I have such fond memories of Marie from my first dancing days-what an 
inspiration and delight!
Susan

From: Jerome Grisanti via Callers 
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 11:37 PM
To: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; callers 
Subject: [Callers] Marie Cassady of Louisville

Lovers of traditional dance,  

It is with sadness I announce that Marie Cassady, a dancer and teacher of dance 
in Louisville Kentucky for many many years, died on Sunday afternoon. She was 
104, just two months shy of 105.

Marie founded Louisville Country Dancers, which has since become a mostly 
contra dance group, but in the day featured English dance as well, and even 
occasional international dances.

I first met her in the mid 1970s, when she and husband Frank Cassady taught 
Italian folk dances to a performance troupe that my siblings were involved in. 
(I was too young to join the first few years). As it turns out, they also 
taught performance troupes for many ethnic groups.

She was interested in many things besides dance, including national and 
international travel. She also sang with her church group for many years. As 
well, she reared several children and was a maternal figure for many others.

A few years ago, she related to me her memories of the influenza epidemic of 
1919. Imagine that, she had memories of her father from that time, and of Camp 
Taylor in Louisville! She also talked about the 1937 flood of the Ohio River.

She slowed a bit over the years, remaining active in English and international 
but leaving contra to younger bodies. She also took up hula dancing in her 90s. 
Gotta keep learning!

She remained active and mentally sharp until very recently. I saw her in 
August, and she immediately called me by name.

There will be a memorial service for Marie in early November, but the details 
are not yet determined.

Many thanks to you, Marie Cassady, for introducing so many people to dance and 
the communities it engenders. I am grateful to have known you.

Jerome Grisanti


-- 

Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com


"Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and 
magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe





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