KASSNER, Ann Patricia, 1942-2017

Ann died peacefully at home attended by her loving son Stephen Halman and his wife Rita Janzen.

She is survived by her beloved husband Eli Kassner; son Stephen (Rita); stepdaughters Annick Mitchell and Danielle Kassner; grandsons Jacob and Ben Mitchell and Gabriel Perez-Kassner; and sister Fiona Charles (Jill Shefrin). Predeceased by her mother, Louise (Hall) and father, Leslie Newell.

In 1956, Ann immigrated to Toronto from the UK with her parents and sister. Here she attended Downsview and Humberside Collegiates. In 1959 she married Norman Halman and had one son, Stephen. She studied classical guitar with Eli Kassner and they soon began a romance that lasted half a century. Together they established and ran the Guitar Academy of Toronto. Ann was a gifted guitar teacher, especially known for her skill with young pupils.

Ann was first diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in ¬¬2000. After a particularly grueling series of treatments, she bravely bounced back. Even a tracheotomy in 2010 and further extensive surgery in 2014 failed to daunt her. Both times, she demanded the removal of her feeding tube and found creative ways to enjoy her food. Shortly before the cancer recurred in May, she was training to walk 5 kilometres to raise money for cancer research.

Ann’s enthusiasm, loyalty and generosity are legendary within the classical guitar community and beyond. She will be sorely missed by her extended family and many friends.