Sue Irmisch’s final curtain has closed...

By Ellen Wilkes Irmisch
After an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Burlington resident Sue Irmisch-Brown, well known to many of us in the performing arts community, has passed away. Born in Bronte Harbour and growing up with three siblings, she learned the importance of family and community.

Sue married Buffalo native Kneeland “Skip” Irmisch in 1968 and had two children, Ellen and Ian, who have carried on the tradition of performing arts with the Academy of Film and Performing Arts (formerly Sundance Studios, which Sue founded) and The Tartan Terrors. In 1994, Sue married opera singer Maurice Brown, and together they performed at festivals. Sadly, both Skip and Maurice preceded Sue in death from their own battles with leukemia and colon cancer respectively.

Sue’s talent blossomed at an early age, and she began teaching at the age of 14 at Walton United Church. At the age of 21, she became the youngest judge in Canada with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dance, and this certification gave her the opportunity to judge throughout Canada, U.S. and the U.K.

Always believing in community, Sue dedicated her dance studio to nurturing young people. Her students have gone on to perform and teach professionally throughout the world. She was always incredibly proud of the artistic talents of the citizens of Burlington, and in 1988 she donated the K. W. Irmisch Arts Person of the Year Award in honour of her first husband. This annual recognition is still awarded by Burlington City Council.

In 1991 she was awarded Citizen of the Year for her contributions to the community. In between teaching, she found time to support Burlington and its numerous community organizations, including service as a founding board member of Performing Arts Burlington.

Although a spotlight has gone out on the stage, a new one has lit up in heaven.