The Memorial Wall

SINTON, Texas — Former Sinton head football coach and athletic director Tom Allen died Thursday night.

Allen was forced into an early retirement in December 2018 after being diagnosed with Multiple Systems Atrophy, a disease similar to Parkinson’s,  two years earlier, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the nervous system.

Omar Garcia is the Head Boys Basketball Coach of Sinton. He was brought on by coach Allen.

"He gave us a shot. He gave us that opportunity. He didn't have to. I was a nobody and he let me come in. I owe him everything," said Garcia.

Current Sinton Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Michael Troutman said coach Allen was filled with lessons. Ones he'll carry on with him.

"Have integrity with the choices that you make. You may not make everybody happy, but as long as you have integrity, you can hold your chin up high," said Troutman.

He always did what was in the best interest of the kids.

"He said to treat it like it's your Super Bowl and those kids will follow, those kids will feel that excitement so I kind of took that to heart and just coached every day like this was the most important time and this was the most important place," said Garcia.

They said, one of his best qualities was coach Allen's kindness.

"His classic phrase after a call that he disagreed with "you're not getting a Christmas card from me this year" and I always found that to be about as mean as he could get," said Gene Kasprzyk, the former Sinton Baseball Coach.

Allen coached 12 years in Sinton, winning 106 games in that time and leading the Pirates to the state semifinals in back-to-back seasons in 2013 and 2014.

Lionel Duffin died at Aldingham Care Home several years after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

The former shipyard worker was known as "The Cat" because of his agility and ability to overcome his 5ft 8ins height and dominate the goal area.

He played for the Bluebirds between 1964 and 1978.

Son John Duffin, a revered artist, said his father was a "local hero" who would be "greatly missed".

Born in Newton, Mr Duffin left school at 15 and was already a track star and athlete but football was his "complete obsession".

He was inspired by young footballers of the day and often spoke of watching the legendary Busby Babes Manchester United team of 1958 play and of meeting them all after the game and getting their autographs. 

He was soon in the reserves at Barrow before being signed as a professional in 1964.

He "lived and breathed football" and travelled the length and breadth of the country with Barrow AFC in the 60s team that went from strength to strength and found fame in the third division of that time.

He brought great joy and entertainment to the Barrow fans for nearly 15 years. 

One report from that era in The Mail wrote that "as the away team piled on more and more pressure on Barrow’s goal area the Barrow defence continually crumbled leaving only Lionel Duffin to save the day - he stopped every ball that was aimed at the goal, it was a brave lone goalkeeper versus the opponents for the final 35 minutes, Lionel won the game for Barrow."

He served his apprenticeship at Vickers Shipyard as a fitter and turner and worked there for 30 years before running his own building firm for many years.

He leaves behind his children and 15 years of memories at Holker Street.

Longtime Detroit News staffer Jan Lovell died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of more than four decades in journalism.

Mr. Lovell of Grosse Pointe was 78. He had battled Parkinson's and cancer in recent years, his family said.

A funeral was Saturday in Grosse Pointe Woods. Family, friends and colleagues shared memories and posted photos and remarks in an online obituary.

Charlotte Massey, a former assistant photo editor at The Detroit News, said Lovell was her favorite person to work with. She met him in 1998 when she was an imaging technician and Mr. Lovell was an imaging supervisor.

Mr. Lovell worked at The News for more than 40 years, leaving the newspaper by 2010, relatives said."He was just an all-around great guy ... he was really good at his job," Massey said. "He did various jobs at the paper. He was an editor, copy editor, production editor, ran the imaging desk. He was wonderful. He was the kindest man I ever worked with."Everybody loved him. He was amazingly conscientious. He was superb to work for. He treated everybody with respect, dignity and kindness."And, she said, "he had a great sense of humor."

The relationships in the newsroom were key to Mr. Lovell's tenure, said Beverly Lovell, his wife of 54 years. "He liked the people he worked with."Besides his wife, other survivors include three children, Ian, Drew and Gwyndolyn; and seven grandchildren.

Patricia Anstett said in a Facebook post that Mr. Lovell was "friendly, helpful, very professional" and "designed great, newsy pages. He always brought an A game.” 

Susan Burzynski Bullard, a former managing editor at The News, called him "calm and collected under pressure.""He never had an unkind word for anyone," she said in a Facebook post. "He's exactly the kind of presence you want in the newsroom, particularly on a crazy news day."

