Iovanna

m.perrino · Post by **m.perrino** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 12:48 pm

T-W reporting that Iovanna has passed away. No other details made available.

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 12:58 pm

Sorry to hear of her passing. Thanks for letting us know. Apparently, she had a very tough life.

David

DRN · Post by **DRN** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 1:56 pm

Indeed.
A picture of Iovanna I hadn't seen before:

http://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-p ... o/50664465

The picture of Wright scrolled immediately beneath is one I hadn't seen either.

SpringGreen · Post by **SpringGreen** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:45 pm

I hope she passed well, and that her daughter is doing well.

That's a wonderful photo of Iovanna, DRN. I just saw the photograph below it (of FLW laughing) last week I think, & that's a real delight.

Paul Ringstrom · Post by **Paul Ringstrom** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 6:48 pm

What building is Iovanna standing in?

Reidy · Post by **Reidy** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:41 pm

Could it be the temporary house he built on the Guggenheim site? The Chinese carving on the right looks like the ones that show up in exterior photos.

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:48 pm

It's not the 1953 Usonian Exhibition House. There was no stairway in that house..... and it had a brick fireplace.

David

DRN · Post by **DRN** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 9:14 pm

The photo of Iovanna was taken in a two story Erdman Prefab.

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Sat Sep 12, 2015 1:53 pm

It's the McBean House in Rochester, MN.

Patryko · Post by **Patryko** » Sat Sep 12, 2015 5:53 pm

We were at Taliesin West today and informed Iovanna passed away in a California nursing facility. May she rest in peace.

RonMcCrea · Post by **RonMcCrea** » Sun Sep 13, 2015 8:09 am

I heard stories about Iovanna just yesterday at lunch with Barbara Fritz Dresser, now 90, the daughter of Herbert Fritz Sr. and widow of Taliesin architect James Dresser. Barbara is a vibrant nonagenarian, red-haired and sharp, and was in her element when she spoke at a program yesterday morning at the Dresser-designed Lake Geneva Public Library dedicating a newly refurbished meeting room. (I was the main speaker, on my book, and I showed photos of both Herbert Sr. and Alfred Larson, Barbara's grandfather, who was an original stonemason for Taliesin I.)

Barbara was Iovanna's only approved playmate when they were children, and she remembered her fondly as a spirited and adventurous little girl who was quite fearless. They rode horseback together when they were 10, but they were forbidden to ride across the Wisconsin River with its treacherous currents. Iovanna plunged in anyway one day and they made it across. On the way back, however, Barbara's saddle became loose and she nearly was swept into the river. A Taliesin apprentice (a cellist, she remembers), found them and led them back. On another occasion Iovanna led them on horseback up a hill and into a giant cave. There were also dress-up games and puzzles.

Her memories of her playmate were very sweet, but she knew yesterday that Iovanna was failing. I will call her when the news is confirmed.

EJ · Post by EJ » Mon Sep 14, 2015 1:04 pm

What's the story with Iovanna's daughter? I haven't heard much about her other than she was estranged from her mother?

Could someone in the know fill me in?

Thank you!

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 8:15 am

Frank Lloyd Wright's daughter dies

David

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 5:09 pm

The Fellowship book made her out to be mentally erratic. Wasn't she institutionalized much of her life? Could not have been easy growing up in the Fellowship fish-bowl.

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 8:31 am

"The Fellowship" is a mine field. You have to be careful what you believe. Keep in mind that it was published by the same woman who gave us O. J.'s "If I Did It."