As I moved to NYC, our friendship grew. He would travel almost yearly to New York, and we would have a good visit. He would spend the week seeing Broadway shows. He often traveled around the country to see me perform wherever I was. The biggest trip was to Lisbon, Portugal. I was performing there, and after seeing my show, he toured the country.

As it came time for him to move back to the northeast, I helped move him back to Massachusetts. For over 30 years, we remained friends. My last trip to visit him, we went to the local Barnes & Noble, bought him some books and relived fond memories of the past.

Godspeed, Doc. You helped influence and encourage me all through my life. You will always be remembered.

"Doc", as he was known by all the students and community in Farmington, Missouri, was a beloved professor and mentor to many. He was kind, supportive, and gave many people encouragement who had never recieved encouragement before. People have told me he was like a 'beloved uncle' to them. Some say that he changed their lives with the advice and support that he gave them.

The former students and community members are having their own memorial of him on Friday, the 23rd.

The Mac Theater Department has a community page on Facebook, and when I posted of Doc's passing, these are some of the responses:

"May he rest in peace and be able to direct the angels in the sky" - Susie Sippel

"It was truly an honor to know and work with him" - Rhianna Jenkerson Garber

"He was like an uncle to me" - Stephen Jones

"Love you, Doc. And thank you" - Kimberly Gavin Anderson

"Doc was not only an excellent teacher and director, but a great friend and counselor. His care for his students went well beyond the classroom and he made a huge impact on so many of our lives." - Duane Priest

"He made all of us think and create...will never forget." - Scott Haggerty

"he brought so much joy and laughter to those who were blessed with knowing him and working with him." -Arlene Martin Jones

"Thanks for showing me that there was a whole world out there that I didn't know existed and for teaching me to dream big!!!" - Michele Rion Rickman

"The man made a profound impact on me. So much of my life and the lives of others would have turned out so differently had we never met him." - Terry Skinner

"He was a member of our extended family. He loved my parents and they loved him. I have so many happy memories of Doc; not just with a MAC Theatre but with my parents and children at our family celebrations." - Tina Kile

"What a difference he made in our lives. I have such wonderful memories of working with him, and his gift of friendship." - Ree Rogers

"Thank you for all of the memories and allowing me a momentary place on the stage of the production that was your life." - Joe Black

"He always told me the world was our stage. Now the stage is yours DOC! Directing the largest show of his career! RIP Doc, we all love you and will miss you and all your little sayings." - Eric Mecey

"Doc, of course, is now on a much larger stage fitting for his personality and talents. He always hit his cue!" - Janet Douglas

"Thank you Doc, for showing me the love of acting and theatre life. You were a loving man. I came into your life when I was 9 and my brother was 17. I couldn't stop talking about the nice man with the funny accent who smiled all the time. I was so lucky to have learned under your direction and professorship for so many years. You are a legend Doc" - Cyndy Foot-Ruhmann

These are just a sample. There were many more. The impact Doc had on so many people in Missouri cannot be measured. 

We send up love to him and his family. Thank you, Doc, for all that you were.