Dr. Sally Sevey Fitt

I remember her iconic laugh!

A bright light full of humor and life arriving to open our minds to learning.

As a professional Modern Dancer, returning home to L.A. from NYC and wanting to learn more about teaching & learning with young children, I became a graduate student in Dance at UCLA in the mid/late 60s. I studied "Human Movement Behavior" with Dr. Valerie V. Hunt. I also participated in the graduate research study that Dee Hanson, one of Dr. Hunt's doctoral students, was doing in the Early Childhood Program at Corrinne Seeds Elementary School (former Lab School of UCLA Education Dept.). I knew of Sally and as I pursued my own continuing work in Arts/Dance in Education found that she was at the University of Utah and doing remarkably wonderful things. I am saddened to learn of her passing. She is a bright light in my universe of remarkable women and incredible contributions to human understanding and education as well as to Institutions of learning and more. I am grateful for all I learned through the research and writing of my thesis at that time: "Guiding Concepts for Perceptual and Creative Development in Young Children through Dance Experience". Love and many blessings to her family and loved ones.

Dear Wonderful Sally
We shared study under the great Professor Emeritus Valerie Hunt at UCLA. You wrote me a great recommendation which to this day is under Val's on my website. I owe you both my roots!!
May your experience in Spirit be ever more joyful than imagined and the passage there and beyond go beyond your wildest dreams.
You touched so many significantly. I love you and know we remain connected, as you taught my second cousin Mariah at the U of U and she says you called her Pam once. I love that!!
I will never forget you Sally and am deeply grateful for our time together.
Pamela Maloney, PhD, DHM, LAc, DiplOM
Santa Monica, CA

We love you Sally!

Sally's abundant warmth, acute intelligence and tireless work ethic have remained with me since my grad work at the U of U where she chaired my thesis committee. Divine journey divine woman...

So sad to hear about Sally. She was an exuberant , wonderful teacher when I had her at a student at UCLA, At the time she was a protege of Dr. Valerie Hunt. I fondly remember, as a young woman, some of our private talks in her office. She was awesme.. RIP Ms. Sally. Gone way too soon. There will NEVER , ever be another you. One of my dearest supporters and life advocates is gone. THANK YOU. Sally, for ALL the things I learned from uou. God bless, you, dear one.

Sally was a mentor, a friend and a superior inspiration... I was her student at the University of Utah in 1990 and her presence of fun and light has remained with me... I always look forward to her holiday greetings and will treasure all the past ones as I remember her generous heart and soul.... Love you Sally....

I had the honor of being one of Sally's students at the University of Utah from 1994-96. She was an incredible mentor to me. Our Kinesiology class came up with the idea of wanting to print T-shirts that said, "Survival of the FITT-TEST" (referencing all of the hard work and dedication it took to pass the many exams Sally gave us throughout the semester). She was an inspiration to everyone she had a connection with. What an incredible spirit. I know that her light will continue to shine... always. Here's to you Sally! xoxo

Sally was an amazing kinesiology teacher, conditioning coach and mentor. I can remember her saying "from here; to there" repeatedly when taking her tests and it always made me laughso hard at times! As well as ponder. Her sense of humor, integrity, zest for life and down-to-earth personality was contagious and brought out the best in her students. I will miss her greatly.

Sally was maid of honor at our wedding over 41 years ago. We are both shocked and sad that she is no longer with us. Dan & Arlene Stottlemyre San Diego

A wonderful and inspiring individual, thank you for everything you taught me.

The news of Sally's death, while sad, was not unexpected. We had said our farewells to each other via E-mails and letters several weeks previously. Although I am a former English teacher, writer, and editor, who made my living with words, I feel unequal to the task of writing a public tribute to a marvelous woman who had been my friend for nearly 60 years. I can only start with a string of adjectives to describe her: Enthusiastic, confident, energetic, intelligent, loyal, adventuresome, honest, generous, loving, committed. Sally was a "carpe momentum" person--one who appreciated all the lovely but fleeting facets of life, including the beauty of the natural world and wild creatures, from sun on snowy mountain peaks to an eagle circling in the sky.

Sally was intolerant of poor service and manners, willful arrogance, abject stupidity, fear-mongering, injustice (be it economic or racial), and bigotry. She could be stubborn and was capable of intense anger, but always tried to turn negatives to postives, and to right the wrongs of the world whenever she could. She did nothing by halves. She was not afraid to fail or to admit to being wrong.

Most endearing to me was her expansive sense of humor. She often made fun of her own foibles and could see light in the darkest of tunnels. Sally never grinned; rather, her smile always spread across her entire face, and her laughter always came from her toes.

I am grateful that I was able to visit her in fall 2008; we had not seen each other in 30+ years. We explored Loveland, visited her much loved Buckhorn Canyon cabin and Native American family, and talked ourselves hoarse! Thanks, my dear friend, for all the joy you have brought to my life. I shall miss you greatly. Be at peace and continue to live large.

I shall never forget her famous phrase during class, "From here...to...here." Sally's understanding of the human form was enormous. But her understanding of humanity was what drew you in. You will be missed.

Sally was a great friend from grade school . We will miss her . Loved hearing from her every day in her e-mails. Had so much fun with her growing up, swimming at the beach and slumber partys.

SAll I will miss you. Rest in peace now that you are free.

Ann

Sally and I have been friends since grade school. We had many a laugh growing up together. I will miss you so much great friend. Rest in peace now that you are out of paine.

Ann Heimerl, Excelsior,Minnesota

Dear Sally,
Thank you for helping me excavate the knowledge in my muscles and bones. Your legacy is sound, and your loss great. You will be missed.

Dearest Sally...
You have truly changed the way I see life, people and movement. I still hear your laugh. I will always "walk with you" and carry on the passion to learn to teach you taught me. Not a day has gone since my studies in Utah that I haven't thought of your wice words. Kinesiology is more than muscles and bones and how they move! Thank you for being part of my life too. May your straightforward, cheerful attitude live long!
Rest in peace -or in as much peace as you would like.
Reetta, one of your many kiddos. Dance kinesiology ambassador in Finland, Europe.

Sally and I were sister in laws and dear friends. We went on great adventures together. We Kayaked with the whales in BC and cried together as we listened to the beautiful sounds they made as we passed them. We ran the Colorado river white water together and I ended up with both my eyes blackened when she hit me because WE had to be right up front to get in on all the action.....HA And then all the wonderful times she had every meal ready, plenty of homemade goodies and extra tickets for us when we took the kids to Utah to ski. I can't begin to tell you how much I learned from her. She was a mentor to many. She loved life, laughed hard, and told you what she thought always. I'm so glad I had the chance to have a good long email chat with her recently......I understood. Good bye Sis, shake them up wherever you are. Love Joyce

Sally and I met as freshman p.e. students of Pat Paterson at Hamline University in 1957. We have been friends for life. We skiied, water skiied, swam synchro duets, drove to CA in our Chevy convertibles, lived and taught in Oakland together. Whenever I walk the beach, swim, sit by the ocean, she is here with me laughing and squeezing all the joy out of each moment. She was a master teacher and a true best friend.

Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.

Sally was my teacher and friend for over 30 years. She mentored me through most of the important professional turns in my life. As a Fitt trained kinesiologist I attend to individual differences, the kinesthetic potential of my students and their expressive capacities every day that I teach or do dance. "God willing and the creek don't rise" I will pass her legacy on to future generations. Rest in peace dear, you did the work.
Tom Hagood