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I have just received word from Veronika Newgard that Jim Tonder, who along with his wife, Yonnie, founded Nordlys (as well as Norske Runddansere, with Yonnie and Bette Moksnes, in 1983) has passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2013. There will be a private "family-only" service held at an unspecified future date.
Nordlys has had a number of significant losses in the past few years, not only from normal attrition, but the deaths of: first, John Campbell, Nordlys' director, then my husband, Andy, a longtime member of nearly 20 years, and now Jim. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is wondering about Nordlys' future at this point. I can't imagine that Yonnie, so newly bereaved, who has been acting as director since shortly after John's passing, is in any shape to be directing a dance group at this point. Having been out of town for several months, I do not even know for sure what performances Nordlys had scheduled for this year. I plan to return to Portland soon and will endeavor to find out what the future holds for Nordlys. As soon as I know something definite, I will post it here. My deep condolences to (and a whole lot of empathy for) Yonnie!
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I am exercising my prerogative as webmaster to post notice of an event on Facebook, dedicated to Andy's memory on what would have been his 64th birthday on 2/26/2013. It's an event I created for people to share thoughts and reflections about Andy, since his death at the beginning of June and his memorial service in September. (At which Nordlys performed, so it IS appropriate, in that light, to do this.) Because not everyone is on Facebook or wants to be, I'm offering those folks this space to share their thoughts.
John Campbell, long-time director of, and dancer in Nordlys has passed away Tuesday morning. Those who knew him were well aware of his love for folkdance, and particularly Scandinavian dance, as well as Irish dance, and his great willingness and desire to share that love and interest with others. We will miss John greatly. His spirit and love of the music and dance go on, however.
I would like to invite all those who knew John, and would like to do so, to share their thoughts either here, or on the Nordlys Dancers Facebook page. If you want to share photos there as well, those would certainly also be welcome. I will add a retrospective page here as soon as I can find time. (I'm very busy with work and school now, and it's difficult.) Danny Hathaway, who, along with his wife, Joan, friend, Bill Martin, and Bill's wife, Nancy, used to play music for Nordlys years ago in the early days, has composed a dance tune, a reel, in honor of John, titled "Big John Campbell's Reel." (We'll see if we can figure out a way to share the tune while respecting Danny's rights.) He is working on the dance "Sean (Campbell) Mor" to go with it, and Betsy Branch has recorded the tune, hoping to share it with John before his passing. We didn't make it, here on Earth, but I'll bet John is kicking up his heels to it, there in Dancers' Heaven. Stay tuned about word of an upcoming ceili in celebration of John's life, once arrangements are made. "The graveside ceremony will be Mon Oct 17 at 10 am at: Park Hill Cemetery 5915 E Mill Plain Blvd in Vancouver 360-693-1562 All are welcome. Please share this with John's friends." - Becky Nielsen |
AuthorHi, I'm Kit, widow of Andy, (one of the Nordlys dancers,) and webmaster of this site. It's a way I support the group. Archives
August 2015
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