An online message board has been created for people to share their stories and memories about Dan's life. Please note that the link is case sensitive. The "M" in "Magik" is capitalized.
http://members.boardhost.com/Magik/
Here you can also see some memories of Dan in photographs.
(editor note: unfortunately, this message board seems to have been deactivated)
The officers and membership of the San Antonio Theatre Coalition, wish to express our profound sadness at the death of our friend and colleague Dan McLaughlin. The loss of so talented and vital an artist, administrator, organizer and activist, leaves our community measurably diminished. As a founding member of SATCO, Dan worked tirelessly through the difficulties of our formative years, and shared in our triumphs. He served tirelessly as co-chair of the SATCO Living Legends Galas, and the Performance Sampler, at the same time he tackled a professional work-load as director, actor, teacher and publicist for his theater company that can only be described as awesome.
While Dan McLaughlin is irreplaceable, we are heartened by the legacy he left behind of bountiful creativity, good humor, and artistic integrity. No one who worked with him, no one who was touched by his work, and there are many, will ever forget him. We deeply regret his untimely passing, and we are deeply grateful that he lived.
Message from SATCO President, Laurie Dietrich:
I am saddened to announce that Dan McLaughlin, most recently of the Magik Children's Theatre but an actor, director, and personality who has been a fixture in the San Antonio theatre community for many, many years, died the afternoon of July 6, apparently of complications related to heart disease, in the hospital where he had been for a little over a week.
There will be a memorial service on Tuesday evening, July 10, beginning at 7pm at the Magik Children's Theatre. Free parking is available next to Beethoven Hall and in the SAISD lot on the corner of Alamo and Durango.
Anyone who has worked with Dan in a show or elsewhere is urged to bring a photo if they have one. A collage will be built with photos from Dan's life Richard Rosen will give a short talk about someone who started working with him as an intern when he was 16. Then, anyone who wants will be able to share a memory of Dan with all of us. The intent is to make this a joyous celebration. As Rosen says, "this theatre is filled with Dan and always will be."
His Magik Theatre family are asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a fund that will be established in Dan's name that will benefit the community he was so much a part of. The specific uses of the fund will be determined by three appointed trustees, as yet un-named.
Call the theatre at (210) 227-2751 for more information on donating to the fund, for directions or other details about the service.
I wish to extend, on behalf of SATCO and personally, my heartfelt condolences to Richard Rosen, the people at Magik, Dan's friends and all those whose lives his touched. This is a great loss to our community.
Laurie Dietrich
SATCO President
Diana Brown
SATCO Playbill editor
Ayn Philips
SATCO "E-Auditions, Etc." editor
DANIEL LEE McLAUGHLIN - 07/09/2001
October 16, 1953 - July 6, 2001 Dan McLaughlin, a renowned local actor and director, died Friday at 2:30 P.M. in University Hospital from complications due to heart problems. Dan's resume is so long, it can't be listed, but he has appeared at almost every theatre in San Antonio during the last 31 years. He began his professional career as an intern at the Melodrama Theatre in 1971. He worked there until the company went on the road with the hit rock opera, 'ALICE'. He later performed with Mister Moons Magic Theater, a touring group. Dan was a graduate of South San High School where he was a student of Charley McCauley. He got his BA from Incarnate Word College under Maureen and Ronnie Ibbs, and spent one year of Graduate School at Portland University. He later worked for The San Antonio Library Foundation, and in 1993, became one of the founders of The Commerce Street Stage which later became The Magik Children's Theatre. Since that time, Dan appeared in over 70 productions and over 400 performances. He directed hit plays like Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and Ramona Quimby, and was in charge of public relations for the theatre. Dan was also a teacher in the MCT Academy and summer camp, and his love for children touched and changed the lives of countless numbers of young people. Dan was honored with Globe Awards as well as the love and respect of the entire theatre community, most of whom worked with him at one time or another. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy from Wharton, TX, and the entire resident company of The Magik Children's Theatre, who in the course of time became true family members. A Memorial Service will be held at The Magik Theatre at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, July 10, 2001. Anyone who has appeared in a play with Dan and has a picture they want to add+ to a collage of memories are asked to bring them. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be set up in Dan's name to contribute a significant gift to the children who attend theatre and classes in San Antonio
originally posted on Express News website
