Dancing With the Stars professional dancers and brothers Maksim and Val Chmerkovskiy each took to Instagram on Sunday (April 20) to mourn the loss of Elaine Wynn, whom Dancing With the Stars fans may not know was a huge supporter of the arts and specifically of Maks and Val's artistic pursuits.
"RIP to a generous, brilliant woman whose love for ballroom dance (and my brother) gave me and so many of my friends life-changing opportunities and memories. I will always cherish those times and your tremendous generosity," wrote Val Chmerkovskiy on his Instagram story over the top of a photo of her obituary post.
Maks posted a video remembering Elaine, writing in the caption, "RIP dear Elaine.
You were truly one of a kind. Thank you for everything and I hope you’re dancing up there."
In the video, Maks goes on to explain how way back during season two of the show, Wynn was watching the show because her friend George Hamilton was one of the contestants. She saw the segment on Maks' studio in New Jersey and all of the children he was teaching ballroom dancing to, and she reached out to see if he and his students would perform at a cancer research foundation fundraiser.
That led to more and more collaborations between the two of them, including when Maks was hired to choreograph for Le Rêve, the water-based show at Wynn Las Vegas resort and casino.
"Elaine Wynn was one of the best humans that I have met. She was an incredible lady. She has done amazing things for Las Vegas," said Maks in the video, adding, "There are a few people that no matter how close or not you are, they've changed the direction of your life…she gave me a chance and I will never forget it…if she can hear me say 'thank you,' thank you for what I now realize as I'm speaking…she was one of the best people that I've met in my life. She was one of the few who gave me a massive chance and I hope I made her proud. I hope when we meet again, and we will, I hope I give her a big hug, and I hope I get to thank her in person. But for now, rest in peace, Elaine. You were one of the few, and you were a very, very special person.
Elaine Wynn was married twice to casino magnate Steve Wynn; the first marriage was from 1963 to 1986 and the second was from 1991 to 2010. They shared two daughters, Kevyn and Gillian.
Elaine was known as a generous philanthropist and supporter of the arts. In 2011, President Obama appointed her to the board of trustees for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., and she also served as the co-chair for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
She died on April 14 at the age of 82 at her home in Los Angeles.
