Obit: Evelyne Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)Oct 2009

Subject: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,Sean
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 11:13 PM

Heard today that Evelyn Beers Burnstine passed away. I'm sure more than a few of us here remember the Fox Hollow Folk Festival, which she and her first husband Bob Beers founded in the 1960s, and which continued until 1980. Amazing to think of who appeared there over the years: Michael Cooney, Utah Phillips, Dan Smith, David Bromberg, Boys of the Lough (think Fox Hollow must've been one of the first places they played in the US), John Herald, Leon Redbone (!) and even some Canadian guy named Bruce Cockburn. And that's just a sampling.
(I don't have any other info as to her passing, or funeral/memorial services.)

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Oct 09 - 11:26 PM

I will always remember her lovely voice and sense of fun.

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 09:37 AM

A warm, loyal friend from old festival days. There never was a festival quite like it, and never a person quite like Evelyn. I send my love to the family in their sorrow. And a chorus of "Dumbarton's Drums."

Bob

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,Sean
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 10:26 AM

Bob, you were certainly one of the many living, breathing -- and singing -- reasons I enjoyed Fox Hollow. Fondly remember you doing "Ponytail Bow" and "The Kissing Song," among others. So when my friend Lissa Schneckenburger covered "Before They Close the Minstrel Show" on her CD a few years ago, I felt a bridge form between these eras of my life.

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: Arkie
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 10:28 AM

At the Florida Folk Festival way back when, Michael Cooney celebrated Evelyn and Bob's anniversary by singing all the verses to Tam Lane. My set was sandwiched between the Beers and Cooney. I celebrated a bit myself. I thought Evelyn a lovely and gracious lady and feel fortunate to have seen her on stage several times. She was the matriarch of an important family in American folk music.

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: Willie-O
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 03:10 PM

I had a couple of memorable trips to Fox Hollow. Sorry to hear Evelyn's passed.

I met some guy named Kendall there. Told terrible dirty jokes. Wonder what ever happened to him. Can't still be around, can he?

W-O

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,Elmore
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 03:26 PM

Actually, she spelled her first name, Evelyne. After many years of admiring the Beers Family, I had the opportunity to work with her arranging some concerts for our folk club. She did a marvelous house concert for us. Evelyne was a wonderful, warm, loving person and will be missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: open mike
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 03:45 PM

Friends of Fox Hollow has a face book...with some posts ....i tried
to add alink to our discussion, but was not able to see how to add a
comment.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Fox-Hollow-Folk-Festival/216290735312?v=feed&story_fbid=84492151838#/pages/Friends-of-Fox-Hollow-Folk-Festival/216290735312?v=wall&ref=mf

There is a video clip on the face book page that you might want to see.

She was in Toronto, Canada.

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,Marty Beers Meshberg
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 01:23 PM

Dear Friends,

It has been such a long, long time since I have been in touch with many of you. Unfortunately I am the bearer of sad news. My mother, Evelyne Beers,( of the Fox Hollow Festival of Traditional Music and Arts) passed away on Sunday, October 4th in hospital in Toronto from pneumonia. It was peaceful and painless. She was 84, and over the past year and a half the quality of her life was truly difficult . She had taken a very bad fall in August of 2008 and fractured 3 lumbar vertebrae. So, she was in constant pain, in a wheel chair and feeling pretty low down and depressed. Even at that, she still found it within her to sing and recount her memories of Fox Hollow and the wonderful supportive performers and friends who attended over a period of 14 years.
Her funeral was Tuesday Oct.6th) and was attended by my family and a small number of Baha'i friends. Since most of her "folkie" friends were in the United States, I found it so deeply sad that they were not able to send her off with a joyful noise as my father (Bob Beers) had been. Yet, I know that she has joined the heavenly concourse and that her spirit is now free and singing among the handmaidens of the Kingdom.

I ask that you pass this news along to her many friends through your magazine.

