Pablo Vela(1923-2021)

Born in Coffeyville, Kansas, to a Mexican father and German-American mother, Pablo, born Paul, served in the U.S. Air Force during WWII, and received both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Columbia University. He was also a Fulbright Scholar for two years in France and spent a year at Yale University studying theater. Mr. Vela served as director of the Theater Program at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont from 1966 to 1975. He also taught at such institutions as The City College of New York and Denmark's National Theater School. Among his notable students were David Mamet and William H. Macy. Director, performer (and a "bon vivant"), he was a member of composer/director Meredith Monk's performance group, The House, since 1975. He was also a director of cabaret and solo performances in New York, and performed as an actor in many productions with Bread and Puppet Theater, Ping Chong, and at La MaMa, etc. He died on July 26, 2021 in Brooklyn. He was 97 years old.