Mary Ann Knight

Mary Ann Knight, a retired member of the Shorter College music faculty and dedicated piano teacher to generations of students, died peacefully at home in Rome, GA, after an extended illness on Sunday, March 20, 2016.

Born January 24, 1933 in Newark, New Jersey, she grew up in a close knit Italian-American family and began taking piano lessons in grammar school. Mary Ann studied at the Juilliard School of Music throughout high school, and went on to earn a bachelor of music in piano performance at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she met her husband and fellow classical pianist, William "Bill" Knight. After marrying in 1955, the couple taught at the Rathbun Conservatory of Music in New Jersey from 1957 to 1959. In 1960, Mary Ann and Bill and their son Kevin (born 1956) moved to Georgia. Mary Ann began teaching at South Cobb High School in Austell. Following the birth of their son Timothy in 1963, the Knights moved to Rome, where Bill began his decades-spanning teaching career at Shorter College. Two years later, Mary Ann joined the Shorter faculty in 1965.

Over the course of her 45-year tenure at Shorter, Mary Ann taught hundreds of students, many of whom won state and regional music competitions. Passionate, energetic and unfailingly kind, she was much more than a teacher to her students, who often looked to her for advice, a sympathetic ear and a delicious Italian meal. Beloved for their generosity and hospitality, Bill and Mary Ann regularly opened their home to students and friends. The couple also hosted international students during the holidays and always made them feel like part of the family.

In addition to teaching full-time at Shorter, Mary Ann taught piano privately to students of all ages. Inspired by her example, quite a few of these students eventually became music teachers themselves. When she wasn't busy teaching, Mary Ann led master classes and piano pedagogy workshops throughout the Southeast, as well as in California and New Mexico. She also judged music competitions and presented at several conferences.

In 2002, Shorter College established the William and Mary Ann Knight Performance Competition, providing endowed scholarships to two deserving students, to honor the outstanding accomplishments of the husband-and-wife duo. Seven years later, Mary Ann and Bill were named the Georgia Music Teacher Association Teachers of the Year in 2009. They were subsequently named the 2010 National Teachers of the Year by the Music Teachers National Association, which includes more than 24,000 independent and collegiate music teachers in all 50 states.

Revered for her warmth, cheerful outlook, sense of humor and gourmet cooking skills, Mary Ann made a tremendous impact on thousands of people during her life. She is survived by her husband Bill of more than 60 years; her two sons: Kevin (Jane) of Woodstock, Georgia, and Timothy of Los Angeles, California; and her brothers: James J. Melfi Jr. (Naples, Florida), Frank C. Melfi (Mary Ann Wicks) and William J. Melfi (Chris), both of Albuquerque, New Mexico; niece Carole Lamar (Charlie) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Thanks to special caregiver, Alicia Apthorpe, her other sitters and Heyman Hospice Care at Floyd Medical Center.

A memorial service will be held in Brookes Chapel at Shorter University on April 9, 2016, at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow the service in the Eubanks Room across from the chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the William and Mary Ann Knight Performance Competition, Shorter University, 315 Shorter Ave., Rome, GA 30165.

Daniel’s Funeral Home

3/24/16