Programming at Wildwood Cemetery
June 22 - Summer Solstice - 2 PM
Wildwood Honors: Dr. Fred Tillis Memorial Concert
Join us for a special afternoon of music and celebration at the Wildwood Honors: Dr. Fred Tillis Memorial Jazz Concert! This event is a tribute to the legendary Dr. Fred Tillis, a renowned musician, composer, and educator, on the occasion of his 95th birthday anniversary. Come together with music lovers, friends, and community to honor his prolific life and his 50 years of cultural contributions to the Amherst area and beyond which continue today. Enjoy performances by his former UMass students and colleagues who are now internationally known artists: Drummer - Royal Hartigan, Saxophonist - Charles Langford, Bassist - Wes Brown, and Pianist- Alexis Marcelo who will be playing a wide range of Dr. Tillis’ jazz compositions and other works in his honor. Do not miss this in-person event that promises to be an experience to remember! Tickets are by donation - pay what you can! ($25 is the suggested amount.)
Reserve your tickets here! (Please note you can only reserve one ticket at a time.)
Wildwood Honors: Dr. Fred Tillis Memorial Concert
Join us for a special afternoon of music and celebration at the Wildwood Honors: Dr. Fred Tillis Memorial Jazz Concert! This event is a tribute to the legendary Dr. Fred Tillis, a renowned musician, composer, and educator, on the occasion of his 95th birthday anniversary. Come together with music lovers, friends, and community to honor his prolific life and his 50 years of cultural contributions to the Amherst area and beyond which continue today. Enjoy performances by his former UMass students and colleagues who are now internationally known artists: Drummer - Royal Hartigan, Saxophonist - Charles Langford, Bassist - Wes Brown, and Pianist- Alexis Marcelo who will be playing a wide range of Dr. Tillis’ jazz compositions and other works in his honor. Do not miss this in-person event that promises to be an experience to remember! Tickets are by donation - pay what you can! ($25 is the suggested amount.)
Reserve your tickets here! (Please note you can only reserve one ticket at a time.)
Special Thanks to our generous sponsors!
Wednesday, August 6 - First Memorial Art Sculpture Unveiling
"Touch" by Matthew Mitchell
5:30-7 PM
More information to come soon.
Sunday September 21 - Fall Equinox Bag Pipe Stroll or Sit with Cider and Savories
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Come and toast to the fall, to the living and to those who have passed. Follow the bagpiper around a loop in the cemetery or stay and socialize in the garden (or inside if it is raining). Cider and savories provided. Free, but donations gladly accepted! RSVP if you can, but if not, just come! RAIN OR SHINE
RSVP IF YOU CAN - https://forms.gle/9VoCjfFd9nTe18C9A
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Come and toast to the fall, to the living and to those who have passed. Follow the bagpiper around a loop in the cemetery or stay and socialize in the garden (or inside if it is raining). Cider and savories provided. Free, but donations gladly accepted! RSVP if you can, but if not, just come! RAIN OR SHINE
RSVP IF YOU CAN - https://forms.gle/9VoCjfFd9nTe18C9A
October 19 - Death Cafe - With Tea and Cake 4 - 5:15 PM
Tea and cake provided. RSVP - Event is capped at 15. The group will drink, eat and discuss death and dying. The goal is to increase awareness of death and to help people make the most of their finite lives. No agenda, no advertising, no set conclusions. Free, but donations are gladly accepted.
Each person must register separately.
If the cafe is closed and you would like to be put on a waiting list please contact Rebecca at [email protected].
Group will be facilitated by Reann LeBlanc
Raeann Genevieve LeBlanc holds a PhD in nursing and a DNP in public leadership and is certified as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse. Raeann has served as the Seedworks Endowed Associate Clinical Professor of Social Justice in Nursing from 2019-2023 and teaches in the graduate and undergraduate programs. Raeann is a member of several community organizations that seek to address care needs of persons with chronic conditions and serious illness. Raeann is an advocate of improving end-of-life and death care and is a certified Companion Animal End of Life Doula, Principle Investigator for Doula Pride and is a frequent facilitator of the Death Cafés for students and communities. They work in community and with community in seeking to achieve health equity and inclusive and interdisciplinary care across the life and death span.