Thank you for your assistance.
Love and best wishes,
Marty (Beers) Meshberg

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,Emjay -- lost my cookie
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 04:33 PM

In 1971 we spent a few weeks in Upstate New York, and learned that we were in time for the Fox Hollow Festival. I called and talked to Bob Beers himself, to my surprise and pleasure. We had all six children with us and took them to the Beers farm for what was a children's day prior to the beginning of the actual festival.
We were poor, a military family in the process of transferring from Alaska to Cape May, New Jersey. We couldn't take advantage of a lot of the good things going on, but this was one we could afford.
We took a picnic, spread out our blanket and enjoyed one of the most wonderful days imaginable. Those kids of ours, now adults, of course, still talk about it.
We talked to Evelyne there. We had met her the previous winter in Alaska when they had performed at the Alaska Music Trails, a traveling concert series. She was gracious, pleasant, delightful. The music was so good.
We bought records there and still have them and still enjoy them though now copied to cds.
What wonderful music that family brought to us all. I am sorry to hear of her passing and the loss to her daughter, Marty
Martie in Alaska

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,Owlbird Haven
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 09:49 PM

Marty, Our thoughts are with you. I was a Hoosac student and remember the times Bob and Evelyn would come down for the evening to share their music, sometimes accompanied by you and Eric. I particularly remember NY public TV doing a live recording with Bob and friends in front of the massive fireplace in the Dining Hall....a particularly funny evening with Bob telling stories and singing un-airable verses between takes while Evelyn told Bob stories in the background with her usual charm, grace and wit. Perhaps most of all, I recall Edith Craig Reynolds describing the joy she received from hearing the carol Bob and Evelyn dedicated to her, a wonderful tribute to a remarkable soul. Aside from the many memories and sounds, the grace which Bob and Evelyn shared was profound and touched many people. May they both now share pleasant journeys again. Be at peace and thank you for sharing.

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,Buck & Thelma Matthews
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 11:56 PM

We met Bob and Evelyne and Marty when they appeared at an outdoor dining venue nearby. It was shortly after they purchased the New York property and before they staged their first festival. Our friendship grew over the years and they appeared several times on my local TV show. We spent many a magic August day and night on the hillside at Fox Hollow and will never forget the remarkable, gifted people we met there. Like many others, we were certain we saw Bob's ghost near the stage at the first festival after his tragic death. And like everybody who ever heard her sing, we can still hear Evelyne's pure, angelic voice.

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)
From: GUEST,David Shewmaker
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 10:20 PM

Marty, I am sorry for your loss. My family was family friends of your aunt and uncle and cousins the Boyers. They got us to Fox Hollow, and I was there for seven or eight years as a child. It was a profoundly good experience for me, and still defines my life to this day.
The last time I saw her was at NEFFA maybe 20 years ago as a young adult. She remembered me, and it was a very sweet connection. My fondest memory was her helping my mother (as I remember it) make a costume for me for what I believe was a renaissance festival that happened there before fox hollow the summer my mother and I spent a month there when I was six. Knickers, floppy hat, jacket I think... All brown. Very special times, special music, specialb people...

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow) Oct 09
From: GUEST,Laura Haynes Aiken
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 04:48 PM

Dear Marty,
Please accept our condolences. Our parents, Judy and Bert Haynes, were acquainted with you and yours in the 60's and early 70's, through the Philadelphia Folk festival. They really enjoyed knowing Bob and Evelyne.
Our folks included the Beers Family Christmas album as part of our holiday music tradition from the time it was released. It is still part of that tradition for us. You are still part of our lives.
All the best,
Laura Haynes Aiken and Harriet Haynes Carter

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow) Oct 09
From: GUEST,David Usher
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 01:56 AM

I was saddened to hear of Evelyne's passing from my mother this afternoon. She is no doubt singing with the pros now.

