Dale A. Vivirito

Mr. Dale Allan Vivirito, 75, passed away on January 13, 2021 at the University of Toledo Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. Dale was born and raised in Prospect Heights, Illinois where he graduated from Prospect High School before going on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell College in Political Science and a Master of Fine Arts from Brandeis University in Theater, Acting and Directing. He also completed additional coursework in Financial Management at the Race School of Business at the University of Denver, Colorado. From 1998 to 2009, Dale was employed as the Executive Director of the Valentine Theater at the Toledo Cultural Arts Center. Before that he was the Executive Director at the Sandusky State Theater, Producing Director at the Flagstaff Festival of the Arts and Director of Performing Arts at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Over the course of his long career spanning over forty years, Dale presented, produced, directed and professionally stage managed more than 550 productions presented to over one million audience members. The Valentine Theater was his sixth historic theater renovation, and in its tenth anniversary season, it was celebrated by the completion of the Grand Lobby mural. In his retirement he enjoyed traveling, reading, gardening, cooking and spending time with his family and friends. Dale is survived by his only son, Anthony Vivirito; wife, Leah Vivirito of Stow, Massachusetts and his four grandchildren, Roman, Nico, Leo and Gianna. He is also survived by his sister, Judy Bazzett; brother, Lee Vivirito; ex-wife, Rebecca Rapp; and several nieces and nephews. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Blanche Vivirito. Dale’s love of the theater was a life-long passion. Early in his career, he worked all over the country including 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 Dale’s work in the theater was a fundamental belief in the transformative power of art and its ability to strengthen communities. An advocate for local art and artists, he was proud to be part of the revitalization of the downtown theaters in which he lived and worked. In 2010, he was nominated for the Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Ohio which honored his dedication to the arts in Ohio and his contributions to the Toledo community. In lieu of gifts, please send donations to the Ohio Arts Council or to the Toledo Humane Society in honor of Dale’s two loving pets, Izzy and Pip. The family would like to thank the Toledo University Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit staff for their exemplary care earlier this year.