populating an associative array from an sql return stryct

Trying to move data from mysql over to a structure.

$data['email'] = $row->email;
$data['year'] = $row->year;

But when I look at $data, the fields are null even though the $row is populated. What is wrong with this? I need to get the data into an associative array. 

proof that an old dog can learn new tricks