New London - Louise Neistat, a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette who turned her dancing into a lifetime of teaching tap and raising money for cancer research, died Tuesday at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.

Neistat, who was 92, was taken ill Sunday morning at her home. She had planned on going to New York Sunday to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and had been invited to appear on The Rosie Show, according to her family.

"What a run she had,'' said her daughter, Margo Neistat, who helped her mother with dance lessons in the attic of the house they shared in New London. "She went peacefully. She never wanted to be in a nursing home. She certainly went the way she wanted."

"Everyone agreed it was a blessing ... she didn't suffer,'' said her son, Barry Neistat. "She was never sick a day in her life and never needed anything in 92 years."

Barry Neistat, who owns Muddy Waters coffee shop on Bank Street, said his mother was in for lunch on Saturday. She had been planning to fly to Chicago with her grandson, Casey Neistat, a filmmaker in New York City, who had recently completed a video of his dancing "Nana.'' The Oprah Winfrey Network saw the video and invited Neistat and her grandson to The Rosie Show.

In 1942, Neistat was a 19-year-old dancer working in the gloves department at Macy's department store in New York when she landed a job with the Rockettes. She traveled around the country for a year with a USO show performing for U.S. troops. The group was called to travel overseas, but Neistat gave up her spot after her mother begged her not to go. She married, had two children and moved to New London in 1950, where she soon opened her dance studio.

When the Rockettes were at Sonalysts studios in Waterford in 2008, they invited Neistat to a closed rehearsal. Wearing her signature "5-6-7-8" earrings and brooch, Neistat also brought along her tap shoes, just in case she was asked to dance.

She taught thousands of children over the years and every spring presented about 70 of her students in a show, raising about $100,000 over the years to support cancer research and services.

About 14 years ago, Neistat began teaching tap to a group of breast cancer survivors who wanted to perform at a biannual breast cancer survivor fashion show.

"She was a wonderful woman, patient, fun to be with, and had a lot of energy,'' said Marcie Brensilver, a member of the Pink Ribbon Tappers.

Neistat refused to accept any money from the women, who still take lessons. She also featured them in her annual show at the Garde Arts Center.

"We will miss her terribly,'' Brensilver said.

Many students remained close, and Neistat was invited to bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, christenings and weddings, her son said.

Erica Benvenuti and Angela Bartelli, 38-year-old twins who had been taking lessons from Neistat for about 10 years, considered the former Rockette a friend.

"Louise taught old-school Broadway and used only music from 1940s and earlier,'' said Benvenuti. "And the songs were all on 45s.''

Following Tuesday adult dance classes, Neistat would serve wine and cheese and socialize with her students.

"She was like one of my best friends,'' Benvenuti said. "I liked spending time with her as much as any other friend I have."

Barry Neistat said his mother loved her life.

"And her life was dancing," he said. "She never wanted to go to Florida. She thought that's where you go to retire and die. Snowstorms never stopped her. She drove anywhere in any weather."

Margo Neistat said she would continue her mother's school, and next June's show would go on. It will be dedicated to her mother, she said.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Congregation Beth El in New London.

k.edgecomb@theday.com