Colleen Tovar (1971-2022)
Colleen Helen Tovar, 51, of Bloomington, Illinois passed away November 7, 2022. She was born August 7, 1971 in Warren, Michigan, to Maureen H. Phillips and Thomas P. Kenny. She married the love of her life, John Tovar on September 15, 2000, in Streamwood IL.
Colleen was the Production Manager of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and the School of Theatre and Dance at Illinois State University, where she taught and mentored the stage management students. Previously, Colleen was the Production Manager and Stage Management Instructor at Ball State University, the Managing Director for Fox Valley Repertory Theatre in St. Charles IL, and was a freelance Equity Stage Manager for many theater productions throughout the Chicagoland area. Colleen was a fiercely loyal friend, dedicated teacher and mentor, and a stalwart leader. One of Colleen’s greatest pleasures was mentoring stage management students. She was so proud of her “kids” and was always ecstatic to hear how their careers and lives continued to grow after they graduated. “Early is on time, on time is late, and late is fired” are some of the first words students would hear from Colleen. Colleen is survived by her loving husband of 22 years, John; fur baby Basher; siblings Susan Hamill, Thomas Kenny and Kathryn Kenny. She is preceded in passing by her mother, Maureen Phillips; father, Thomas Kenny; father-in-law, Ralph Tovar; and mother-in-law, Marlene Tovar. If you would like to read and share stories about Colleen, please go join the “We Love Colleen” Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/425829916412289/?ref=share In Lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Memorial Scholarship Fund created in Colleen’s name. TO DONATE ONLINE and https://giving.illinoisstate.edu/tovar NOTE: There is no detail on the website regarding this specific fund. Make a general donation, and include in “Gift Notes” – “In Memory of Colleen Helen Tovar.” TO DONATE BY CHECK: Donations made by check should be made payable to the Illinois State University Foundation and mailed to: Illinois State University Fdn, Campus Box 8000, Normal IL 61790-8000. Note: Important to put the following note in Check Memo line “In Memory of Colleen Helen Tovar.” |