Both Bob and Ev were exceptionally giving people, opening up the stage to pros and beginners alike, and treating all with respect. We went to FH many times when I was in my teens. There are countless memories jamming all night with Guy Carawan, Utah Phillips, Roger Sprung, the Boys of the Lough, John Hartford/Tut/Vassar, Bill Spence, Mike Cooney (who liked to run around at 3am making large animal noises outside folks' tents), the wisely-inscribed real wooden portapotties, the unforgettable seance at the Sweet family graveyard, the terrifying frog bog .... .... .... ....

Speaking of all this, I have a short vid of some 8mm films I shot at FH on youtube, set to Spence's folks doing "Ruffles". I wish I had more, but 8mm was expensive for a 9th grader. Please enjoy it in memory of Ev.

Fox Hollow video

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow) Oct 09
From: GUEST,Mary Ann Groetsch
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 11:40 AM

I heard Bob and Evelyne several times in St. Louis in the last couple of years in the '50s. They were the best. Heard them at Petite Pigalle and talked to them at our table. I remember he said that Evelyne could not read music, but had sung one of the major Bach works! They both had such wonderful voices.

Ten or more years later, I took my two children, then five and six, to a one of their concerts. They were completely engaged for the entire performance. Partly it was your parents' personalities (Bob's sparkling eyes and Evelyne's lovely voice. We have several of their albums, and I will now try to find something on a CD.

I believe there were some Beers in the Kirkwood area. Peace.

Mary Ann Groetsch
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyn Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow) Oct 09
From: GUEST,Betty Bachman Mann Doutt
Date: 15 Nov 10 - 02:08 PM

Marty:

I'm not sure if you'll remember me, but I used to babysit you in Lewistown, Montana in 1949-1950. Your dad was our music teacher at Fergus High. You were about 3-4 years old (?).

Your parents were dear friends and Bob taught me how to play the bass fiddle. Your mother had such a sweet, clear voice. Even tho I was a junior/senior during those years, I hung out with the teachers and their spouses and enjoyed many nights folk dancing and square dancing.

A bunch of us got together and formed the "Judith Mountain Players" and produced old melodramas in the summer. I was the choreographer and featured singer. (I was a "diamond 'Lil" belter floozie.) I have some knock-out pics of your mom and the cast. You might like to have them? Your dad was featured as "Fiddler Beers," and always brought down the house.

In the summer of 1949, your parents took me along in the car
when they drove to Kirkwood(?) Missouri to visit your grandparents. My reason for going was to spend the summer in St Louis studying ballet and tap with professional teachers. (During my high school years, I ran the only dancing school in town. Bachman's School of Dance. I knew I need more training--consquently the trip to St Louis to further my education.)

In the early sixties I sang with the folk group: The Gateway Trio, an offshoot of the Gateway Singers from San Francisco. We recorded for Capitol and toured everywhere doing concerts and performing with Judy Collins, PP&M, The Smothers, etc. We were all starting out basically about the same time.   The Gateway Trio broke up in 1965.
If you want to know more, you can google Gateway Trio or Gateway Singers and Betty Mann.

After retirement and marriage (at age 47) in 1979, I settled down in Santa Barbara, CA and spent 12 years with the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera, performing in musical theatre.

I'm now retired for sure and in the process of writing a book about the emergence of the folk music scene on the west coast during the late 50s and early 60s AND my experiences of "life on the road" during that crazy era. Fortunately, I kept a journal and some of my "adventures" are a real hoot.

I'm not sure if this letter will reach you. But I had to write. Both of your parents were such good role models when I was growing up, since I didn't have that support from my own parents. I regret that with all my traveling, I never had a chance to experience any of the Fox Hollow activities.

Betty Mann Doutt, [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Obit: Evelyne Beers Burnstine (Fox Hollow)Oct 2009
From: GUEST,june silverman
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 01:41 AM

I particularly remember one of her songs, "the Palace Grand". which goes:

How will it be with our souls
When we meet on that beautiful shore?
What the mortal heart ne'er knows
Will the spirit then understand?
Or in some celestial form
Will our sorrows repeated be?
Will I still be nothing to him
Though he is the world to me?