Puppeteer, philanthropist and Muppet co-creator Jane Nebel Henson passed away yesterday at the age of 78 after a long battle with cancer.

Nebel Henson met her future husband Jim Henson in a puppetry class at the University of Maryland and soon after became an integral creative and business partner in what would later become the world-famous Muppets.

Throughout her life she continued her official association with The Jim Henson Company and actively participated in the company as it grew into a global family entertainment organization, collaborating with Jim Henson on a number of projects that included the traveling museum exhibit The Art of The Muppets, and The Muppet Show on Tour and Sesame Street Live arena stage shows.  She also served on the board of The Jim Henson Foundation, founded in 1982 by Jim Henson to promote and develop the art of puppetry and presently headed by their daughter Cheryl Henson.

In 1992, Mrs. Henson funded and founded The Jim Henson Legacy as an effort to conserve, preserve and present the artistic contribution of Jim Henson.  In 2001, Mrs. Henson created the Jane Henson Foundation, where she continued her philanthropic work.