Gregory Abbott, R.I.P.
Dec. 4th, 2006 06:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vernardGregory Abbott was the artistic director for the DramaTech Theater at GA Tech during my tenure there. He directed me in the one and only time I ever set foot on a stage as an actor. It was the play “T-Bone and Weasel” and I had an absolute blast doing it. I’ll fill in on all the details about that later. The thing to take from it is that Greg showed me that acting was hard but enjoyable. And opened up a part of me that I didn’t even know that I had. I don’t think that I could pulled it off without his constant encouragment and coashing. He was a good director, and an excellent man. And I will sincerely miss him.
Gregory (Greg) B. Abbott, 54, died suddenly December 1, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia. Greg was born September 9, 1952, in Phillipsburg, Kansas to Leslie L. and Eulalia E. (Miller) Abbott. He grew up on the family farm north of Agra, KS. He attended school in Agra and graduated from Eastern Heights High School in 1970. Greg majored in Speech and English at Fort Hays State University where he graduated in 1974. In 1976 he earned a masters of fine arts from the University of Georgia. From 1976 to 1980 he was director of the community theatre in Albany, GA before moving to Atlanta. His first year in Atlanta, he traveled to Columbus, GA to direct at the Springer Theatre Company, their community theater. Greg served as Artistic Director of Onstage Atlanta before becoming the Artistic Director of Drama Tech in 1984. Greg and his family returned each summer to the family farm in Phillips County Kansas where he and his brother continued to manage and operate the family farm. When not directing, teaching theater, or farming in Kansas, Greg’s love of sports led him into coaching his children’s basketball teams.
On November 29, 1974, he married June Miller of Claflin, KS and to this union two children, Lauren and Michael, were born.
Greg is survived by his wife June, daughter Lauren, a student at the University of Georgia, and Michael a junior at St. Pius High School, Atlanta.
Other survivors include his brother, Kevin, and wife Deborah of Hutchinson, Kansas. His mother-in-law, Marie Miller of Hoisington, KS, his brother-in- laws: Butch and wife Vicki Miller of Odin, KS, John and wife Connie of Claflin, KS and their families. And his many friends, co-workers and students.
Both of his parents preceded Greg in death.
Visitation will be Monday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at H.M. Patterson & Son - Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta. The funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 4, at Christ the King Cathedral, 2699 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta.
Gifts in Greg’s memory may be made to Georgia Tech’s Drama Tech Theater through the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., 760 Spring Street, Suite 400, Atlanta, Georgia, 30308 or to the Greg Abbott Memorial Scholarship Fund at St. Pius X Catholic High School, 2674 Johnson Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30345.
A special celebration of Greg’s life will be held at DramaTech in the coming semester. Information regarding the event will be shared as soon as plans are finalized.
Gregory (Greg) B. Abbott, 54, died suddenly December 1, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia. Greg was born September 9, 1952, in Phillipsburg, Kansas to Leslie L. and Eulalia E. (Miller) Abbott. He grew up on the family farm north of Agra, KS. He attended school in Agra and graduated from Eastern Heights High School in 1970. Greg majored in Speech and English at Fort Hays State University where he graduated in 1974. In 1976 he earned a masters of fine arts from the University of Georgia. From 1976 to 1980 he was director of the community theatre in Albany, GA before moving to Atlanta. His first year in Atlanta, he traveled to Columbus, GA to direct at the Springer Theatre Company, their community theater. Greg served as Artistic Director of Onstage Atlanta before becoming the Artistic Director of Drama Tech in 1984. Greg and his family returned each summer to the family farm in Phillips County Kansas where he and his brother continued to manage and operate the family farm. When not directing, teaching theater, or farming in Kansas, Greg’s love of sports led him into coaching his children’s basketball teams.
On November 29, 1974, he married June Miller of Claflin, KS and to this union two children, Lauren and Michael, were born.
Greg is survived by his wife June, daughter Lauren, a student at the University of Georgia, and Michael a junior at St. Pius High School, Atlanta.
Other survivors include his brother, Kevin, and wife Deborah of Hutchinson, Kansas. His mother-in-law, Marie Miller of Hoisington, KS, his brother-in- laws: Butch and wife Vicki Miller of Odin, KS, John and wife Connie of Claflin, KS and their families. And his many friends, co-workers and students.
Both of his parents preceded Greg in death.
Visitation will be Monday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at H.M. Patterson & Son - Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta. The funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 4, at Christ the King Cathedral, 2699 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta.
Gifts in Greg’s memory may be made to Georgia Tech’s Drama Tech Theater through the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., 760 Spring Street, Suite 400, Atlanta, Georgia, 30308 or to the Greg Abbott Memorial Scholarship Fund at St. Pius X Catholic High School, 2674 Johnson Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30345.
A special celebration of Greg’s life will be held at DramaTech in the coming semester. Information regarding the event will be shared as soon as plans are finalized.
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no subject
Date: 2006-12-05 12:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-05 01:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-05 02:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-05 02:58 am (UTC)That's two for you. I never will forget gus' memorial... I don't remember a word of what you said, but I'll always remember there wasn't a dry eye in the house when you went to sit down.
I don't think I ever actually met the guy... but I saw a heck of a lot of his work, and if that's the measure of a man, he must've been a damn fine one.
Hoist one for me...
"It is never too late to honor the good in a man's life,
or grieve his loss." -- Heris Serrano, _Against The Odds_
Three actually...
Date: 2006-12-08 04:49 pm (UTC)Yeah, all my mentors and teachers are going on to bigger and better things. Only question is whether I can step up to fill there very very large shoes...
no subject
Date: 2006-12-05 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-05 04:01 am (UTC)