Heart of the Arts Memorial Roll Call

“Good evening! I’m Barb Van Atta, editor of your blog, Broome Arts Mirror. In the midst of celebrating luminaries of our vibrant arts community, let’s pause to remember some of the lights that have been extinguished since the last Heart of the Arts Celebration.
Before I begin, a special thank you to Kari Bayait and Rene Neville of Binghamton University, John Rozzoni of Tri-Cities Opera, Guido LeBron, Tony Villecco and, most of all, Chris Kocher of the Press &-Sun-Bulletin, who provided the photos that Greg Keeler graciously assembled for me here.
In alphabetical order, we remember:
Jane Stuart Andrus: educator, literacy advocate and co-founder of RiverRead Books.
Robert Boettger: longtime member of community music ensembles such as the Kirby Band, the Maine Community Band and the Vestal Community Band
Carol Ann Brunelli: fabric artist and matriarch of an artistic family
David Buttolph: Binghamton University faculty member and founder of the Harpur Chorale, the University Chorus and BU’s Elizabethan Madrigal Feast
Jim Chvatal: pipe organist and church musician
George Corino: founder and director of Opera Cabaret of Endicott
Leona Curatolo Davison: mezzo soprano and one of the founding singers of Tri-Cities Opera
Robert Eckert: Broadway investor and strong supporter of the Endicott Performing Arts Center
Rick Fabrizi: drum teacher and performer
Linda Giese: former BU costume designer and managing director of Starry Night Puppet Theater
Floyd Herzog: producer and director of Binghamton University’s Anderson Center
John Klehr: accomplished musician on banjo, guitar, dulcimers and other stringed instruments
Susan J. Peters: Binghamton University faculty member and musical director for the BU theater department and for the Cider Mill Playhouse
Cecil Popolo: painter, teacher and art curator
Laura Pratt: cellist with the Binghamton Community Orchestra
Ted Ronsvalle: Community Orchestra bassist and director of the Kirby Band for 25 years
Harold W. “Butch” Skeene: smooth-voiced vocalist with popular local bands
Duane Skrabalak: vocal coach, Operalogue host and longtime conductor, chorus master and artistic director of Tri-Cities Opera
Loretta Tolleson: wardrobe seamstress for the Theatrical Stage Employees Union Local 54
Richard Warner: a member of the BU Theater Department staff and one of the
familiar “faces” of the box office at the Cider Mill Playhouse
Dianne Lynne (Hodack) Zeigler: artist and frequent contributor to the Rude and Bold Women art shows
Angelo Zuccolo: actor, stage director, published poet and professor emeritus of theater at SUNY Broome
Please join me in a moment of silence.
(Chime)
(As chime fades away). Thank you.
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