Dear Wharton Center Donors, Subscribers, and Supporters,

I write today to share the sad news of the passing of Mrs. Dolores Wharton, the other half of our namesake of Wharton Center for Performing Arts. Her extraordinary life and legacy shaped not only this institution, but the broader cultural and civic landscape of Michigan and beyond. Mrs. Wharton passed away at home peacefully at the age of 97. Her passing comes just six months after that of her beloved husband of 74 years, Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr.

Mrs. Wharton was a trailblazer in every sense. A business leader, arts advocate, and the first African American woman to serve on the board of several Fortune 500 companies, she opened doors for countless others while elevating the importance of the arts in public life.

Her love for the arts began early. Born in New York City, she studied dance with Martha Graham and theater at the Neighborhood Playhouse Conservatory. Later, as First Lady of Michigan State University, alongside Dr. Clifton Wharton Jr., she envisioned a performing arts center on campus that would serve as a cultural beacon for the region.

In an August 2017 article, Mrs. Wharton reflected:

“Michigan State University offered me an opportunity to further share my joy of living with the arts. I had no premeditated design to build a new initiative for arts activities on campus. Quite the contrary. My interest served to heighten the presence of arts activities already being practiced within the local community. I began by providing a rotating hanging of selected faculty art in Cowles House to provide exposure to the university and its wider community. But my most significant activity was being able to participate in the planning and fundraising activities.”

Her leadership and generosity helped bring Wharton Center to life, creating a space where world-class performance, arts education, and community engagement flourish.

As part of her life of service, President Gerald Ford appointed her to the National Council on the Arts of the National Endowment for the Arts in 1971. She was also appointed by Governor Milliken to the Michigan Council for the Arts and served as a trustee for institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Albany Institute of History and Art.

This fall, we will honor both her and Dr. Wharton’s legacies. A tribute concert for Dr. and Mrs. Wharton will be held at Wharton Center on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 3pm. Learn more about this event for which tickets will be available later this summer at whartoncenter.com.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family has established the Dr. Clifton and Dolores Wharton Legacy Fund at Michigan State University. Gifts to this Legacy Fund will be invested in Wharton Center's Endowment Fund, providing lasting support for the Wharton Center.

The Wharton Center family extends our deepest condolences to Dr. and Mrs. Wharton’s son, Bruce Wharton.

Sincerely,

Eric Olmscheid
Executive Director