SPOKANE, WA – Mary Ann Wilson, RN, creator and host of the long-running public television series Sit and Be Fit, has died, KSPS PBS announced Wednesday. She was 87.
Wilson, of Spokane, worked with KSPS PBS for more than three decades to produce a gentle, chair-based exercise program that helped millions of viewers across the U.S. and Canada, including those with limited mobility, chronic conditions, and in rehabilitation settings.
Debuting from KSPS PBS Spokane studios in 1987, Sit and Be Fit became a nationally distributed program seen on hundreds of PBS stations, producing more than 400 episodes. The series was widely recognized as a trusted resource for older adults and anyone seeking safe, accessible exercise.
“Mary Ann was one of the kindest people I have known, and viewers felt that kindness in every episode,” said Skyler Reep, Interim General Manager of KSPS PBS. “She was beloved not only for her expertise as a nurse and health educator, but for the way she encouraged each of us to keep moving and keep going.”
As a registered nurse and health educator, Wilson dedicated her life to promoting wellness and making exercise accessible for all ages and abilities. KSPS PBS encouraged viewers to honor her legacy by sharing memories online, watching the program, and supporting the station’s inclusive programming.
