So sorry to hear this news. I didn't have the opportunity to work with Stocker very often, but many times, I would run into him at film auditions and he was always very warm and friendly and had a great sense of humor. He will, indeed, be missed.

Ron Gural

ADIEU, MY DEAR, LOVELY GENTLEMAN!  WHAT A GENEROUS AND TALENTED ACTOR. I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE KNOWN YOU AND WORKED WITH YOU.

I LOVE YOU,

LYLA HAY OWEN

 I was fortunate enough to work by Stocker's side as a stage manager in several productions at the Bayou Dinner Theatre.  He took me with no skills, forever confusing my left from my right, to where I would successfully write blocking notes without any difficulty.  There was another side to Stocker that many of the theatre committee never had the opportunity to see, Stocker working with the young men and women in our public school systems as an evaluator.  As part of my job, I had the opportunity to be with Stocker and his "sidekick" when he interviewed young actors, took them though acting exercises to establish if they demonstrated that spark that would one day grace the stage.  He worked with young elementary children through high school students, and with each one he used that caring voice and encouragement to help them move beyond any fright and do their best.  He was gracious to all, those with talent and those who needed more work.  One year there was a young girl from China that totally charmed Stocker with her stage presence.  This was her first year in the US, parents unable to speak any English, yet she had gained such command of the language that she moved flawlessly through all of his directions.  In her interview she had told Stocker she loved to sing songs about America.  At the end of her evaluation Stocker asked if she could sing one of her favorite songs about America in Chinese.  Without batting an eye this little girl looked at Stocker and asked "would you prefer Manderin or Cantonese, at which time Stocker broke into that wonderful laugh as the little girl sang "My Country Tis of Thee" to him in Manderin.  You will be missed.  

The Cahill Archives

STOCKER: S.R.O.!

Michael P. Cahill

December 21, 2009

     Stocker Fontelieu made his farewell appearance to an overflow Standing Room Only crowd on the main stage of Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp in Metairie at a matinee on Saturday December 19, 2009.

     Commanding center stage as always, he was surrounded by an array of medals and a tri-fold American flag in honor of his service to his country during World War II. At stage right was an enlargement of the cover of his smash hit biography Just Who Is Stocker Fontelieu Anyway? The Life And Times Of A Gentleman Of The Theatre with one of his trademark berets jauntily draped over one corner. The set was dressed with several floral arrangements, including one from cousins Pam & T.C. Lewis and Linda & Dale Ursprung.

     Seated front and center were Stocker’s nephew Charles D. Fontelieu with his wife Kimberly from Phoenix, Maryland.

     At 1 p.m., sharp, Producer Nell Lipscomb and TST Director Billy Henry gave word for the curtain to rise and Musical Director and Accompanist Flo E. Presti played an overture medley of Broadway show tunes.

     Always a generous performer and director, Stocker then ceded the stage to others.

     The Reverend Dr. JoAnne M. Garma, Ed.D., BCC, opened with a prayer and welcome.

     Michael Cahill then appeared and delivered an appreciation of Stocker Fontelieu, paying particular attention to his family and his war experiences.

     This was followed by Helen Blanke’s tear-jerking rendition of the moving WWII elegy "We’ll Meet Again."

     Jimmy Murphy next bounded on stage with his own reminiscences, including The Night Of The Living Dead Audience at a performance of ART, perhaps the nadir of Stocker’s career. Jimmy closed with a Wow performance of "Never Met A Man I Didn’t Like" from Will Rogers Follies.

     Mississippian George Rummel then paid tribute to his New Orleans inspiration.

     After a few words of her own, Jan C.C. Chategnier delivered the wise words of Ecclesiastes 3:1-13.

     Theater Guy David Cuthbert followed with a rare appearance in the Limelight. His reminiscences of Fontelieu concluded with a call for Le Petit Theatre Du Vieux Carre to commemorate Stocker's memory in a real and tangible way.

     Psalm 121 was read by Nell Lipscomb.

     Next-To-Closing, Tory Cohen May came out of retirement to warble "A Simple Song."

     Reverend Garma reappeared to deliver Words of Hope and Benediction.

     The crowd was played out by the musical stylings of Ms. Presti...as Stocker was remembered...in light.

     Due to the presence of Mr. & Mrs. Fontelieu of Maryland, Ms. Lipscomb was able to arrange for the private interment at Hope Mausoleum to be effected that afternoon.

     Janet Shea is in negotiations with Gary Solomon and Brandt Blocker of Le Petit Theatre Du Vieux Carre for a Memorial Service to be staged there.  The date chosen is the evening of Monday January 11, 2010.  Further details will be made public as they are decided.

The Stocker Fontelieu Guest Book may be viewed and signed at www.legacy.com.

MPC

For news of the Stocker Fontelieu Memorial, check:

http://www.stageclick.com/topic/3817.aspx

Stocker was the first director I worked with fresh out of high school, when I was a snot-nosed kid, who thought I had more talent than I really did... He nurtured me, mentored me and most of all became a true friend, one who would always tell me the truth, no matter how painful.  I remember hours of playing BOGGLE in the green room, at lunch or even during a show I was working crew on, and marveling how INTELLIGENT he was... He was the BEST at so many things: director, treacher, actor, comedian, bon vivant, friend and mentor.  I will miss you forever, dear friend... there will not soon be another like you!

-David Tringali

For a report on Stocker's Memorial, check:

http://www.stageclick.com/topic/3837.aspx