A wonderful guru and friend (by Eric Bergmark)

I think I met V'Ann at 3OSME, my first origami conference. I also met her at PCOC in 2005 and in Vancouver in 2007. We were in frequent contact (email) as she helped and "took me under her wing" as I entered into the world of origami. She pointed me to resources and events and OUSA and was truly my guru. I took her class in making a picture frame at the 2005 PCOC and she was a great teacher and generous with her time and materials. A friend of mine who lives in Santa Monica (Lisa Song-Mayekawa) and I went last year to see the exhibit at the Mingei museum. V'Ann greeted me with a warm hug and we had a wonderful chat for quite a while. She pointed out a few of the high spots and we pondered the chess puzzle from up on the balcony. It was so close and friendly, it felt like I was 'home'. When I saw the note on the list about her being in a wheel chair, I sent her a note just to touch. I don't know if she got it. I cried when I heard of her passing. The world has been lessened...