MARTHA D’ANNIBALLE
Martha McCleland D’Anniballe, of Naples, Fl. passed away on January 24, 2024. She was born, March 28, 1930 in Weirton, WV. The daughter of the late George and Hazel Fern Hutchinson McClelland, and the spouse of the late Leo John D’Anniballe. She has two surviving children, Leo D’Anniballe, Jr. and his spouse, Michele D’Anniballe, and daughter, Elizabeth LoPresti and her spouse, Paul LoPresti, a grandson, William LoPresti and his spouse, Cristina LoPresti, and their children, who are her two great-grand children, Ava and Luca LoPresti. Martha is survived by her sister, Frances McClelland Maslowski and had four brothers: the late John McClelland, Noble McClelland, Tom McClelland, Billy McClelland .
Martha was well known for being one of the original Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance Instructors, along with teaching tap, ballet, and acrobat for the McClelland Schools of Dance, located throughout the tri-State area, and also became the co-owner with her sister of the Steubenville Arts Academy, where she taught tap and acrobatics, along with her sister Frances, who taught jazz, tap and ballet.
Martha was associated with the Dance Masters of America, and did choreography for multiple plays while working with the Steubenville Players.
She studied dance in New York with Ernest Carlos, who chose her to audition for the musical “Best Foot Forward” on Broadway.
Martha taught many generations of dancers, and future dance instructors, some of whom went on to establish their own schools of dance.
Martha was well acquainted with the late Eugene Louis Faccuito, “Luigi”, who is now considered the Master of American Jazz. When in town, He visited the Steubenville Arts Academy, and observed his jazz technique being taught to their students at the Academy.
Martha enjoyed providing choreography, requested by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, when they came to the area for a performance.
She was on the Steubenville Music Board which brought Shamus Murphy Ballet to Steubenville for a performance.
Martha worked as a volunteer, and as an administrator for several charities, along with Leo, which included the American Cancer Society, serving at both the state and local level.
She and her spouse, Leo were long time members of the St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Steubenville, where they were married, and later were members of St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Weirton, W VA.
They both shared a strong faith and practiced their faith throughout their lives.
Funeral services will be held at 9:00am on Friday, June 7, 2024 at Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Weirton, W.Va. Interment will be at Brush Creek Cemetery in Irwin, PA.