Thomas Daniel, loving husband of Andrea Daniel, valued performer in so many Woodminster productions: Ain't Misbehavin, Coursel, The Wiz, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Loving father of Taylor and Ryan, who have also appeared in our productions. Taylor, most recently in Newsies. Daniel was the most enthusiastic supporter of his family, attending every production in which one of them participated. He was one of the nicest, kindest, most thoughtful people. We think of him as a member of the cast who always was there to support is family and offer friendship to everyone he greeted. Thomas, you were one in a million.

Gordon Laverty and the entire Laverty Family have contributed so much to advance Woodminster Summer Musicals.  Laverty Lane, the lower concession booth on Stage L or House R, was opened and run by Gordon, Margie, Annette, Ross and Larry for years.  Every performance night they would show up, set up and serve the public with smiles. The booth would be cleaned up and closed before Act II was ended. Gordon and his sons built the ticket booth at the main gate, which we still use.  He engineered the installation of the picnic tables on the hill behind the control booth. When additional lighting was added to the dressing rooms back stage, Gordon was there to help.  He served on the First Safety Committee. He would drive Margie to any place she wanted to go to hand out information about the current season, the Band Concerts at Lake Merritt, their Church. Everywhere they went, information about Woodminster was offered with a smile and explanation to anyone who asked. Gordon, Margie and Annette served on the Producers Associates Board of Directors for many years.  Annette also worked backstage in the box office, and in the gate box office. Margie, now 97 years young, still attends Board meetings. The family has been such a major contributor to everything Woodminster, for so many years.  Gordon will be missed but never forgotten by anyone who worked with him at Woodminster.

Jim and his family were audience members on the second Saturdays of every season, sitting in Box C with extended family members.  Jim sold office equipment for many years and supplied us with desks, office chairs and adjustable stools for the ticket booth.  Anything we needed he would donate.  Jim and Susan Rossillon were there to applaud their sons Andrew and Michael when they joined our casts on stage. Thank you Rossillon Family.

Peggy had been associated with Woodminster Summer Musicals since the early 1980’s. She attended my Adult Tap classes, we attended the TOPS Club, and we walked Lake Merritt three times weekly for many years. She joined the Board in the mid 80’s and has been such a valuable contributor of her time. We have never undertaken an improvement project at Woodminster that did not include her back or brains to complete. She volunteered in the Box Office back stage and in the Will Call Window at the gate box office for as long as I can remember. That window will be renamed: “Peggy’s Place”’ in her honor. She organized the annual Margarita Party before each season, where she and quite a few other Board volunteers, organized the drawing tickets, which Peggy, ordered and cut. They were counted and bundled into convenient packets to be distributed all season. This effort results in the biggest fund raiser Woodminster sponsors. The Board members sell the tickets before each show. She organized a group of people who attended every Thursday night which numbered between 25 and 50. They would picnic up at the tables before each performance which Peggy would provide. She co-chaired the opening night champagne celebration before the performance with another Board member, she helped sell merchandise in the merchandise booth and has the distinction of selling more unbreakable, non-spill wine glasses, as she circulated the picnic tables selling drawing tickets for prizes for the drawing held during intermission, than anyone else! She took over the weeding, planting and pruning of the Native, drought resistant plants in the planter boxes up around the picnic tables with with the help of other Board members and a friend or two, regularly. She helped install the lighting in the dressing rooms, when the Board undertook that responsibility. She helped re paint the white strips on the steps leading down to the seats, when that needed to be done. To paraphrase a line from Will Rogers’ Follies, “Never met a man I didn’t like…” Peggy, never met a job she wouldn’t help to get done. Her final bequest for Woodminster Summer Musicals, $60,000.00 to help us guarantee future seasons of family entertainment at Woodminster Amphitheater. Peggy, wherever you are, it will not be the same without you. Watch over us.

Tom Straughen saw his first performance at Woodminster in 1967, Kiss Me Kate.  He liked it so much he returned with another couple in 1968, as season ticket holders. They continued bringing more and more people to the theater until the group reached a total of 22. They always attend on Sunday evenings, Series C and always picnic on the roof before performances.  He lived in Alameda was a regular donor to Producers Associates, Inc. and an active supporter of the Elks Club in Alameda. The group has continued to attend with close family friend, Jeffrey Britton organizing the group and reserving the tickets for Tom, since 2013.  This will continue to be the Straughen Party and we are assured he will be applauding with his friends during and after future performances.