W. Joseph Stell

W. Joseph Stell, professor emeritus in the Department of Drama, University of Georgia, passed away Friday, December 19, 2014. He was 78.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, the son of Walter Joseph Stell, Jr. and Lillian Stell of Greenville, North Carolina, Dr. Stell was a graduate of East Carolina College and earned his Ph.D. in theater at Bowling Green State University, Ohio. He earned his M.A. degree from New York University. While in New York he began designing for professional theatre, including three professional summer stock theatres and several Off-Broadway productions. He spent a year designing for the Manitoba Theatre Center in Winnipeg, Canada, before taking a position as design instructor at Richmond Professional Institute, Richmond, Virginia, where he met his wife.
In 1966 he began his tenure with the University of Georgia. After earning his Ph.D. degree from Bowling Green State University in 1975, he was promoted to full professorship. At UGA, he taught theatrical design and was Head of the Design Program in the Department of Drama for over 20 years. He designed scenery and /or lighting for over 100 departmental productions through the years as well as supervising student design projects. For several years he was Chairman of the Fine Arts Division in the School of Arts and Sciences. During his last two years at UGA he served as Acting Head of the Department of Drama. He was awarded the UGA Research Medallion and the Christ-Janer Award for life-time creativity in the arts. He retired from UGA in 1997.
In addition to his services to UGA, Dr. Stell free-lanced as a professional designer. In addition to the Manitoba Theatre Center and Off-Broadway, he designed productions for theatres in Philadelphia, in Princeton, N.J., Baltimore, Atlanta, Morgantown, WV, several theatres in western Pennsylvania, and in Georgia. He was a member of the U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology and the Southeast Chapter USITT where he served as chairman for two terms and received the Founders' Award for his services.
He served as theatrical consultant for the construction and/or renovation of several theatres in Georgia, including the Morton Theatre in Athens, for which he also designed and painted the permanent front olio curtain. In addition, he provided designs for local dance companies and was awarded the Clarke County Community Cultural Award.
After retirement he volunteered his services at UGA Catholic Center, Clarke Central High School and St. Mary's Hospital. He enjoyed traveling abroad with his wife, sharing his grandchildren's activities, and traveling with them to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, New York City, Washington, DC, and a number of other locations. In recent years, he renewed an early interest in choral singing and was for a number of years a member of the Athens Choral Society, the Athens Symphony Chorus, as well as the folk choir at the UGA Catholic Center.
He is survived by his wife, Agnes of Athens; daughter, Heather; five grandchildren, Caleb Eberhart, Jessica Hood, Braydyn Holloway, Cameryn Holloway, Rybecca Jo Mary Agnes Holloway, and one great-grandchild.
Memorial services will be held 11AM Monday, December 22nd at the UGA Catholic Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com.
Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.