We knew Becky well here in Pittsburgh. She was the heart and soul of the Cleveland contradance community and often came our way to call dances in Pittsburgh. And as some have said, she was a lovely and gracious caller. 

Do any of you remember the week when the World Trade Center was destroyed? I’m sure I’m not the only one who remembers what happened in Pittsburgh a few days later. That Friday there was a regularly scheduled dance in Pittsburgh, and Becky was the caller. As we lined up for the first dance, Becky looked out at the floor and realized that we were all experienced dancers, there to dance with our community after a rough week. So she put us in Becket and started to teach a dance that was a bit more challenging than she would have taught at a usual community dance. She was about two figures in when a group of 10 or so newcomers who she did not recognize as regular dancers entered the hall. So she asked us all to promise our partners that we would dance with them later, and to take one of the new dancers as a partner. And, of course, we all did. We lined up again in duple improper, and Becky taught a simple dance that she knew we could help inexperienced dancers through even though there had been no lesson. So we all danced, and that’s how the rest of the evening went. 

It was a very sad thing when Becky developed dementia and stopped coming to call for us. The Cleveland community can probably tell you more about that time, and since she traveled so much I’m sure there are many other stories like ours out there.