Obituary of June A. Loesch

Loesch, June A., former Gae Foster Roxyette, Radio City Music Hall Rockette and co-owner of the June Claire Dance Center with 4 successful locations on Long Island has passed away today. Mrs. Loesch was 94. Born July 25, 1922 in Queens, New York, Mrs. Loesch began her dance training at the Dorothy Kaiser School of Dance. Upon graduating from John Adams High School, she auditioned for and was accepted as a Gae Foster Roxyette. A few years later, she left the Roxy Theater and danced as a Radio City Rockette until she got married in the year 1945. As a new "war bride" married to a military officer, June found herself travelling to different parts of the country as well as the world. Everywhere she and her husband were stationed, she taught dance to the children of the officers on base. She loved it but more importantly, they loved her. Becoming weary of all the travelling, June decided to come back to New York and open, what she would later term, a "little" dancing school. Enlisting the aid of real estate agent and childhood friend Claire Muller, June secured a piece of property at 449 Hempstead Avenue, West Hempstead. "Miss" June had been teaching tap dancing, her forte and true love, in an after school program at a local West Hempstead elementary school and thought it only logical to open the school in the same area, in the hope that the students would follow her once the school was officially opened. Her idea proved successful and on September 5, 1953 the doors to the "June Claire School of Dance" swung open for the first time. As the enrollment and popularity of the school grew, more locations were established. North Babylon became the second home of the June Claire School of Dance in September 1965, followed by a branch in Hauppauge in 1969, which later relocated to Smithtown, and finally Patchogue (now Holbrook) in 1979. In 1978, former Rockette and June Taylor Dancer, Lynda Gache became the third partner of the thriving June Claire Dance Center. Thousands upon thousands of students have passed through the doors of the June Claire Dance Center. Many have become professional dancers, teachers and choreographers but many just moms and dads whose own children and even grandchildren now enter with the same zest and enthusiasm as their parents did so many years ago. From that small West Hempstead studio to four major locations, the June Claire Dance Center has come a very long way. Because of the driving force, with June always at the helm, the schools have and always will maintain their reputation in dance excellence. When asked a few years back by former dance colleagues why she wouldn't retire and move to Florida, June emphatically stated, "Why should I? Being around young people keeps me young." And "young" she was…in heart, in spirit and truly, in dedication. Those closest to her will always remember and salute her for making them not only the dancers they were and are, but more importantly, the men and women they have become. June is survived by business partner and close companion, Lynda Gache, a niece Betty Paul and her husband Max of Merrick, many great nieces and nephews and her precious "Dolly and Daisy". Mrs. Loesch is predeceased by her parents, William and Barbara Annacherico, former business partner, Claire Muller, former husband, George Loesch and her beloved "Roxy and Lulu". Reposing at the Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons East Islip Funeral Home, 200 East Main Street (1/2 mile west of the S.S. Parkway, Exit 45W). A Religious Service to be held at the funeral home on Friday morning. Interment to follow at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, LI. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in June's loving memory to Make-A-Wish America Gift Processing, 4742 North 24th Street, Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85016. Visiting Thursday 2:00 PM until 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM.