On August 31st a dear friend of the Pasadena Playhouse passed away. Jerry Bono first came to the Playhouse as a student in 1962. He studied acting and costuming, and graduated after two years and eight productions with the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts and even two on the mainstage. After his training, Jerry went to work in television as a costumer for Switched at Birth, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Speechless, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Voyagers, BJ & the Bear, and Airwolf.
Though the College closed shortly after his graduation, Jerry always felt very connected to the community there, and became one of the most active members of the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates, serving on its Board of Directors as First Vice President. While on the board, he chaired the Alumni Play Reading Committee, which made recommendations for mainstage productions; organized the annual Alumni Brunch for two years; prepared magnificent desserts for the Board meetings; hosted last year’s Board picnic; and went far out of his way to involve classmates in the organization, often taking it upon himself to pay lifetime membership dues for friends.
Jerry was also skilled at nurturing plant life despite the oppressive Mojave sun. Friends describe his Van Nuys home as a “garden of paradise,” and for many years, he volunteered his time to take care of the foliage decorating the Playhouse patio and Actors’ Alley.
Unbeknownst to many thanks to his dauntless enthusiasm and good cheer, Jerry had been undergoing chemotherapy for some time. Nevertheless, no one expected the sudden failure of his liver and kidneys on Sunday, August 26th. The worst of his illness was brief, and Jerry departed last Friday, the 31st. According to his wishes, no religious ceremony was conducted, but close friends and family paid their respects at a memorial service held in his home last Saturday.
An announcement about a permanent memorial from his friends at the theatre will be made soon.
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