Thank you, kind sir, for the memories, camaraderie, and frequent dispersal
of wisdom, poetry and wit.
You are missed.
Ross Ruediger
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Joe Glenn Leard, 64, one of the finest character actors in San Antonio community theater, died at a local hospital Wednesday following surgery.
From Joe Libby, SATCO President
"Dear friends.
All of us at SATCO were saddened to learn of the death of Joe Glenn Leard, a respected member of the San Antonio theatre community for many years.
One of Joe's friends sent the message below to our E-Auditions editor, Ayn Phillips. While he wishes to remain anonymous, he has given us permission to use his words as a tribute to Joe".
"Ayn...
Could you mention something regarding the passing of the dear friend of many of us, Joe Glenn Leard? He died Wednesday night (June 26, 2002) at Methodist Hospital where had been operated on for a torn aorta. Joe had been a stanch supporter and talented contributor to San Antonio theatre and had been instrumental the development and success of many actors, young and old. Joe was in rehearsal for "Over the River and Through the Woods" in the cellar at San Pedro Playhouse when he was hospitalized with heart trouble.
Joe is sorely missed by his colleagues, friends and loved ones. In a great many cases, they are one and the same."
From the 6-30-2002 obituary in the Express News:
"He spent years teaching at local schools by day and entertaining audiences at night. He'd lived in San Antonio since 1972 and had taught at Pease Middle School and Jay High School. From 1989 to 1999, Leard worked at Trinity University's speech and drama department.
He was one of the founders of Players, a company that put on A.R. Gurney's "Sylvia" and "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" by actor Steve Martin. "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" earned Leard recognition for best supporting actor in a comedy and for best scenic design.
One of Leard's last roles, and his first in a movie, was as Harris the butler in the movie "Ravenswan."
"Joe was a phenomenal actor and a very wise guy," said Ross Ruediger, who wrote and directed the independent film.
Leard was born on Sept. 18, 1937, in Dallas. He earned a master's degree from Texas Tech University and a bachelor's from Southwest Texas State University.
He was Sprules, the butler in Alan Ayckbourn's "Tons of Money"; the captain of the Arthur M. Anderson in "Ten November: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"; and Nathan, the Jewish grandfather in "Year of the Duck." Local audiences knew him as Grandfather Nathan, Polonius, the Rev. Hooker, and Greg, a financial trader adopted by a dog named Sylvia.
Leard, wrote theater critic Jasmina Wellinghoff in 1992, was a "wonderful actor not seen nearly enough on our stages."
Besides acting, Leard was a director, stage manager and set designer."
~~~~~~~~~
I first worked with Joe as my director in "God: A Play" by Woody Allen at Trinity University. It had been 12 years since I'd been on a stage. He made the reintroduction seem like coming home.
His humor, his understanding, his talent and ability to step aside and let someone else take the limelight were his gifts to everyone under his direction.
He opened his heart and his home to us all.
His parting came much too soon.
I would like to have laughed and worked with him longer.
Sincerely,
Martha Buchanan
~~~~~~~~~
Leard, 64, celebrated for his many theatrical skills
By Carmina Danini San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 06/30/2002 12:00 AM
Local audiences knew him as Grandfather Nathan, Polonius, the Rev. Hooker and Greg, a financial trader adopted by a dog named Sylvia.
Joe Glenn Leard, 64, one of the finest character actors in San Antonio community theater, died at a local hospital Wednesday following surgery.
At one time, Leard had studied to be a minister and even worked as a church youth minister but was never ordained.
Instead, he spent years teaching at local schools by day and entertaining audiences at night.
He was Sprules, the butler in Alan Ayckbourn's "Tons of Money"; the captain of the Arthur M. Anderson in "Ten November: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"; and Nathan, the Jewish grandfather in "Year of the Duck."
Leard, wrote theater critic Jasmina Wellinghoff in 1992, was a "wonderful actor not seen nearly enough on our stages."
Besides acting, Leard was a director, stage manager and set designer.
He was one of the founders of Players, a company that put on A.R. Gurney's "Sylvia" and "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" by actor Steve Martin.
"Picasso at the Lapin Agile" earned Leard Globe awards for best supporting actor in a comedy and for best scenic design.
The San Antonio equivalent of Broadway's Tony awards, the Globes are given by the Alamo Theater Arts Council.
One of Leard's last roles, and his first in a movie, was as Harris the butler in the movie "Ravenswan."
"Joe was a phenomenal actor and a very wise guy," said Ross Ruediger, who wrote and directed the independent film.
Leard was born on Sept. 18, 1937, in Dallas. He earned a master's degree from Texas Tech University and a bachelor's from Southwest Texas State University.
He'd lived in San Antonio since 1972 and had taught at Pease Middle School and Jay High School.
From 1989 to 1999, Leard worked at Trinity University's speech and drama department.
In a letter he wrote to his children in 1996, Leard said he did not want a funeral.
"He wanted a barbecue beer fest to celebrate his life and that's what we plan to do," said Alison Beaver of Seguin, one of Leard's daughters.
The event is scheduled for July 13 at the home of Patricia Cummins, Leard's life partner.
He also leaves two other daughters, Denise Leard and Heather Vasquez, both of San Antonio; two sons, Jack Leard of Corpus Christi and Joe Leard II of Austin; his children's mother, Sherry Leard of San Antonio; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Winema Maxwell of Lebanon, Mo.
cdanini@express-***
06/30/2002
If you would like to add a comment or a memory,
please send it to playbill@satheatre.com to be included here.
Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you to Mr. Ross Ruediger for the graphic above.
