Mr. Parisot is one of the rare musicians who loved teaching as much as he loved playing, having held posts at Peabody Conservatory, Mannes College of Music, the New England Conservatory, and the Juilliard School. In 1958, he joined the faculty at the Yale School of Music where he taught for 60 years, retiring just this past June. Cellists from around the world came to study with him with many going on to major careers. His full and expanded biography is available for review on this website.

 

Mr. Parisot was a resident of Wilton, Conn., for 17 years while married to Ellen Lewis Parisot with whom he has three sons. He later married pianist Elizabeth Sawyer Parisot, also a professor at Yale School of Music, and they have lived in Guilford, Conn. since 1966. Mr. Parisot was also an avid graphic artist and painter. His home is adorned with many of his original paintings including interior doors, cabinets, and musical instruments. He describes his technique as “painting by ear”. His visual artwork exudes his love of color and texture and in that way is reminiscent of his musicianship and expressionistic of his native Brazil. Many of his works have been exhibited in concert halls and galleries around the world. He has donated the proceeds from the sale of his paintings to the travel fund that he founded for Yale School of Music students.

 

Mr. Parisot and his wife Elizabeth’s home and studio have been a landing point and crossroads for numerous colleagues, noted fellow musicians, and artists for the past 52 years. Including nearly five distinct generations of cellists since he started teaching in the late 1950’s, the Parisots sponsored many students providing temporary room and board at the Parisot home to help jump start their early careers. Several who were especially gifted as teenagers from abroad could attend the local Guilford Schools before applying to the Yale School of Music to pursue their degrees.

 

Mr. Parisot is survived by his wife of 52 years pianist and Yale School of Music professor Elizabeth Sawyer Parisot, his brother, cellist Italo Babini of San Diego, CA, and his three sons; film director, Dean (Aldo) Parisot of Los Angeles, Cal., architect, Robert Parisot of Redding, Conn. and sculptor, Ricardo Parisot of Wilton, Conn., his daughters-in-law Joleigh Parisot, and Katherine Throckmorton, along with 6 grandchildren; Michelle Parisot, Isabella Parisot, Daniella Parisot, Lucas Parisot, Aldo Parisot, and Lance Parisot. Mr. Parisot was predeceased by his beloved grandson Nicholas Parisot in 2008, his daughter-in-law, film editor Sally Menke in 2010, and former wife Ellen Lewis Parisot in 2015.

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A memorial service celebrating the life of Aldo Simões Parisot will be announced at a later time to be held at Yale University. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation be made in Mr. Parisot's honor to the Yale Cellos Fund at the Yale School of Music, Office of the Dean.