Mario Saint-Cyr, Italian born composer, poet and author who was spending the summer at a Pointe aux Peaux cottage awaiting his American citizenship and his place among the nation's artists, was stricken with a fatal heart attack at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.  Mr. Saint-Cyr, 47 years old on July 6, had been in swimming, seeking relaxation from the hours of daily practice on his beloved cello and his creative work in music and writing, when he was stricken.  He had apparently made an effort to reach his cottage as the body was found on the rocks at the edge of the water.

Mr. Saint-Cyr was missed when other members of the family called him for dinner.  Finding his clothes in his room, they then discovered him on the beach.   Dr. William F. Acker was called and the fire department rescue squad attempted resuscitation for 55 minutes without result.  Coroner Edward Rupp said death was caused by a heart attack.  The composer was not known to have had any heart ailment.

The body was taken to his residence at Riverside, Illinois, near Chicago which he called his winter home.  There services will be held Saturday afternoon in St. Paul's Episcopal Church with burial in Branzewood cemetery.

Only recently Mr. Saint-Cyr had received word from the guild of American Composers that it had accepted his "Sketch and Choral" for string ensemble and that it would be performed in the first fall concert of the Mutual Broadcasting Company's Sinfonietta program which originates in Newark, New Jersey.  His other efforts to take his place among American musicians had been balked almost entirely by his lack of citizenship.  He had completed all the necessary examinations, however, and expected his final papers in the late fall.

Born in Rome, Italy, July 6, 1895, the young Italian early displayed artistic ability and through his own work secured his schooling.  He attended the University and the Conservatory of Bologna.  Later he toured Europe as a member of the Cihlar Trio of Budapest and the Roher quartet of old Prague.  During the World War he served in the Italian armed forces, first on a submarine, later as a balloon observer and still later in the infantry.

After the World War's close he became director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Novocherkasek, the famous Black Sea resort of Russia.  From 1923 to 1932 he was guest conductorof many of Europe's leading orchestras.  Returning to Italy he found the Fascist power rising and no place in it for the classical mind.  He came to the United States five and one half years ago and had extensively toured the nation, having visited all but four of the 48 states.

He was married in 1931 in Rome to Mrs. Sterling Goddard of Riverside, daughter-in-law of Mrs. L. C. Goddard of Monroe, a sister of W. C. Sterling.  Mrs. Saint-Cyr had always spent part of her summer at what has been known for many years as the Goddard cottage.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Saint-Cyr is survived by two sisters, Martha and Mary Ann, who are living somewhere in Europe.

Mr. Saint-Cyr has had two quartets for string instuments, an opera and many pieces for piano, orchestra and voice published.  He has given over 600 recitals of his own poetry during his wide travels.  He had written two novels and a half dozen or more one act plays in addition to many critical studies of leading men in the musical and artistic world.  He often delighted his friends by dedicating his brief musical sketches to them.  He was a man who lived almost entirely for his art.

See also Mario's Music