This year's festival is dedicated to the memory of Vinson Dover, Tony and Ann Ianuario

Vinson Dover "...he had a special place in his heart for bluegrass music, for it lifted his spirit."

George Vinson Dover of Dahlonega, who died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 at age 80, was a longtime and dedicated fan of bluegrass music, and he and his family have been benefactors of traditional music programs, including the Georgia Pick and Bow Traditional Music School, a local foundation which furthers the study of bluegrass and traditional music by Lumpkin County students. The Georgia Pick and Bow program also has the financial support of the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, Inc.

Vinson's love of his home area, his country and the music of this region were illustrated in the following excerpts from The Dahlonega Nugget article which reported his death:

"Vinson was a native North Georgian, born in a small home in the Gab Creek area of western Lumpkin County. His ancestors settled North Georgia from the Carolinas into an area above Amicalola Falls they named "Buncombe"...

"He served his country from the front lines of the Korean conflict. In 1961 he opened a real estate brokerage in Dahlonega which still operates today in care of his son; the personal relationships developed were his real reward. He was proud of Dahlonega and its heritage and enjoyed being out in the community and meeting people."

The article continued, "The things he loved were the laughter of children, the breadth of a Montana sky and the smell of sagebrush, the writings and history of the early American explorers, the silhouette of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the camaraderie of his fellow citizens. He was always proud to be an American, and he had a special place in his heart for bluegrass music, for it lifted his spirit.

"In his office for years hung a photograph of a cascading North Georgia waterfall with a caption he placed there: 'Let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.'"

Tony and Ann Ianuario - A light literally went out in North Georgia Friday when Tony and Ann Ianuario were taken from us in a serious car accident near Homer, Ga.

Tony and Ann were the most wonderful people a lot of us will ever meet. Ann was a master gardener living with the love of her life in their 108 year old historic home in Jefferson, Ga. Her gardens were a reflection of the beauty inside Ann and were surrounded by a picket fence that Tony built by hand, with each picket including a cut out of a musical instrument. Ann was an avid reader and had been actively pursuing her dream to become a writer, delving extensively into her own genealogical history. She also enjoyed story telling and had shared momentous experiences with friends, family, and children throughout the schools of North Georgia. Tony was a luthier who made a living by giving musicians all over the world the tools they needed to make music. Both were musicians, parents, lovers, son, daughter, grandparents, members of St. Anthony’s Episcopal Church in Winder, and dear, dear friends of so many people. Their relationship inspired us all, and they lived their lives to the fullest.

Tony and Ann loved children, and found a place in many children’s hearts when they transformed into Father and Mrs. Christmas each year. Tony, as Father Christmas, emminated a special magic that could only be enhanced by the presence of his loving Ann by his side. Ann stitched each garment they both wore herself. Through them, the entire community of Dahlonega has been touched by the true magic of Christmas, and will forever be a better place because of their love for our community.

Tony and Ann were instrumental in the founding and continuation of Bear on the Square festival, and as Glenda Pender said, “They had such a special presence at Bear on the Square, this is just an enormous loss.” Tony’s history includes a tour in Vietnam as a medivac helicopter pilot, where he risked his life to save others. Today, he has a mandolin in the Smithsonian Art Museum in Washington, D.C. He was a Eucharistic Minister for his church and brightened the lives of many people who were home bound and in hospitals and nursing homes.

As a couple, they lightened all of our hearts whenever they appeared. Whether at a pickin’ party, festival, Christmas event, church social, or just spending time with their friends, their collective spirit left permanent footprints on all of the lives they touched. They will remain forever in our hearts.      Jenni Jackson  and  Amy Strickland