Patricia Carmela Muller

Patricia Carmela Muller, 93, of Woodstock, New York passed away on Sunday, March 3rd, peacefully at home with her family - serenaded by Frank Sinatra and the perfume of garlic and basil cooking in the kitchen.  Born April 11, 1930, in New York, New York, she was the daughter of the late Francesco (Frank) Gianninoto and Louise Mascali. Pat was predeceased by her husband Harrison Muller, who was the first love of her life and life-long dance partner.  She also leaves behind her later in life companion and love Stan Bryer.  She is survived by her three children: Nadia Cassini (Gianni Lou Muller) of Reggio di Calabria, Italy, Harrison Muller, Jr. of Brooklyn, NY and Gregory and his wife Maria Muller of New York, NY.  She is also survived by her five beloved grandchildren; Kassandra Voyagis, Gregory and Adrian Muller and Serena and Andreas Muller and three great-grandchildren, Nassos Kavourinos and Alessia and Nicolo Muller.   She was also predeceased by step-brothers Gordon and Jamie Gianninoto.

Pat was raised in New York City and began rigorous dance training at a young age.  She attended classes at Carnegie Hall  and trained under a wide roster of retired professionals from the Royal Ballet Company in England and various Russian ballet companies.  At the age of twelve she began performing at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.  It was through these early opportunities she was introduced to the choreographer Agnes De Mille who suggested she should audition for the American Ballet Theater, where she trained,  and subsequently went on to tour with Ms. De Mille’s shows.

Attending a high school created for professional performers allowed her to tour with shows and work with Broadway luminaries, from Yul Brenner to Mary Martin.  But the most influential individual that she met during this period of her young life was the tap dancer Harrison Muller, who would go on to become her professional partner and beloved husband of 50 years.

Their years together were filled with adventure and had them traveling the world with various shows, raising three children, renovating and opening dance schools in Woodstock, NY and Rhinebeck, NY while living the lives of free spirited, ever changing professional performers trying to balance these disparate worlds.  Without the support of Harrison’s family in Woodstock, his parents and sister Mara MacDonald Angeloch, this would not have been feasible.  They also lived for periods in Duxbury, Massachusetts and Brielle, New Jersey. They subsequently moved to Rome, Italy to assist their daughter Nadia with choreography for her Italian television variety show.  But, they always returned to Woodstock.

After a tragic accident in 1998, where she lost her husband, Pat’s resilience and positive attitude served to help her survive the trauma.  She filled her time cooking up lavish meals for her family and friends, continuing her attendance at the Episcopal Church, taking ballroom dancing classes, volunteering at Meals on Wheels and serving as landlord for several rental units.  After living alone for a number of years, she was invited to a dinner party at her friends Carol and Jules Viglielmo’s home where she had, unbeknownst to her, been set up and seated by the widowed guest Stan Bryer.  After that meeting they continued to see one another and remained together until her death.   Once again, her optimism and open mind for new adventures served her well in this next chapter of her life.

Pat continued to dance whenever her heart desired.  Her infectious smile and upbeat personality was a breath of fresh air and allowed her to maintain life long friends from all walks of life.  Her family liked nothing more than to gather for the holidays and enjoy Pat’s tremendous cooking and nurturing demeanor.

A celebration of her extraordinary life will be held on Saturday, April 13th at Saint Gregory’s Episcopal Church located at 2578 Route 212, Woodstock, NY at 10:00 am, followed by a reception at 2 Wendell Road, Woodstock, NY.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Pat’s name to the Woodstock Rescue Squad or the Woodstock Fire Department.

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