Southeast theater director honored at memorial service

Good show, Griz.

That's how friends, colleagues and students seemed to warmly applaud the life of Dr. Larry Grisvard, the longtime theater director at Southeast Missouri State University who died Nov. 14.

From the stage at Rose Theatre where Grisvard oversaw 60 productions such as "Amadeus," "Agnes of God" and "Macbeth," the man fondly known as "Griz" and "Dr. G." was remembered Saturday night during a memorial service as a revered actor, a respected teacher, a tough leader and a loving family man.

"He was a passionate artist," said Dr. Kenn Stilson, the chair of the department of theater and dance and a former student of Grisvard. "When he walked into a room, people looked."

Stilson said that Grisvard could be tough too. Once while Stilson was onstage as a student actor, Stilson asked Grisvard for motivation. From the seats, Grisvard replied gruffly, "I'll give you motivation," and threw his shoe at Stilson.

"I heard from others later that he did that sometimes," Stilson said, drawing a laugh from the crowd of more than 50 people, many university professors.

During the service, speakers quoted Shakespeare, recited lines from plays Grisvard was involved in, and the daughter of a former student performed a ballet to the song "Wind Beneath my Wings."

Dr. Beth Hill, also a former student of Grisvard's who now teaches in Kansas City, said he was inspirational. Hill also was an office mate of Grisvard's when she taught public speaking at the university in the 1970s.

"I know he's gone, but he's not because he's in all of us," she said. "When I walk into the classroom, I take him in there with me."

Friends also talked of Grisvard's love of fine wine, his love of his students and how dedicated he was to his job.

"He moved heaven and academia to get his program funded and recognized," said Jane Stacy, the director of alumni services and development who had known Grisvard for years. "He gave his students the wings to fly. He gave his best to his craft, his heritage and his love for teaching. We are the richer for it."

Grisvard came to Cape Girardeau in 1959, taking the position of theater director and assistant professor of speech and communications. Grisvard was theater director for 30 years. He was 54 when he retired in 1989.

"During a play I am their director, their father, their brother, their teacher, their friend and their enemy," Grisvard said in an interview when he retired in 1989. "But we become close. That's what I'll miss the most."

Grisvard is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rita Grisvard, a longtime teacher in Cape Girardeau; three children, Stacia Sanders, Christopher Grisvard and Alexa Buente; and seven grandchildren.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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