Their pens and their voices are at rest.
But remain as a beacon for those who follow.
Rosalind Cramer
Rosalind Cramer was Professor Emeritus of Theatre Arts at Daemen College in Buffalo, NY, where she taught for 36 years. She was co-founder and former Artistic Director of Buffalo's award-winning Theatre of Youth (TOY) Company, now in its 47th year. Roz, as she was known to her friends, helped found The Charles Street Playhouse in Boston, Massachusetts, together with her friend and colleague, Olympia Dukakis.
Roz received her BFA degree in Theatre from Boston University and an MA in Speech and Theatre Arts from Columbia University. She acted and directed at theatres throughout New York and performed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Barrington Stage Company in Massachusetts, as well as at Asolo Rep, The Backlot, Theatre Odyssey and the Players' Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.
Roz was a passionate advocate for theatre as a humanizing influence and change agent for children and adults. During her long career, she directed or performed in more than 250 productions and, in her later years, focused on writing plays.
A vital and talented artist, Roz died of cancer on April 7, 2017.
Helen Knyvett Pell (née Durgin)
Helen Knyvett Pell (née Durgin) was born in Scarsdale, New York on September 5, 1936 and died in Sarasota, Florida on November 4, 2017 with the love of her life, Dick Pell, by her side.
As a suburban housewife and mother, she was politically and philanthropically active. Helen fell in love with theatre in the sleepy bedroom town of Amityville, New York in the late 1960's, when she was drawn into Amityville Community Theatre by another local actor, Brian Dennehy. Her passion for theatre led a friend to connect Helen with a fellow thespian, Richard Pell, with whom she immediately fell in love and embarked upon the adventure of her life.
Helen and Dick traveled extensively, often on their sailboat, Comfy, and made friends wherever they went. She loved to entertain and frequently hosted dinner parties, at times as fundraisers for favorite charities, in her adopted hometown of Sarasota, Florida.
Helen was a fun and engaging mother, a hard worker and a voracious reader. She inherited her mother's delicious British wit, wielding puns and saucy double entendres with a skilled delivery, even in her last years, leaving behind delightful memories. As she declined into memory loss, she often said, with a wry grin, "of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."
Verna Safran
Verna Safran, who passed away on November 5, 2017, taught English and History in middle-school and high-school. She also worked as a freelance journalist, writing articles on health, civil liberties and women's issues, which have been published in national magazines. She served on the board of the Sarasota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and was active in the Unitarian/Universalist Church of Sarasota.
Verna was also an actress, director and playwright with the Asolo Play Readers. She wrote three musical shows for children, which were professionally produced - The Prince and the Pauper, Hiawatha and The Legend of Paul Bunyan. She also had stories and poems published in Highlights, Ladybug and The Readers Digest Educational Series. Her most recently published children's book was Justin and the First Amendment.
Dick Pell
Dick Pell, died on October 15, 2018, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, surrounded by family. Born on February 5, 1934 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dick grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from the Choate School and Cornell University, where he studied electrical engineering. During the course of his life, he travelled across six continents with his razor sharp mind always fully engaged.
Dick's business activities were diverse and successful, with a major focus in the telecommunications industry and he had been awarded several patents.
Dick was a sailor and, together with his wife, Helen, lived aboard their sailboat a great deal of time. In the early 1990s, what was planned as an overnight mooring for them in Sarasota harbor, turned into a house purchase and more then twenty-year love affair with all of the natural beauty and cultural richness that their new favorite city had to offer.
Dick and Helen had both been very active in local theatre productions in the 1960s and those interests were rekindled in Sarasota. Between attending many hundreds of theatrical productions and concerts and constantly performing on stage at numerous venues, Dick took advantage of everything Sarasota had to offer. He and Helen were passionate about enriching the lives of local children, supporting programs that exposed them to live theatre performances and planting the seeds for the arts to be sustained for generations to come.
Those who knew Dick remember a vital man, whose typical daily schedule was never mundane. He vigorously pursued whatever was on his daily calendar with unbridled enthusiasm. When offered any opportunity to perform, Dick lived by one credo - never say no.