Nancy Hanus met Mr. Lovell in 1986, when she was a copy editor at The News."We became close colleagues and then good friends," she said, especially in 2002, when they started working together in the Photography Department."He quietly did his job, but also was that person ... that you could always count on, and he was invaluable to me because I came in as photo director and I had never been a photo director," Hanus said. "He was there every single time I had a question, every single time I needed something."

She saw him change departments at The News multiple times. He always was dependable and accountable, no matter what position he had, she said."He was like the calm in the storm, that person in the newsroom that never drew attention to himself, but was always there for everyone," Hanus said. "He was like that person everyone could go to ... get advice. He was super, super smart and he knew a lot, not just a ton about the local area, but pictures and the world."

Born Oct. 7, 1944, in Canada, Mr. Lovell and his family relocated to Metro Detroit.

Drawing on the language skills he learned in Catholic school, he worked at Wayne State University's student newspaper while a student there, his wife said. He later was drafted into the Army and spent nearly two years at Fort Carson in Colorado, where he used his typing and photography skills, and earned a commendation for meritorious service, Beverly Lovell said.

Back in Metro Detroit, Mr. Lovell started working for a newspaper in Wyandotte before graduating from Wayne State, she said.For years, he told his family about how he applied to The News and was hired after a one-day trial run, his wife said. "He was very proud of himself."

After leaving at age 65, Mr. Lovell focused on passions including cooking and heading outdoors, including reunions near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

"He said his retirement was a blessing of sorts because he was always planning meals for friends, family and neighbors," his wife said. "He did a lot more camping. Being in nature was his favorite activity."Hanus recalled those long-held interests.

"When I left The News, he gave me a compass and he said: '... Figure out which way to go' ... that's the kinds of things he would do. He would come up with something meaningful and share it."

Longtime Wellfleet resident Robert DuBeau succumbed to Parkinson’s disease on Jan. 21, 2023 after trying to ignore the affliction for years.

Bob was born in Willimantic, Conn. in 1934, the third of four children of Conrad and Esther (Parent) DuBeau. He attended Windham Regional High School, where as a freshman he met his future wife, Marsha Turshen. He was admitted to Harvard, where he worked to pay his tuition by establishing a food concession at the residence houses. By the time he graduated in 1956, his multi-employee business was taken over by the college as part of its food service.

Bob first fell in love with the Outer Cape when, shortly after graduation, he was drafted and stationed at Camp Wellfleet — then an Army outpost near Marconi Beach in what is now the National Seashore. After his discharge, Bob attended the University of Connecticut Law School and entered practice in nearby Rockville. Bob, Marsha, and their growing family soon started vacationing in Wellfleet.

After several years of renting, they purchased a cottage on Lieutenant Island before it had electricity or telephone service. As their children reached driving age, the tide-ruled access to the island became untenable. Wishing to stay in the area, they were among the first to purchase a parcel of the former Camp Mar-Ven and Camp Chequessett, converting the old counselor and guest house into a summer cottage. When they retired, they renovated the house for year-round use and moved to Wellfleet.

Bob quickly became a member of the Wellfleet Housing Authority, helping to provide affordable housing for year-round local workers. He helped found Nauset Neighbors, the volunteer network to help aging residents stay in their homes. He was the first representative from Our Lady of Lourdes parish to the area interfaith council. He was an enthusiastic golfer at the Chequessett Yacht & Country Club and a volunteer at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater.

Bob was full of wit and fun, once leading a passel of family kids down Commercial Street in Provincetown after a Marx Brothers movie at the Waters Edge Cinema, all striding like Groucho. Many friends from Rockville were invited to visit the DuBeaus on their Wellfleet vacations, and several, including Pat and Dick Dimock, established their own connections to the Outer Cape in part based on Bob’s enthusiasm.

“You don’t have a boat,” said one curious friend. “You don’t seem to like sitting on the beach. What is it about Wellfleet?” to which Bob answered, “I just love to look at it.”

Bob is survived by his wife, Marsha; his five children: Dr. Catherine DuBeau of Lebanon, N.H., Matthew and wife Leslie Haynes-DuBeau of Nyack, N.Y., Peter and Lisa DuBeau of Norfolk, Va., Adam and Lauren Love-DuBeau of Marcellus, N.Y., and Sarah DuBeau-Farley and Stephen Farley of Dorchester; his grandchildren, Madeline, Henry, Julia, Jack, August, Sam, and Elise; and the families of multiple nieces and nephews.

Julian Carl Levy, 80, of Los Angeles died on January 20, 2023, of a heart attack, after battling Parkinson's. The son of Evalina Port Levy and Samuel Levy, he grew up in Maplewood, NJ, where he attended Columbia High School. He graduated from Harvard University and while a student there honed his skills as a photographer working on the Harvard Crimson. He became a freelance photographer whose work was published in Time Magazine and The New York Times, among others. He was a gifted pianist, madrigal singer, artist and a consummate pool player. He had an abiding love of animals, science and classical music. Julian is survived by a beloved daughter, Harley (Jason) White -Wiedow, and grandchildren Charlie and Henry, all residents of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In Santa Monica, he leaves a sister, Ellen Levy, brother-in-law, Bob Dietz, and niece, Jessie. His companion of many years, Mary Grace Doty, predeceased him. We will miss Julian's engaging sense of humor, gentleness, and indefatigable curiosity.

Joseph C. “Joe" Buzzetta, 86, of Saint James, NY, passed away on Sunday, January 15th, 2023, of dementia and Parkinson's disease.

He was born on December 30th, 1936, in Ozone Park, NewYork to John and Anna Buzzetta. His parents were from Italian immigrant families and he grew up with a wonderful close extended family and his maternal grandmother, Anna DiGennaro, was a second mother to Joe and his younger sister Johann.

When Joe was in his early teens, his family moved out to Centerport, New York around 1950, as his parents had purchased a partnership in a budding new Italian restaurant, the Bella Vista, a beautiful old Victorian once owned by the Whitney family. The Buzzetta family was "all hands-on deck" at the restaurant, making their home in its upstairs bedrooms for the first 5 or so years they were in business. Joe got a first-hand education there on how to run a family business from his father John, who was as great with people as he was meticulous in his record keeping and accounting.

The Bella Vista soon became a hot-spot for car clubs meetings and sports car rallies, which fueled Joe's love for automobiles. In addition to working at the restaurant, Joe got many car-relatedjobs around town and thus started his foray into the car business.

He attended and graduated from Huntington High School and met the love of his life, Valerie, on a blind date. The pair married soon after they met in 1957 as Joe was about to ship off to his Army post in Frankfurt, Germany. While Joe had to attend to his military duties during the week,weekends were often spent exploring Germany and bordering countries by car. Joe and Val's adventure really gained traction when they bought an Austin-Healey and started participating in club racing events and touring Europe. After seeing the successful results of his competitors driving the Porsche 356, they made the switch and thus began Joe’s racing legacy.After returning to the US at the end of his service, Joe’s love for racing continued.

As his amateur racing achievements started to add up, Joe gained national and international notoriety and his racing career really took off after getting contracted to race for the factory Porsche racing team in 1964. His success continued throughout his career with the brand, where he earned a reputation for being fast, earning consistent results, and always bringing the car home in one piece. Joe’s most notable success was winning the 1967 Nürburgring 1000KM race and multiple class victories at Daytona, Sebring and other races. He raced for Porsche through 1969.

While enjoying much success on the racetrack, Joe realized that his passion was in cars, and left the Bella Vista with his father’s blessing to start a repair shop called Competition Engineering with his racing mechanic and partner, Oscar Rubio. As he built his reputation on the racetrack, he also worked on growing the business and raising his family with Valerie. They welcomed three children during the 1960’s; Joseph Jr in 1963; James in 1966, and Nancy in 1968. Realizing that their growing family needed to put down some roots in the community, they built a beautiful home in Nissequogue in the early 70’s where they resided for many happy years before moving just one village over to Head of the Harbor, which they called home for the rest of their lives.

Due to his incredible success racing Porsches, he was able to get an audience with the franchise and the Porsche family itself granted him a retail point in Smithtown. Once he had a foothold, he worked hard to grow the tiny business and nurtured it into a successful enterprise, adding BMW, Mercedes, and Datsun (later Nissan) over the years.

During those formative years Joe also joined the Nissequogue Golf Club, which was very near and dear to him and he served on some early boards there to help guide and shape the foundling club.

In addition to his growing love for golf, Joe learned to fly and became an excellent pilot, he also grew to love Vermont and was an avid skier, and was equally interested in boats and enjoyed navigating the waters of the Northeast. Fitness was another of his interests, and not a day went by that he did not work out in some capacity.

Eventually, he and Oscar went their separate ways and the business continued growing,eventually spanning multiple locations for Mercedes and Sprinter Vans, BMW, Infiniti, and Subaru stores and employing approximately 550 Long Islanders on staff.

Joe treasured his time at the office, continuing to go in on a consistent basis up until his final couple of years. Even in his last months, he would often ask his children how business was, and expressed interest in getting back to the office as soon as he could. His family believes that the business was indeed the central passion that drove his life, and there was never a day that went by that he wasn’t thinking on it.

Joe was predeceased many years ago by his beloved younger sister Johann, his parents, and in 2015 by his beloved wife Valerie. He is survived by his sons Joseph Jr. (Hasmik) James (Laura) and daughter Nancy (Pablo); his beloved grandchildren; James, Daniel, Christopher, Valerie, Jennifer, Isabella, Joseph III, Pablo, and Lailla, and his great- grandchildren, Blair and James III.

In addition, he leaves behind many other beloved family, friends, and business associates. He was both beloved by, and loved, his team at the dealerships, and will be greatly missed but neverforgotten.

King passed away January 14, 2023. He was a great husband, father, friend and a kind and generous boss.
Clyde was a native Californian, born in Los Angeles, CA in 1945. He spent most of his life on the West Coast. He served 4 years in the U.S. Navy after high school and went on to complete a Masters Degree in English at San Francisco State University. He loved long range fishing out of San Diego and caught many large tuna. Although he had Parkinson's for 30+ years, he never wanted to be known as "that Parkinson guy". He bravely underwent 3 experimental brain surgeries that greatly helped with symptoms.
Clyde founded King Instrument Company in 1983 and has been a successful owner and entrepreneur ever since.
He is preceded in death by his father Ozzie King, his mother Frances King, his sister Carol Russell and his brother Ron King. He is survived by his wife Carole, his son Henry and his sisters Jeanne Hendrickson and Janet King. Everyone who knew Clyde knew of his love of grammar. He would get cranky when someone would say "very unique" and would say, "you can't say very unique, it either is or it isn't". You'd be surprised how many times you will hear it. When you do, we hope you will remember Clyde.

Sandra “Sandy” Jacobs, the first woman to serve as El Segundo’s mayor and as president of the local chamber of commerce, has died, according to the city. She was 80.

Jacobs, who also served on the boards of multiple local organizations, died earlier this month, El Segundo announced on Friday, Jan. 13. In 2007, Jacobs was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Yet, she remained active despite her limitations.

“Sandy’s contributions to the City of El Segundo cannot be overstated,” the city said in a press release. “She was integral to shaping the city into the thriving community that it is today.”

The former mayor was born Sandra Carol Garrard on Jan. 20, 1942, in Kentucky. Her family moved to El Segundo in the early 1950s when her father got a job in the aerospace industry.

She graduated from El Segundo High School in 1960 and then attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton. During her time at the university, she worked as a camp counselor for the Girl Scouts, earned a bachelor’s degree in group work, recreation and elementary education — and met her husband, Karl Jacobs.

Her first job after graduating was teaching children with autism.

Besides Stockton, the Jacobs family, including daughter Jennifer, also lived in Reseda and Phoenix before moving back to El Segundo in 1981.

Jacobs eventually became president of her family’s business, South Bay Welder’s Supply, Inc. But she didn’t stop there. She also opened her own business, House of Cards, and co-owned the jewelry company Pinsational with her husband.

Jacobs became the first woman president of the El Segundo Chamber of Commerce in 1989, and made further history in 1996 — by becoming mayor.

She served as the city’s elected leader until 1998 and then continued as mayor pro-tem until 2004.

El Segundo did not have another woman mayor for 16 years. Suzanne Fuentes was El Segundo’s second woman mayor, serving from 2014 to 2018.

Jacobs was more than an elected official, however.

