received her B.A., with a music major from Northeastern University in 1988, with a minor in psychology. She then began teaching voice from her home, an occupation she maintained full-time until 2020, creating a legacy of scores of grateful, adoring, and successful students. Jina continued her studies throughout, receiving a master's degree in music from Northwestern University in 1990, and reaching the point of "all but thesis" in her doctorate studies.

Jina performed extensively in, opera, oratorio and the concert stage, singing in New York, Cleveland (Severance Hall), Detroit, Canada, and Chicago.  She appeared as one of the soloists in the premiere of William Harper's Requiem. Additionally, she directed such operatic works as Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, Menotti's The Telephone, scenes from Bizet's Carmen, Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, Barab's A Game of Chance, and  many other works. She taught voice at Barat College, (1990-93), Highland Park High School (1993-95), DePaul University (1994-95), Lake Forest High School (1995), and Goshen College (1995). Jina was listed as a noteworthy voice teacher by Marquis Who's Who and was a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and Music Teachers' National Association, F.C.

Jina is survived by her son, Vytas Varekojis Vergeer, her grandchildren, Rhianna and Aster Vergeer, her daughter-in-law, Bonnie Robin-Vergeer, and countless friends and admirers.