Trudy actually had a pretty terrific sense of humor, which a lot of people didn't realize, and she was also a dynamite chef ...French trained...brilliant with sauce and truffle, as anyone who was invited to enjoy the Cannon hospitality can attest.
Coincidentally, while I’ve been an Academy trustee and governor for many years, I actually did not meet Trudy through the Academy. It was when I was in college and Trudy wrote a cookbook. Publishing houses always asked my mother, a well known radio commentator, to interview its authors on her show. One day when I was in the studio she started talking to this delightful lady cookbook writer...Trudy! She was modest, low-key and she made it all sound easy as pie, like a walk in the park. The cuisine might be Parisian but the attitude was strictly Midwest.
Enjoy the party with one foot in the kitchen.
Trudy and John were beautiful hosts and great friends. I miss them both terribly.
June Colbert
New York Trustee
I met Trudy in May 1994 to pick up my very first set of tickets to the Daytime Emmys. Every year thereafter we built a friendship that became very endearing to me. Trudy always greeted me fondly every year as if we had been friends for hundreds of years. During our ten years of friendship, Trudy was always encouraging me to follow my endeavors of a career in Daytime. Trudy kept me inspired not to give up, and stay determined that one day I will be working in the best category of television excellence - daytime television.
Just last year Trudy and I were supposed to meet for lunch, but due to our schedules we couldn’t meet. However, Trudy made a point to meet me at Penn Station on the day I was leaving to go back home to Baltimore. We had a chance to chat for about half an hour. She was special in that way and made me feel eternally grateful to know her. Upon knowing about her illness, I was hoping to see her to express my feelings of gratitude and to bid my friend goodbye. Before I could get the chance to see her again, Trudy bowed out gracefully just as Trudy would do, with no trumpets.
Tim Yersin
Trudy! Trudy! Trudy!
What can I say!
You enriched my life so beautifully
And now you’ve gone away
Such maternal charm and kindness
I very seldom heard you moan
From the very start
“YOU WERE YOUNG AT HEART”
Hi Kiddo!! You’d chirp on the phone
You were always there when needed
No task too great or small
Whenever someone needed help
With a Humble heart
You did it all!
Oh life goes by so speedily
And our deeds we cannot measure
But sweet memories we leave behind
And mine of you, I’ll treasure!
Oh yes I’m sure that John was smiling
As his Warrior ship sailed into port
So take your rest
YOU KNOW you did your very best
No longer need to hold the Fort
Noreen M. Prohaska, MAS
North Midwest Sales Manager, R.S. Owens
Thoughtful, charming, loyal and always supportive - that was Trudy.
Cory Dunham
Chair, Legal Council
Of counsel at Cahill, Gordon and Reindel
Trudy and I have been close friends ever since I first became parliamentarian for the Board. We talked often on the phone and always enjoyed being together during the time of Board meetings and the many trips I shared with her and John. Even after I officially left in '99, we continued to stay in touch at least two or three times a month. I truly miss not being able to pick up the phone and hear her say "Jo Schmidt, how are you?"
Jo Schmidt
Academy Parliamentarian
I knew Trudy for more than thirty years. Her devotion to NATAS, her decades of hard work on its many events, the very special trips abroad with the Trustees and her gourmet dinner parties to which I was fortunate enough to have been invited (along with my late husband, Walter)--these are just a few of the things I will remember with fondness about Gertrude Wilson Cannon. I say with utmost respect, much love and sadness: "Goodbye, kiddo."
Barbara Miller-Gidaly
New York Trustee
