Lois M. Kuhlmann

Lois M. Kuhlmann, 65, of Newtown died of a cerebral aneurysm on February 1 in Danbury Hospital.

The daughter of the late Henry Fred and Estella Althea Brooks, Ms Kuhlmann was born in Fairview, N.J., and moved to Newtown 1954. She graduated from Newtown High School in 1959.

An international coordinator for George Wein Festival Productions for 23 years, Ms Kuhlmann began as assistant to Mr Wein, founder and producer of the Newport Jazz Festival and JVC Jazz Festival, among others. Ms Kuhlmann then became the talent coordinator for the Grande Parade du Jazz in Nice, France, where she worked with Wynston Marsalis, Lionel Hampton, B.B. King, Etta James, and countless others. She managed extensive tours for these and hundreds of other artists on the summer festival circuit in Europe.

As the tour business in Europe changed, Ms Kuhlmann continued working with jazz musicians, particularly the Newport Jazz Festival All-Stars and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, led by trumpeter Jon Faddis. Most recently she worked on the Verizon Music Festival in Tampa, Fla., and the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival. In the last several months, she assisted on a tour entitled “Over the Rainbow” celebrating the music of Harold Arlen. She arranged for musical venues throughout Europe, France, Italy, and Turkey. She is mentioned in the recent publication Myself Among Others by George Wein, and her global reputation for booking professional jazz events was described by world-renowned musician/composer Jon Faddis as “simply amazing.”

Civic minded, Ms Kuhlmann hosted townwide rug hooking shows and house tours. She was also a key member of the technical crew for the public access tercentennial television program, Newtown 300, where she was solely responsible for graphics and audio.

She is survived by her siblings, Sophie Wiss of Newtown, Jo Spector of Southbury, and Dietrich H. Kuhlmann II of San Jose, Calif.; eight nieces and five nephews, 13 great-nieces and 18 great-nephews; and her beloved felines, Thomas, Grayson, and Chloe.

Ms Kuhlmann was an organ donor.

Services and burial in Newtown Village Cemetery will be in the spring at the convenience of the family. Contributions may be made to the Newtown Ambulance Association, PO Box 344, Newtown CT 06470 or to the Newtown Tercentennial Fund, c/o John Trentacosta, 39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470 or to the charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by the Honan Funeral Home, Newtown.

The Newtown Bee       February 11, 2005