Veritas Maryann Waltz of Greenbank entered into rest peacefully at her home June 8, 2004. Ms. Waltz was born Dec. 10, 1921, to Orice Aldora Stephenson and Russell Samuel Waltz, former president of Consolidated Dairy Products, “Darigold,” The National Milk Producers Federation in Washington, D.C. and The United Dairymen’s Association of Seattle.

Maryann grew up in Long Beach, Calif., with sisters Barbara Ellen and Orice Jean Waltz. An excellent swimmer, boater and talented force in field hockey, she graduated from high school in Long Beach, then returned to her native Washington to earn her bachelor’s degree in physical education. She received her master’s degree at New York University.

Teaching primarily at the college level as an associate and lecturer at the University of Delaware, UCLA, NYU and University of Washington, she became a colleague and long-time friend of Ruth Abernathy and retired from the university. Together, they did ground-breaking research in movement and the socio-correlates of movement. Ms. Waltz’s writing was creative, technically perfect and revealed her strong ability as a prescient observer.

A member of AAHPERD and NAPECW, Ms. Waltz left a portion of her estate to the Ruth Abernathy President’s Fund. In 1959, she wrote “Whereas reality orientation is certainly a necessary anchorage, it does seem a shame that we lose so much of our imaginative ability, find it so difficult to make excursions to cloud nine — or, to climb up into the existentialists’ third horizontal world. How exciting it would be if the middle level could serve as a flight deck for take-off more often and be less of an anchor…if formal education could somehow contribute to self unbridling so that each individual could really move in freedom toward his potential…”

A life-long learner, Ruth and Maryann designed their home on Whidbey Island. Maryann drove for the Cancer Society and taught friends Joan, Geri, Leann and Penny how to split wood, use a variety of tools and “jerry-rig” just about anything.

Survived by nephews Russell, Dale, and Patrick Donnelly, niece Lynellen Romero and great nephew and niece Ryan and Rachael Romero, Aunt Maryann taught both generations how to dig clams and make blackberry jam and cobbler.

An open house for friends to meet, greet and reminisce will be held on Whidbey, Sunday, Aug. 1, from 3 to 6 p.m. Please call Penny Wagoner at 206-932-4897 for more information.

Remembrances in Ms. Waltz’s name are suggested to the Billing’s Middle School Financial Aid Endowment or the V. Maryann Waltz fund to Support Teacher Excellence and Innovation at Billings Middle School, 7217 Woodlawn Ave., NE, Seattle, WA 98115.