Alexander Speer

Alex was a great guy and a good friend. We shared our love of plays, 9x9@9, and Wake Forest. Alex was a writer's writer, a disciplined, serious student of the craft and the form. He was an intelligent, engaging conversationalist -- and a kind, generous man. May his memory be a blessing.

I knew Alex as a neighbor, and as a writer. Alex was a prominent presence in what were then the 9 by 9 plays presented in the Lobby of Theatre Charlotte. Alex was a talented writer, and more importantly, a beautiful person. I used to bump into him in the neighborhood, and we would chat. I miss Alex. He was just special.

Alex and I were friends in high school, despite a difference in age of two years. We shared an interest in playing the orgtan and Broadway musicals. After graduation, we pretty much lost contact with each other for several decades. And then he moved to Charlotte where I have a number of family members. We reconnected and always got together when I was in that area. We were on the same wave politically but didn't necessarily agree on everything - which kept conversations lively and...

Alex was a dear friend to us, Carol Butler (me), and Katherine Gillis. More than a friend...he was family to us. I met Alex at Theatre Charlotte when I became the 9th resident playwright of a group called "Playwrights in Progress." Both of us had many plays we'd written produced. He met Katherine, we started going to Panther Games, having dinner out at least once a month. We all went to exhibits together. Alex was well versed in a number of subjects and could share insight, thoughts and...