Katherine Kerr
"E. Katherine Kerr, a stage and screen actress and playwright who won strong reviews for her Off Broadway work and an Obie Award in 1982 for her performance in Caryl Churchill's 'Cloud 9, died on July 1 in Sarasota, Fla. She was 82."
(the previous language is a direct quote from The New York Times obit on July 16, 2019.)
Katherine had been a member of SAPS for almost two years at the time of her death. Her quiet demeanor and apparent reluctance to talk about
her illustrious career marked the personality of this talented artist. She had a smile for everyone
and was willing at all times to participate in readings, no matter how small the role.
Quoting from the obit in the New York Times:
"Ms. Kerr was probably best known for her roles in star-studded films like Mike Nichols 'Silkwood' (1983), a drama about a nuclear plant whistle-blower, in which she acted alongside Meryl Streep and Cher, and the crime drama 'Suspect' (1987) with Cher and Dennis Quaid. "The bulk of her career, though, was on stage. In 'Cloud 9,' a two-act satire...she played three characters. The performance brought her a Drama Desk nomination as well as the Obie.
"Ms. Kerr received another Drama Desk nomination for her Off Broadway performance in 1987 in the lead female role of Christopher Durang's comedy 'Laughing Wild' at Playwrights Horizons.
"In his review in the New York Times, Frank Rich called Ms. Kerr 'a chic and mesmerizing figure' and noted that Mr. Durang, who also starred in the production, had written the role expressly for her."
Sylvia Kolker
Sylvia Kolker, who joined SAPS shortly after its formation, died in Sarasota in July, 2019 at the age of ninety-two. She is survived by two children, her son, Barry Timmerman, and her daughter, Bettina Kolker.
In addition to being an accomplished actor, Sylvia possessed a broad array of interests, which included sports, social work, family therapy and as a volunteer for the American Red Cross.
Sylvia developed an early interest in sailing and engaged in many world-class ocean-going bare bones races. She was an active equestrian, participating in horse shows in the Hunter/Jumper class. For several years, she ran a riding academy in Dallas, Texas.
She obtained her undergraduate degree at Tampa University and years later, she obtained her masters degree in social work and family therapy at Boston University.
She volunteered as a therapist at a number of national disasters under the auspices of the Red Cross, the last of which was Hurricane Katrina.
Her great love was the stage. Sylvia was a member of the acting company of the Arlington Friends of the Drama, Arlington, Massachusetts, one of the longest running community theatres in the country.
David Ohlson
Long time Sarasota Area Playwright Society member passed away November 1, 2021 at age 84. A native of Connecticut, David moved to Sarasota, Florida in 1999.
David was a playwright and Actor. He appeared in 16 theater productions and wrote numerous plays, one of them was in the Theatre Odyssey Festival in 2010.
David was known as a gentleman and friend to all. He will be missed by friends and colleagues.
Louise Mallory Stinespring
Louise Mallory Stinespring, actress, director, dramaturg and professor passed away on November 4, 2021. A thespian from age 7 brought joy to thousands. Born and
raised in New York City, Louise earned an MA in theater from Columbia University. At Texas Tech University Louise earned a Ph.D. in Fine Arts.
In 2007 she brought all her talent to Sarasota, Florida making countless contributions to the theater community.
Louise leaves her husband John (also a SAPS member), a daughter, a sister and brother, plus two grandchildren.
Coincidentally, she had her play, “China Patterns,” co-authored by Alan Kitty, read by SAPS moments before she passed away.
Louise was omnipresent, touching all of us in the theater community in the best of ways.