She also served on more than a dozen civic and charitable organizations, including the El Segundo Rotary Club and the El Segundo Economic Development Committee; was a founding member of Downtown El Segundo, Inc.; was the first president of the Library Board of Trustees; and was named Switzer Center’s South Bay Woman of the Year in 1999.

She also contributed regularly to Castaway Kids, an organization in Guaymas, Mexico, that assists children and families with education and housing.

And before, during and after serving on the City Council, Jacobs played a vital role in the downtown revitalization project, as well as the town’s mural program and downtown signage initiative.

Mayor Drew Boyles said in a statement that Jacobs was always generous with her time, and was a source of expertise and encouragement to the next generation.

“She was a dear friend and mentor to me and many others in our wonderful city,” Boyles said in the statement. “She will be missed tremendously.”

His fellow city officials also remembered Jacobs’ presence in El Segundo.

“El Segundo lost a leader, servant and friend with Sandy’s passing,” Councilmember Carol Pirsztuk said in a statement. “Thankfully, her legacy will live on as she helped set the path forward for our city and future leaders.”

Councilmember Lance Giroux described Jacobs as a trailblazer who loved the city.

“She had a bright and ready smile, coupled with a depth of knowledge and love for the City of El Segundo,” Giroux said in a statement. “She was a true pioneer for women, and I am a better person for having known her.”

Jacobs is survived by her husband, Karl Jacobs; her daughter, Jennifer Jacobs; her grandson, Jacob Levy; her brother Elwyn Garrard and his partner, Kit Kerwick; and many more family members in California, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.

Born on Feb. 24, 1931, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Ruskin graduated in three years from New York University in 1951. He saw an ad for the executive training program for Bamberger’s in New Jersey, paying $50 a week and took the job, but was soon drafted into the U.S. Army. Before he was deployed, the 21-year-old Ruskin proposed to his girlfriend, Myrna, whom he had met at a college dance while she was still in high school.

The two were married in June 1954, upon his discharge from the Army service in Japan, and he returned to Bamberger’s, where he worked in the Ladies Better Coats department and then became a buyer of junior coats and suits. In 1957, Ruskin joined Bloomingdale’s and held various positions during his 10-year career there, rising to divisional merchandise manager of ready-to-wear in 1963. He left Bloomingdale’s in 1967 to become executive vice president of Best & Co.

According to his daughter, Ruskin’s favorite achievement at Best & Co. was the creation of a unisex department that was inspired by an article he read about Harrods in London and their marketing to young people. He set aside the ninth floor and hired the artist Peter Max to decorate and execute the vision of what became “Stage 9.”

He also met Diane von Furstenberg, who came to Best & Co. with some dressy dresses, before she introduced the wrap dress. Ruskin immediately called up his buyer and told her to pick a few styles and put them in the store. The dresses sold well and were von Furstenberg’s first order in the U.S.

“One of my earliest appointments was I went to visit him at Best & Co.,” recalled von Furstenberg Thursday. “I was very pregnant, and could not carry my bag. He was a true gentleman. I have fond memories of him.”

In a WWD story about Best & Co. in 1967, the 36-year-old Ruskin was described as “a dynamic, no-nonsense fashion merchandiser” who brought a wealth of ready-to-wear resource contacts and critical buying experience to his job. In 1971, Ruskin moved to Miami and became executive vice president of Jordan Marsh Florida. Three and a half years later, he received an offer to become president of May D&F in Denver.

In 1979, Ruskin moved back to New York and became president and CEO of Gimbels and signed a contract that was a landmark at the time in retail executive compensation, according to WWD. His package at Gimbels called for $2 million in base salary and bonus over the five year life of the contract. In 1983, he was promoted to president of the BATUS Retail.

When Ruskin assumed the role at Gimbels, he didn’t realize the extent of the challenge, Linder said. She recalled that her father’s strategy was to get his young salespeople to take more pride in what they were doing. “It was always my strong belief that people make the difference. If you can get them to perform at their best, you will be successful,” Ruskin told his daughter, she said. Within a year, Gimbels was in the black.

In fact, in a 1984 WWD story, Ruskin was credited with turning about the Gimbels New York unit and making the first operating profit in six years in 1981 at a division that had marked time during the ‘70s while competitors successfully moved upscale.

Linder also said Ruskin was a big proponent of hiring women.

