Stonington -- Behri Pratt Knauth, 82, of Stonington, CT, died peacefully at Fairview Manor on Aug. 19, 2004.
She was born in New York City, Nov. 10, 1921, the daughter of Richard Pratt and Marjorie Marsh.
She graduated from Julia Richmond High School in 1939, where she excelled in the arts. She went on to study art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Art Students League. After working as a first-piece inspector at Sperry Gyroscope in 1943, she began a career in magazine design with Seventeen, Junior Bazaar, Engineering News Record, and LIFE Magazine. It was there that she met her husband, Percy. In the coming years she kept busy doing freelance work while raising a family in New York City. In 1966 the family moved to Paris, where Percy served as Foreign Editor for Time-Life. It was during this time that she learned French cuisine and studied under Simone Beck. In 1970 the family moved to Stonington, where Behri continued to explore her passion for cooking, teaching, and for a time, running the Club 145 restaurant in Stonington. In 1975, she joined the staff at Mystic Seaport Museum and returned to publication design, retiring in 1980. Throughout her life she shared her passion for music and the arts with all around her.
She was predeceased by her husband, Percy, in 1995 and her brother, Timothy Ashe.
She is survived by her sons, Timothy P. Knauth of Stonington and Geoffrey S. Knauth of Williamsport, PA; her daughter, Elisabeth A. Knauth of Mystic; four stepsons, Peter G. Knauth of Kilmarnock, VA, Philip W. Knauth of Hong Kong, Alan R. Knauth of Münster, Germany, and Steven A. Knauth of Ivoryton, CT; her brother, Thane Ashe; her sister, Maedra Kellam, of Louisiana; and three grandchildren, Mary Wright of Mystic, CT, and Alexander D. Knauth and William W. Knauth of Williamsport, PA.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Visiting Nurses of Southeastern Connecticut, 403 North Frontage Road, Waterford, CT 06385-4349.
Mystic Funeral Home, Route 1, Mystic is in charge of arrangements.