MUST RSVP - https://forms.gle/4HXcjRYWZLr3s2rY6
Tea and cake provided. RSVP - Event is capped at 15. The group will drink, eat and discuss death and dying. The goal is to increase awareness of death and to help people make the most of their finite lives. No agenda, no advertising, no set conclusions. Free, but donations are gladly accepted.
Each person must register separately.
If the cafe is closed and you would like to be put on a waiting list please contact Rebecca at [email protected].
Group will be facilitated by Reann LeBlanc
Raeann Genevieve LeBlanc holds a PhD in nursing and a DNP in public leadership and is certified as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse. Raeann has served as the Seedworks Endowed Associate Clinical Professor of Social Justice in Nursing from 2019-2023 and teaches in the graduate and undergraduate programs. Raeann is a member of several community organizations that seek to address care needs of persons with chronic conditions and serious illness. Raeann is an advocate of improving end-of-life and death care and is a certified Companion Animal End of Life Doula, Principle Investigator for Doula Pride and is a frequent facilitator of the Death Cafés for students and communities. They work in community and with community in seeking to achieve health equity and inclusive and interdisciplinary care across the life and death span.
MUST RSVP - https://forms.gle/4HXcjRYWZLr3s2rY6
Sunday November 2 - Wildwood Honors - Ray Stannard Baker's Secret Identity - Nick Grabbe
Light Refreshments 4:00 - 5:00 PM (MUST RSVP - 30 Seats)
When a muckraking journalist moved to Amherst in 1910, he brought with him a secret identity. He wrote a series of very popular books under the pseudonym David Grayson, and for 10 years the true author's identity was the publishing world's biggest secret. He died in Amherst in 1946 and is buried in Wildwood Cemetery.
Nick Grabbe was a newspaper editor and reporter in Amherst for 32 years, and has lived near Wildwood Cemetery for 41 years. He has researched Ray Stannard Baker at the Jones Library and has given talks and written an article in the Boston Globe about him. He is the co-founder of the Amherst Current blog.
MUST RSVP - https://forms.gle/QcYKMoXVybu6vZ3E7
Light Refreshments 4:00 - 5:00 PM (MUST RSVP - 30 Seats)
When a muckraking journalist moved to Amherst in 1910, he brought with him a secret identity. He wrote a series of very popular books under the pseudonym David Grayson, and for 10 years the true author's identity was the publishing world's biggest secret. He died in Amherst in 1946 and is buried in Wildwood Cemetery.
Nick Grabbe was a newspaper editor and reporter in Amherst for 32 years, and has lived near Wildwood Cemetery for 41 years. He has researched Ray Stannard Baker at the Jones Library and has given talks and written an article in the Boston Globe about him. He is the co-founder of the Amherst Current blog.
MUST RSVP - https://forms.gle/QcYKMoXVybu6vZ3E7
Sunday December 21 - Winter Solstice Candle Light Stroll or sit
with Hot Chocolate and Cookies 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Come and toast to the winter, to the living and to those who have passed. Walk a loop (with candles) in the cemetery or stay and socialize in the Farmhouse. Hot chocolate and cookies provided. Free, but donations gladly accepted! RSVP if you can, but if not, just come! RAIN, SNOW OR SHINE
RSVP IF YOU CAN - https://forms.gle/SoPxhUFB7rLGnGyA6
with Hot Chocolate and Cookies 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Come and toast to the winter, to the living and to those who have passed. Walk a loop (with candles) in the cemetery or stay and socialize in the Farmhouse. Hot chocolate and cookies provided. Free, but donations gladly accepted! RSVP if you can, but if not, just come! RAIN, SNOW OR SHINE
RSVP IF YOU CAN - https://forms.gle/SoPxhUFB7rLGnGyA6