Long-Running PBS Show ‘Sit and Be Fit’ Founder Mary Ann Wilson Passes

Mary Ann Wilson, the creator and host of the long-running public television series Sit and Be Fit, has died. She was 87.

KSPS PBS in Spokane announced her passing on Wednesday.

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Wilson, a registered nurse, spent more than three decades partnering with KSPS to produce her gentle, chair-based exercise program — one that reached millions of viewers across the U.S. and Canada.

Sit and Be Fit debuted from the Spokane studios in 1987 and grew into a nationally distributed series, with more than 400 episodes airing on hundreds of PBS stations. It became a trusted resource for older adults and anyone looking for safe, accessible exercise.

KSPS is encouraging fans to honor her legacy by sharing memories online and continuing to support inclusive programming.

Mary Ann Wilson — nurse, educator, and television pioneer — was 87.