So Long, George

I got some sad news today from a fellow undergrad theater major. Our beloved director, George, passed away during brain surgery earlier this week. He was only 11 days shy of his 80th birthday.

George had more energy in his late 60s/early 70s than a lot of the college students who passed across his stages. His creativity was boundless, and despite having been around the block more than a few times, he always made us feel as though we were the most clever and innovative students he ever had. He was the kind of professor who, if you saw him in the campus grill or walking across the quad, you were always eager to call over for a burger or a chat. He never failed to entertain us with his stories of shooting films in New York on the fly, taking acting classes with a young woman named Norma Jeane, or traveling the country as Hamlet when he was in his teens. We were all proud that "the old guy" was our friend.

George was my favorite theater prof, my best director, and also my introduction to real film studies. It was because of the foundation he provided me with that I went on to get a second degree in film/media/culture, and eventually went to graduate school for the entertainment industry. And even though his mind started to fail him even while he was still my advisor at school, I always remember him fondly for his interest and encouragement.

He will be deeply missed.