TERRY-MONAGHAN-Obituary

TERRY MONAGHAN

New York, New York

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New York, New York

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MONAGHAN--Terry. We mourn the passing of Terry Monaghan, the co-founder of London's Jiving Lindy Hoppers, who played a major role in the world-wide revival of Swing. He was 67 years old. An indefatigable researcher and relentless interviewer, Terry was the world's foremost authority on Harlem's...

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The impact of Terry's leadership with the Jiving Lindy Hoppers, his research on the dance form and the people who participated in the early days is still being used today as this dance form continues to develop into a global expression. He is greatly missed. Mickey Davidson

I met Terry though my mother's best friend and former Lindy Hopper Elnora Dyson. I was doing some research on my mother, Frances "Mickey " Jones. She and her partner William Downes were the first couple to swing out in "Hellzapoppin". While I knew some things there was a lot that i did not know about my mother. Terry came to interview me and along the way he assisted in guiding and offering suggestion for my work. After I wrote an article for the Jean Sampson Genealogical Society,he reviewed...

I had been trying for months to reach Terry. With no response to my emails I became increasingly worried. Today, I learned of his passing when I saw his obituary on the web.
We met in 1989 at a CORD conference and we quickly discovered our jazz dance common ground: Pepsi Bethel (my former teaching/mentor) and dancer Luther Fontaine (my good friend).
After that Terri and I communicated via email; phone; snail mail. Several times on his treks to visit jazz greats he ...

Terry and I met in 1996 at the Congress on Research in Dance conference. He and I remained friends from that day forward, sharing information, resources, holiday newsletters, love of Irish dancing, and profound respect and admiration for the thread of social dance in the fabric of community. He always encouraged me and inspired people all over the world to follow their hearts in dance research. What a profound loss to the world of dance scholarship has been felt with his passing. My heart...

Terry and my family at the Charlotte Coliseum

Terry touched our lives from the moment he first spoke with me regarding his work in 2000 to the passing of my grandmother "Eleanor Atkinson Watson" (Stumpy) in 2007 when he flew to Charlotte to be here for her memorial and share her story. Terry made everyone feel his passion for Lindy Hop Dance as he told of the many dancers and their stories. My grandmother would call me with such excitement and say my grandson Terry is coming from London and she has to make him tea & breakfast. Terry's...

Terry's life took him all over the world and into many communities listening to and recording people's personal stories about dance and life. His voice influenced the flow and standards of this dance for this generation through his research and support of the Jiving Lindy Hoppers. Most of all he will be missed as a friend and brother in dance/life study.

Thank you Larry and Sandra, that's a really nice tribute, It is lovely to see he is being remembered so affectionately.
Harry Monaghan (Terry's son)