Born August 1, 1921, Kathy started her life-long commitment to movement at the Boston Conservatory of music.  She danced on and off Broadway, in television and toured in companies in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America.  Her accolades in the dance world abound, but for many of us, it is her skill as a Pilates teacher for which we know her.

In 1957, Kathy began teaching and she worked with another eminent teacher, Carola Trier.  However it was in 1966 that Kathy and Lolita San Miguel commenced a six-month training with Joseph Pilates that was sponsored by the University of the State of New York.  In February of 1967 Kathy and Lolita received the only two certificates Joseph Pilates issued to teach his method (due to his death later that year).  Kathy ran the Pilates Studio at Henri Bendel’s department store in NYC. And in 1988, Kathy moved to teaching at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.

Many students benefited from her challenging, exacting and demanding teaching style in the year-long course in the Pilates method in the dance department at NYU. She taught workshops on Pilates around the world and wished to share Joe and Clara’s work with anyone who desired to learn. Kathy’s significance to the Pilates profession has long been acknowledged.   As one of the “Elders” of the Pilates community her work has been integral to the continued education of teachers in the Pilates Method.  Some teachers have been influenced by Kathy directly, while others profited from her knowledge through other instructors like Ron Fletcher or Jillian Hessel.  Her fame even extends to the social networking craze—she has a fan club on Facebook!  In a memorial article to Kathy, Lolita mentions one of her last conversations with Kathy.  Kathy spoke of the exercises she was given in a rehabilitation center as “for old people.”  Lolita’s brilliant reply asked Kathy if the trainers knew who she was!

As we stop to remember the full and long life of the great Kathy Grant I hope we will all be inspired to remain steadfast in our commitment to Joe’s teachings and spreading those teachings to individuals of all walks of life…just as Kathy did.

To read Lolita San Miguel’s letter visit Pilates Pro’s website. To send cards or letters: Bridge Pilates, 68 Jay St. #225 Brooklyn, NY 11201. To make contributions in her honor her family has suggested causes that were important to her: environment, animal safety/health, arts (specifically dance) and social equality.