Marvin Albert
Long-time member of SAPS, age 88, passed away on September 9, 2022. Marvin was born on July 17th, 1934. From Philadelphia, his professional career was varied: he developed talent for Columbia Records, was a partner in an insurance company, and owned a limousine service through which he came to know many high-profile Philadelphians. In 2009 he and partner, Gerri Aaron, moved to Sarasota where they supported all the arts locally, and he became a board member of West Coast Black Theater Troupe. Marvin wrote over 80 short plays, five of which were produced by Theatre Odyssey. Many of his plays have been performed all over the United States. Marvin will be remembered for being smart, gentle, liberal, witty, and quick with the one-liners. He is survived by his children Suzanne and Eric and their families. SAPS will miss him.
Raymond A. Crucet passed away March 4th, 2023 at the age of 89. He was under in-home hospice care with his wife, Sharon, by his side.
Ray was born in NYC, but as a toddler moved to Panama where his father worked for the U.S. government. After leaving Panama at 18, he served in the U.S. Army and eventually received an MBA from Michigan State. After college Ray had a successful marketing, advertising, and PR career in the International Aerospace, Marine and Defense Industries.
He married Sharon in 1987, but the two had already been together for 10 years. Sharon described him as a wonderful husband, who was always kind, caring, and loving. After moving to Sarasota, Ray enjoyed sailing, golf, playing poker with friends and the performing arts. Since 2001 he performed in shows at The Players, Asolo Theater Company, Banyan Theatre Group, Florida Studio Theater, Venice Little Theater, Players Follies/Sarasota Silver Stars, Sarasota Senior Theater, Asolo Guild Readers, and of course SAPS. Many SAPS members will remember that kind heart and booming voice.
Sharon said at Christmas he wrote, “Red sky at night, sailors’ delight. God, I love it here, I love life. I’d like to do it again.”
Raymond A. Crucet passed away March 4th, 2023 at the age of 89. He was under in-home hospice care with his wife, Sharon, by his side. Ray was born in NYC, but as a toddler moved to Panama where his father worked for the U.S. government. After leaving Panama at 18, he served in the U.S. Army and eventually received an MBA from Michigan State. After college Ray had a successful marketing, advertising, and PR career in the International Aerospace, Marine and Defense Industries.
Mary Laurissa “Laurie” Stoner
Mary Laurissa Stoner, 72, died of natural causes at home on Friday, February 23, 2024 in Snellville, GA. A memorial is being planned in Georgia for April 13, 2024, details to come.
She was born on February 5, 1952 in San Antonio, TX to Laurence Walter Butler and Mary Catherine Butler. After moving to Missouri and Ohio as a child, the family of eight settled in Davenport, Iowa where Mary Laurissa (“Laurie”) attended Assumption High School. Laurie went on to study chemistry at St. Ambrose College in Davenport and then got her MBA from the University of Iowa. On August 11, 1973, Laurie married Gary Rauch of Muscatine, Iowa and they had two children, Andrea Marie Rauch Wright and Regina Rauch. Later she would marry Gerald “Jerry” Stoner, Rock Island, IL on February 1, 2001. They were married for nearly 19 years before Jerry’s death in January 2020.
Laurie was very successful in her career, as an early leader in Information Systems and Technology. She held executive positions for companies in Moline, IL, Nashville, TN and Sioux City, IA. Her creative passions were in fiction writing as a child and later screenwriting as an adult. After retiring in Sarasota, FL, Laurie created the Sarasota Screenwriters and South Florida Films (which produced several short films). She was also passionate about cooking, gardening, and the birds in her backyard. She was president and on the board of the Sarasota Orchid Society for a number of years. In personality she was a problem solver, tenacious and resilient, an enduring support for her family, friends, and local community.
She was a loving, dedicated mother, sister, wife and grandmother and is survived by her eldest daughter Andrea Wright, and her children Conor and Alexander Wright, son-in-law Nick Hendrix, of Grayson, GA; her youngest daughter, Regina Rauch, Melbourne, Australia; her sisters Danna Motto, Davenport, IA, and Mary Ann Van Horn, Colorado Springs, CO; her brothers Larry (Cheryl) Butler, Phoenix, AZ, and Jerome Butler, Sacramento, CA; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Jerry, and sister, Mary Theresa Butler, Davenport, IA.
Ray Crucet
