Katherine Diane Kuper

Kate Kuper, a deeply beloved member of the Champaign-Urbana community, died on Thursday, November 17, 2016. Here are just a few of her many accomplishments. She was a presenter at the Kennedy Center and an award winner from the National Endowment of the Arts. She was a visiting professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Dance Department, where she specialized in instructing other young movement specialists to keep the love of dance alive. This she did, literally, all over the world. She co-taught the dance for Parkinson's disease class. She tutored countless students for their bar and bat-mitzvahs at Sinai Temple. Ten days after having a portion of her right lung removed, she was still able to sing high-holiday services in Decatur, IL. She was filled with boundless energy, talent, and beauty. We will never forget her and never replace her. She is survived by her husband, Rocky Maffit, their sons, Jacob and Walker Maffit, Jacob's fianc, Liz Taylor, and their children Kayson and Kylie, as well as her sister Holly Kuper and brother Peter Kuper, and limitless friends and family. A memorial service will be announced in March 2017.