Dear PW,

As many of you already know, our dear friend and #1 poster, Apple, lost her battle with her illness at 6:15 this morning.

I am starting this thread because I would like to do something in her memory and I believe that I am not alone here. Please add your thoughts and perhaps we can do something beautiful in her memory.

With love Apple,

Rest in peace, Apple.

We are all less because you have left us, and heaven is a lot richer.

You've been a rock, and an inspiration to all of us for all these years.

Thanks Rich,

A number of Apple's friends have posted in the Pianist Corner as that is where she
spent a good deal of her time, but it is a good idea to post here too as some people only
read the "Piano" forum.

This is the thread in the Corner...
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2012683.html

My sincere condolences to Apple and her family and friends.

She was a wonderful, sweet lady and was an inspiration to all who knew her.

She will be missed but never forgotten.

Rick

Hi Rich,

I also feel that a memorial for Apple, from the membership at PW, would be most appropriate. She was an extrodinary member and a friend to all.

Are you thinking in terms of a scholarship or maybe a living memorial such as a tree? I'm sure that there will be many ideas brought forth.

Thank you for suggesting this idea.

With thoughts of Apple,

As a new poster in PW, I didn't know Apple well, but always enjoyed her posts, which I thought were always appropriate and kind.

My sincerest sympathies to her family.

May the music she loved bring you peace.

This is very sad news indeed. I know that many here knew her personally and I offer my condolences to you all.

She was devoted to her music it seemed that she touched many hearts on this website. May her sweet memory live on in your hearts.

To her family and friends, my profound sympathy.

Robert.

I'm sorry to hear she passed away. I don't believe I had much contact with her but from everything I hear she was a nice person.

My condolences to her friends and family.

So very sad. Condolences to her family, church and friends. A true loss.

Woody

My condolences and prayers go out to her family and friends. As one of the many PW friends Apple had in the Piano Forum and the Pianist Forum I will miss her informative, friendly, empathetic, and enjoyable posts. The world and music are less without her.

Apple was the ultimate Piano Girl. She loved music, she loved her job, she loved us.

I suggest each of us take a moment to play a song this evening in her memory. She'll hear us.

Best wishes to her family. Celebrate her life. Rest in peace Apple.

I didn't know Apple except through her posts here. I found her to be always helpful and encouraging. RIP Apple, I know the music is beautiful where you are at rest.

Frank, how about a final posting of her passing in the Coffee Room where she was the moderator? Are you able to open it for that?

Thanks,
Woody

I am very sorry to hear this. She will be missed by many people. I extend my best wishes and sympathy to her family.

She will be missed....

How about chipping in to give some deserving player a new piano in Apple's memory. I'd be willing to arrange to provide the piano at cost anywhere in the US and chip in $500.

Steve, that sounds like a wonderful idea, but it might be very hard to carry out in terms of logistics such as selecting a recipient.... Or alternatively, a school or a church might be the recipient?

Rich, I was thinking about a donation to a cancer research organization? Also, I think it's too soon, but in the next few days, her family may have some suggestions about how we could honor her memory.

Other members may have ideas as well?

I think we could find a recipient through teachers who post on the many Piano World forums.

I'm sorry to hear this sad news. She will be missed.

I am so sorry to hear that she is not among us anymore.

I only know Apple from these forums. She always had good post, advices and comments. Hope she gets the best grand piano in heaven. She was a very good human with a heart.

Dear Apple......RIP.......

Johan B

Apple recently spoke fondly of the family of her students and their search for a piano. Maybe that would be an avenue for exploration.

Malkin, I think it's a great idea. Even $10 from a person will be $6,000 if we get 600 people to sign up for it.

Apple touched so many people's lives in so many ways. She inspired me to keep writing about Noona and for that I am very thankful. I feel she moved people to seek out their passions and live their lives to the fullest, or at least think about new possibilities. She shared with us her greatest joys, her most difficult times, her projects, her every day thoughts. Although I never met Apple, I feel I got to know her better than many people I know in "real life".

I was once told that if you are a very selfish person the moment you die, you cease to exist. If you are a good person those who met you may remember you and talk about you. The truly great people touch the lives of people who never met them and they live on in not only in memory but in adding to the richness of others lives. Apple is clearly one of those great people.

I am relatively new to PW, but read Apple's posts regularly. Apple was truly an amazing lady and loved by so many. I agree that a donation in her memory to a cancer research organization or to the hospice that provided comfort would be a nice idea.

She will be missed!

Oh no! I always liked her attitude here, she was kind and encouraging. My sympathies go out to her friends and family.

Announcement of funeral service

http://www.amosfamily.com/2013/01/mary-magdalen-bryde-stevermer/

I'm of two minds re: what kind of memorial PW might want to put together. I like Steve's idea of pooling donation for a piano to be given to a deserving student; I think it's a cause apple* would have dearly loved.

But I also noticed that the funeral announcement stated that her family was suggesting memorial contributions to go to a fund for her children's college educations... and that is a very important and deserving cause, too.

That's a very generous offer, Steve and it appeals to me too. Everyone who cares about piano playing has at some time, thought about what a shame it is that talented potential young players are often unable to follow through because of the expense of an instrument.

I never forgot meeting a young graduate student at our local university who was standing behind my ten year old son as we waited to attend a concert. He commented sadly that he would never be able to play as well as he could, because his family had been unable to allow him to begin his piano studies at a young age (my son, very talented, began at age six).

I am sure this cause would be dear to Mary's heart.
I find myself in a quandary, though, since her family (I guess, her husband) has clearly expressed a preference for donations to his children's college fund.

I am kind of wondering whether Mary only "belongs" to her family...Swallowed up in such a fund, I don't see any way that we are commemorating Mary as an individual.

Again, I agree with this sentiment and approve this idea. OTOH I feel it would be appropriate to also appeal to other fora she participated in and cared about: TNCR, WTF and BCO (for Breast Cancer) and FaceBook. All these online presences dear to her, are currently full of caring, bereft friends many of whom I'm sure want to "do something".

Perhaps we could leave it up to them, whether they wanted to contribute to a piano fund or her children's college fund.

there's no reason that piano world can't have its own memorium to apple. if friends and family wish to contribute to the childrens' education, i don't think that whatever this forum feels is a fitting honor for her will take away from that.