Jane Henson passed away Tuesday at 78, and we at Nerdist send our condolences to the Henson family and all of our friends at The Jim Henson Company.

Jane, wife of the late Jim Henson, was a creative and business partner in the Muppet business from their meeting at the University of Maryland through designing and performing on the proto-Muppet Sam and Friends show at WRC-TV in Washington, and she remained involved with the company and the Jim Henson Foundation for many years, although she left the performing to others, for the most part, while raising the kids.

Donations are being taken in her memory at the Center for Puppetry Arts, The Jim Henson Foundation, and The Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theater Center.