Letter From an SHU Classmate

Earlier in the week I received a great email which the author has graciously allowed me to re-post here... - Curt

Hi Curt,

You don't know me, obviously. I transferred to SHU in the fall of 2000 and was a die-hard SHU Player until I graduated in '02. I didn't know Chris very well at all--I was really only in two productions with him--"Robin Hood" and the 2000 Christmas show. This may sound strange but I was so fascinated with Chris that I had a hard time approaching him--his personality was SO larger than life, and he was so talented and already a legend at SHU, and there I was, one of the newbies, and I was kind of terrified that he wouldn't think I was a good actress. Sad, huh? Once I finally did get up the nerve to talk to him, of course he was ridiculously nice, and I remember him trying to convince me to quit smoking, that he'd done it and I could do it too, and that I had a good voice(compliment of compliments!) and that I should be good to it. After he passed away, Chris's legacy became a huge part of my life, as well as all of us who were involved in theater at SHU. I'm proud to say that I helped build "The Bo" and was in almost every play that was put up there in its short existence....that we had to tear it down was a fucking travesty....sorry for swearing, but it was. Anyway, I came across your website for Chris tonight kind of by accident, but I wanted to tell you that what you've done is beautiful, and I'm so glad that his family and friends who were so close to him have his poetry (and yours) and these videos and pictures to help keep his spirit close....and for someone like me, to help me feel like I could have known him a little better too. And I just wanted to say thank you....it seems silly for me to thank you for it, as again, I barely knew Chris....but for the brief period that I did, he made a huge impression on me, and maybe it's odd, but I think of him often.....anyway, I just wanted to tell you that.

Kindest Regards,


name withheld at request of author