Stephanie C.W. Muir

WALTHAM, Mass. - Mrs. Stephanie Carlene Weigand Muir, a dancer, massage therapist and artist, died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, at the Tippett Home in Needham, from metastatic melanoma. She was 51.

Stephanie was born May 13, 1958, in Providence, R.I., and grew up in West Dennis.

While attending Dennis-Yarmouth High School, Class of 1976, she was named Junior Miss West Dennis. While attending the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, she spent a semester studying at Bulmershe College, University of Reading, in Reading, England.

In addition to her husband, Alan Muir of Waltham, Stephanie leaves her mother and stepfather, Sylvia and Charles Horton of Owls Head, Maine; her stepmother, Margaret Weigand of Yarmouth; her brothers, Tory Andrew Weigand of Hamilton and Blair Eliot Weigand of Yarmouth; her stepbrother and stepsister, Mitchell Horton of Juneau, Alaska, and Cheryl Horton of Los Angeles; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Stephanie was also the daughter of the late Theodore Weigand.

WE REMEMBER: Stephanie graduated cum laude from UMass in 1981 and moved to Brighton, where she took various office jobs.

During this time, she danced at the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio, the New England Conservatory and the Joy of Movement Center. She choreographed two pieces to the music of David Bowie and Joan Armatrading for Jeannette Neill's repertory shows.

She married Alan Hayden Muir in September 1985.

While recovering from a back injury, she discovered massage therapy. She decided to pursue that career, graduating from the Muscular Therapy Institute in Cambridge in 1990. She also trained in reiki, neuromuscular therapy and zero balancing. Stephanie was very successful in private practice until her illness made it impossible to continue. Many of her former clients remained loyal friends.

Her paintings have been displayed at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Wellesley College and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's Celebration of Life.

SERVICES: Friends may visit with Stephanie's family from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday-Friday at their home, 33 Bigelow Road, Waltham. Family and friends will honor and remember Stephanie's life by gathering for her life celebration from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Piety Corner Club, 2 Worcester Lane, corner of Bacon Street, Waltham. Memorial donations may be made to Facing Cancer Together, P.O. Box 600666, Newtonville, MA 02460, or to Green St. Studios, 185 Green St., Cambridge, MA 02139. To offer condolences online, visit www.joycefuneralhome.com.