Dale Allan Vivirito ’67

One of 14 Cornell students who participated in a historic 1965 civil rights protest march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, Dale Allan Vivirito ’67 died Jan. 13, 2021, in Toledo, Ohio. He was 75.

Vivirito majored in political science at Cornell and earned a master of fine arts degree in theatre, acting, and directing from Brandeis University. 

From 1998 to 2009 he was executive director of the Valentine Theatre at the Toledo Cultural Arts Center. Before that he was executive director of the Sandusky (Ohio) State Theatre, producing director at the Flagstaff Festival of the Arts, and director of performing arts at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. During his career Vivirito produced, directed, and professionally stage managed more than 550 productions. 

Early in his career he worked all over the country including in New York, Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Denver, with stars and headliners from every aspect of show business. He held positions as a producer, general manager, technical director, production stage manager, designer, publicist, actor, and educator. Central to his work was his fundamental belief in the transformative power of art and its ability to strengthen communities. Dale is survived by his son, Anthony, daughter-in-law, Leah, and four grandchildren.