Today in sad news for the Seattle theater community—actor Peter Weisenburger has passed away. I didn't know him very well (and he had moved from Seattle to upstate New York), but someone in the Seattle theater community sent me this Facebook message:

Hi Brendan,

It has been a very long time since we were in touch. I'm writing you today with some very sad news about our old friend Peter Weisenburger, who played Max in Spare Change back in Seattle Fringe 2000. Peter passed away on Sunday. His beautiful and talented wife, Merritt, who played Cynistine, asked me to contact Seattle theatre folks that Peter worked with and let them know.

If you hadn't been in touch with Peter and Merritt for a while, Peter had been fighting a fierce battle with brain cancer since March of last year. He and Merritt have three awesome children.

The family lives in upstate New York, where until recently Peter was teaching drama, performing, and singing with his band "Me and Pete." It will probably not surprise you that Peter and Merritt — two people with truly and extraordinarily passionate, generous, and loving spirits — worked together to create something positive from Peter's struggle. They created an organization, Peter's Mission, "with the purpose of igniting advocacy for and inspiring hope within those who are contending with brain tumors and brain cancer." Also, Peter created and performed a one-man show about his experience.

Please send loving thoughts to Merritt and her family.

Here is a link to their organization's website.

Condolences to all.