he established to protect residents in the Pacific Northwest from
selected theater students together for intensive summer workshops
environmental pollution. He was also active in a coalition of envi-
and performances. In honor of his contributions to the theater
ronmental groups in Eugene that are working to counter contami-
department, the university gave his name to a 200-seat theater in
nation from the railroad yard in that city. When he lived in Flagstaff,
Chico State’s performing arts center.
Arizona, he represented the legal interests of Native Americans, having earned a degree from Georgetown Law Center in 1999. He
Remembering Joel “Bishop” O’Brien
also worked for SANE/FREEZE, the antinuclear weapons organiza-
Joel O’Brien died September 9, 2004, of liver cancer. As a
tion, for several years. In 1988–89, he visited 23 countries as a
member (from 1990 to 1998) of the elective faculty in the Music
member of an international honors program, studying and writing
Program, O’Brien, known as “Bishop” to many Bard students,
about the peaceful resolution of global conflicts, and was in Berlin
taught private lessons in jazz piano, jazz and rock drumming, and
when the wall came down. His survivors include his father, David;
jazz vocals. In addition, he accompanied many Bardians in their
his mother, Joan; and a brother, Jonathan, all of Washington.
Moderation and Senior Project concerts and performed in on-campus jazz ensembles. A well-seasoned musician, Bishop worked with musical greats, such as James Taylor, George
Faculty
Harrison, and Carole King. O’Brien was an astute student of
Neil McKenzie, 88, professor emeritus of drama, died on
possessed thousands of musical recordings and was known
music. The son of one of New York City’s first rock disc jockeys, he November 29 in Smithtown, Long Island, New York. A Phi Beta
for making mixed tapes for the enjoyment and edification of his
Kappa graduate of New York University in 1951, he had a distin-
students. Always willing to share his musical knowledge, O’Brien
guished career in the theater. His dramatic adaptation of Frank
participated in educating Bardians through a Jazz Heritage
O’Connor’s short story, “Guests of the Nation,” won an Obie Award
Club–sponsored lecture on the roots of rock and roll in jazz,
for Best One-Act Play in 1957–58 and was later staged for the
adding his voice to Bard’s musical collective, and entertaining stu-
ANTA (American National Theater and Academy) Matinee Series
dents at highly attended College-sponsored swing dances.
and Channel 13 PBS. He directed Ah, Wilderness! at New York’s
He loved collaborating with musicians of all levels. He will be
Circle in the Square; Othello at Clark Center for the Performing
missed.
Arts in Arroyo Grande, California; and the American premiere of Daisy Miller at Equity Library Theatre in Chicago, among other pro-
More information on O’Brien’s life and contributions can be found at www.joel-bishop-obrien.com.
ductions. He was also affiliated, at various times in his career, with
—Melanie Sara Stern (Shaw) ’98
the Robin Hood Theatre, Martha’s Vineyard Summer Theatre, John Drew Theatre, Hedgerow Theatre, and summer theaters in Woodstock and Hyde Park, New York. He was a former member of
Staff
Actors Equity, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, the Screen Actors Guild, and AFTRA (the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists).
Marjorie Beach, 79, who worked for Bard’s Buildings and Grounds department for 44 years, died on October 25, 2004, at the Baptist
McKenzie served on the Bard faculty from 1962 until his
Nursing Home in Rhinebeck. The College employed her from
retirement in 1986. During those years he was closely associated
1942 to 1986, first as a secretary and then as assistant superin-
with the late William Driver and with Robert Rockman, professor
tendent of Buildings and Grounds until her retirement. “She was
emeritus of literature and theater. “He was kind to students, but
a very competent, faithful, and energetic asset to the department,”
without indulging them, especially when it came to the work,” says
said Richard Griffiths, special assistant to the president of the
Rockman. “He would not let them just generalize; he’d insist upon
College. Her husband, Carl Beach, died in 1965, and her brother,
their knowing what they were doing, and it showed on the stage. He
Donald F. Teator, died in 1999. She is survived by her sister-in-law,
made them work, and the students admired him for it.” A private
Patricia Teator.
cremation was followed by interment in the Bard College Cemetery, at a site Professor McKenzie chose many years ago. Lawrence Wismer, 90, died on March 21, 2004. He taught drama at Bard for four years, as an instructor from 1949 to 1951 and as an assistant professor from 1951 to 1953. His teaching career flowered, however, at California State University, Chico, where he taught drama from 1963 to 1980. He was responsible for creating Court Theatre at Chico State, a summer theater program that brings
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