Last Updated on 1 week ago by Vijay Kumar
Mary Ann Wilson, the cherished host and creator of the acclaimed PBS exercise series Sit and Be Fit, passed away on November 5, 2025, at the age of 87. According to her daughter, Gretchen Cowan, Wilson died at home Wednesday morning.
Born on May 15, 1938, in the United States, Mary Ann Wilson began her professional career as a registered nurse. During her nursing practice, she witnessed how lack of physical activity affected her elderly patients’ health and independence. Motivated to make a difference, she combined her medical knowledge with her passion for fitness. In 1987, she launched Sit and Be Fit, a public television series produced in Spokane, Washington. The program became one of PBS’s longest-running health and fitness shows, airing in hundreds of markets across the U.S. and internationally.
Through Sit and Be Fit, Wilson brought gentle, chair-based exercises into homes worldwide, earning recognition for promoting safe movement for older adults. Her work received numerous awards and endorsements from medical and senior health organizations, including praise from the National Council on Aging. Beyond television, she also wrote fitness books, developed wellness DVDs, and trained instructors to expand her mission of accessible exercise.
Mary Ann Wilson is survived by her daughter, Gretchen Cowan, who co-produced Sit and Be Fit and continues her mother’s mission of advocating for senior fitness and well-being. Wilson’s legacy as a nurse, educator, and advocate for healthy aging will continue to inspire millions around the world who benefited from her kind, steady encouragement to “keep moving.”
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