Ruskin was honored in 1984 by the National Jewish Hospital and National Asthma Center at a dinner that raised more than $1 million, which was covered by WWD and attended by industry people such as Marvin Traub, Arnold Aronson, Burt Tansky, Robert Suslow, and Albert Nipon. While “always minding the store,” Ruskin accepted the award and said the fundraising was brought about by “our efforts and your money.” The prior year’s dinner had honored BATUS chairman Arnold Aronson, and also raised $1 million.

“I would like to make it clear, that the $2 million in no way excuses any manufacturer from participating in markdowns, returns, advertising allowances or the consideration of any other allowances,” Ruskin said at the time.

Burt Tansky, former CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, said Thursday, “He and I worked closely when he was at Gimbels and I was at Saks. [Both were then owned by BATUS]. I remember him as a very fine man and a good merchant. He was a good retailer.”

In 1986, when BATUS decided to sell 40 percent of its retail business in the U.S., including Gimbels, Ruskin left the company. On Feb. 1, 1987, Ruskin became president of Cohoes Specialty Stores, a privately held chain of apparel stores. He left after 16 months when Cohoes decided to cut back its ambitious expansion plans due to the sluggish retail climate, WWD reported. After that, he started consulting.

Laurence C. Leeds Jr., former chairman and CEO of Manhattan Industries and former chairman of Buckingham Capital, said he did a lot of business with Ruskin, especially when he was at Jordan Marsh in Florida. “I knew him well. He was bright, humorous, very entertaining and a pretty darn good merchant. I had a lot of respect for him. My wife and I enjoyed having dinner with Myrna and Ron.”

When asked what Ruskin was like as a father, Linder said, “He just never had a harsh word, he was just all love.” Ruskin’s hobbies included tennis, sports, old movies and a love of chocolate. “But he would say his hobby was his family,” Linder said.

In addition to his daughter Robin, Ruskin is survived by his wife, Myrna; his son, Brad; daughter-in-law, Susan; son-in-law, Brian Linder, and four grandchildren.

The above published in Women’s Wear Daily submitted by Lisa Lockwood.

Ron Ruskin, the patriarch of our family, much beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died Wednesday morning after a brave battle with Parkinson's disease. He had a long and distinguished career in the retail industry, serving as CEO of several major department stores across the country. He was a Trustee of National Jewish Health, a Founding Director and Chairman of Smithsonian Business Ventures, and a longtime member of the Harmonie Club. Ron was famous for his dry and endearing sense of humor, his love of chocolate, and his disdain for all green foods. Ron's family was the joy of his life. He is survived by his wife Myrna, his son Brad (Susan Brooks), his daughter Robin Linder (Brian), and his grandchildren Rachel (Adam Chernicoff), Max Linder (Shayda Milani), Meredith, and Casey Linder. We will miss him forever.

In a career that lasted more than 60 years and included decades on stage in Sarasota at Asolo Repertory Theatre and memorable film roles in “Moonstruck” and two Woody Allen films, David S. Howard built a connection with audiences and fellow actors who adored him.

“David and I worked together for over 30 years and did a lot of plays together and had a lot of laughs together,” said Howard Millman, the former producing artistic director of Asolo Rep. “He was one of the most brilliant actors I’ve ever known. He was so insightful in every role he played. He was an effortless actor and he was always ready.”

Howard, who had retired from acting due to the impact of Parkinson’s Disease, died on Tuesday at age 94.

From 1976 to 1982, he appeared in more than 40 plays at Asolo Rep and he returned in the mid-1990s when Millman, who had previously served as managing director, returned as artistic director. In more recent years, he appeared in Frank Galati’s production of “12 Angry Men,” “Visiting Mr. Green,” Martin Vanderhof in “You Can’t Take it With You,” Grampa Joad in “The Grapes of Wrath,” and Yogi Berra in the one-man play “Nobody Don’t Like Yogi.” He played Scrooge in the theater’s one-time annual production of “A Christmas Carol” and a judge in Joanna Glass’s “Trying.”

Michael Donald Edwards, the current producing artistic director, chose “Yogi” to give him a chance to work with Howard.

“What I experienced with him was the most generous, wonderful, inspiring partner. I was a newbie compared to him and so grateful for that whole experience with him to work on a play about an American iconic figure like Yogi Bera with an American theater icon like David Howard,” said Edwards, who later directed Howard in “The Grapes of Wrath.”