Anne's Memorial & Dance Celebration 7/16

Flying in from New Orleans, the Panorama Jazz Band, played for dancing on the lawn Sunday, 7/16 from 6-8pm. They played jazz, klezmer, and balkan dance melodies. The dance, free to the public, was in honor of Anne K. Wilson, who died on July 6.

Wilson and her husband, Oliver Larmi, danced Bavno Oro to Panorama on Burbon St. several years ago while on tour with the Hungarian Bodo Band during spring break in New Orleans. The Bodo Band was literally their house band for 6 months. A member of Panorama played with them for some time.

The memorial ceremony started at 4pm on Sunday. The band played slow, sad, numbers on the lawn as guests arrived. Oli, Julie, family, and friends received guests, who were then asked to continue the reception line. At 4 the band led the line on a march off through the garden, on to the weeping willow, where chairs were set up.

After the ceremony around the weeping willow, the band played lively tunes for drinks and refreshments until after 5. At 6pm the band played for dancing until late evening. http://www.panoramajazzband.com/pjcontact.html

Dr. Anne Knecht Wilson: 19 December 1943 - 06 July 2006

Dr. Anne Knecht Wilson

July 6th, 2006



Surrounded by loving family and friends, Dr. Anne Knecht Wilson, aged 62, died peacefully today after a long illness. A Professor of Sociology at Bloomsburg University, she retired recently after over 20 years of teaching Statistics and Family Studies. Her favorite course, though, was Folk Dancing. Since her retirement, she has funded a Chair in international folk dance at the University. In addition to her significant financial contributions for the University’s new Andruss Library, Dr. Wilson—as Advisor to the Bloomsburg University Democrats—organized a campaign that sent more than one thousand letters to the Governor in support of the new library, which he later approved.

Professor Wilson earned a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins in Sociology, a Masters from the University of Maryland , and a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College . As a teacher, it was important to her that her students not only do statistical analysis, but that they write the results in plain English.

Dr. Wilson was a member of the Susquehanna International Folk Dancers, which every year performs at Bloomsburg’s TreeFest and Renaissance Jamboree, the Mifflinburg Oktoberfest, and other community events. Through this group, Anne helped raise thousands of aid dollars for victims of war and ethnic cleansing, including more than $3,600 at this past spring’s 14th Annual Sedeljka, or “family party.” In addition to her role as dancer and dance instructor, Wilson was the group’s artistic director. One friend—in describing her approach to life—said, “Anne dances every dance.”

Anne Wilson is survived by her husband, Oliver Larmi, Ph.D., of Bloomsburg; their daughter, Julie Larmi, of Los Angeles; father, William Knecht, of Connecticut; brothers Paul Knecht and Bill Knecht and their families; along with a legion of devoted students, colleagues, friends and fellow dancers… many of whom traveled across the country and from overseas to spend time with her during her final weeks.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made to the Susquehanna International Folk Dancers to support its fund-raising efforts.

A memorial gathering and dance to celebrate her life will be held at 4 pm on Sunday, July 16 th, 2006, at her Bloomsburg home and garden, 1996 Millville Road. Her ashes will be spread in her favorite garden bed under a giant weeping willow.