Former Eastern theatre department chairman Glendon Gabbard passed away Friday, June 15 in Houston, Texas.

John T. Oertling, current department chair, confirmed Gabbard’s death saying that sources from the theatre department who were informed of his death said that Gabbard was “very ill” when he died.

Gabbard was not only a professor and department head, but he was actively involved in Eastern’s theatre productions, directing and working stage crew for plays ranging from the department’s conception in 1947 with “Dear Ruth” until his retirement in the summer of 1984 with “Working.”

Gabbard taught along side his wife, English professor Lucina P. Gabbard, whom he married in 1942. They had two sons, Glen Gabbard and Krin Gabbard.

While at Eastern, Gabbard knew and taught both Joan Allen and John Malkovich, and when they left both he and his wife had scholarships made in their name for students studying in their specific department.

After retiring, both Gabbard and his wife Lucina moved to Chicago and worked smaller roles for featured films. Some of Gabbards work can be seen in the films “Prelude to a Kiss” starring Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan, and “Blink” starring Aiden Quinn.

Before Lucna preceded Gabbard, passing away May 2006 of lung cancer, they both moved to Houston, and Gabbard remained there until he passed away.

“He was very important the theatre department at Eastern, and both were important influences on the university as a whole,” said Oertling.