Star-Bulletin file photo
Kathryn Murray, author of two books,
was 'a marvelous hostess.'

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Dance instructor
Kathryn Murray
dies at 92

'Her mind was as fast as
her feet,' a friend says of
Arthur Murray's widow

By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

Their name was synonymous with ballroom dancing, and when Kathryn and Arthur Murray retired to Hawaii in 1968, it was no coincidence they chose a home with a large lanai suitable for dancing.

The Murrays frequently entertained at their Diamond Head apartment and in local restaurants.

"They danced at their parties, always," recalled Betty Perry. "She'd sing all these old songs. 'Making Whoopie' and 'Frankie and Johnny' were her favorites."

Perry was looking at photographs of her friend yesterday. "There wasn't one that didn't have her laughing. ... She had a certain look, a smiley face."

Kathryn Murray died yesterday at the age of 92. Friends said she had lived a quiet life since the death of her husband in 1991.

She was the silent partner in the dance instruction business that Arthur Murray started in the 1920s with simple step-by-step diagrams of dance patterns. There were 500 Arthur Murray studios worldwide when they sold the franchise in 1952.

Kathryn Murray came into the spotlight as hostess of a television show, "The Arthur Murray Party," which began in 1950 and ran for 11 years, featuring celebrities demonstrating their dance form. Her vivacious personality was a counterpoint for Arthur's deadpan dignity.

She continued in that role here, famous for creating a mix of visiting celebrities and island friends. For those who weren't invited, the anecdotes and witticism of both Murrays became material for newspaper columnists. The Murrays were also well known for their financial contributions to local programs for health and the arts.

"She was a great storyteller and a marvelous hostess," said Roderick McPhee, retired president of Punahou School. "Frequently at dinner parties for as many as 20 or 30 people, Kathryn would walk around the tables and make a comment, warm and relevant, about each guest. Her mind was as fast as her feet."

The former Kathryn Kohnfelder was born in Jersey City, N.J. A high school graduate at 15, she attended the State Normal School and earned a teaching certificate.

She recalled how a friend introduced her to Arthur when she was 18 and he was 29. "We were married three months later, after I told Arthur I was 20," she said in a 1982 interview. She delighted in reminding him that he didn't learn the truth until months later when he counted the candles on her next birthday cake.

As the dance studios prospered, she did the book work, handling correspondence and writing training manuals for the teachers. She wrote two books, "My Husband, Arthur Murray" in 1960 and "Family Laugh Lines," a collection of anecdotes about celebrity friends, in 1966.

She is survived by twin daughters Jane Heimlich of Cincinnati and Phyllis McDowell of New Haven, Conn.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be announced later.