Laura Mae Knott-Twine – The Heights Resident Spotlight
Laura Mae Knott-Twine is a remarkable woman and yet another fascinating person who makes life at Avery Heights a delight. Residing in one of the adorable cottages, one can see upon entering her home where magic awaits. Within, one experiences some of the finest handwoven fabrics, most of them hand-crafted by her nimble hands. The colors, the designs, and the intricacy of her artistic work are simply astounding. It is no wonder she excelled in this chosen craft. Laura is an entrepreneur who turned her every interest into a business or employment. Over the years, she owned and operated a Weaving Studio selling her works, teaching handweaving, spinning and sold textile equipment. She also founded, designed, and was Executive Director of the Windham Textile and History Museum, Inc.
In October 2023, Laura moved into a cottage at Avery Heights, a community that provides her with many friends and interesting activities such as lectures, games, delicious dinners in the restaurant, a movie theater and store, musical performances, gardening in a beautiful neighborhood setting, a theater group, off-site trips, and more.
She serves on several committees: Senior Seminars, the Avery Heights Independent Living Programs Committee, and as a volunteer at the in-house Avery Heights Library as computer support. Laura often shares her appreciation of the caring, professional staff and wonderful services that she has received since her arrival.
Laura, the daughter of Herman and Evelyn Knott, was born in 1946 in Hartford. In 1973, she married her beloved Richard Twine, who passed away in 2006. She gets the most endearing smile on her face as she speaks of Richard and their deep love for one another. His legacy will live forever in her heart and in those whose lives he dearly touched. Their children, his boy and girl, Neil and Fiona, and her boy and girl, Edward and Susan, made up their family.
Laura has three grown grandchildren: Nathan, Hana, and Lydia. After her children grew up, at 50, she bravely went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1996. She then acquired a Master’s degree in 1998 from Norwich University in VT. For 17 Semesters, she was an Institutional Sociologist Professor in Social Sciences, American History, Business, and Organizational Management at Union Institute & University in Vermont. Laura’s other interests took her down many interesting paths: Field Executive and Parliamentarian for CT Trails Council of Girls Scouts; Founding Director of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Women’s Business Ownership at the University of Hartford; Executive Director of the Hartford Preservation Alliance; Preservationist and Project Manager in the restoration of a historic 1860 Textile Mill in Vernon, CT. She retired in July of 2017 at 71. Laura remains forever grateful for these blessings and
experiences.