PORTER VAN ZANDT

the sweetest memories of the wonderful, talented, helpful and lovely Porter. The world's best stage manager and a really gifted director.. Barbara Barrie

Dearest Debra,

I am sitting here with an old Broadway costumer from The Hasty Heart who arrived at my house last night as an AirBnB guest. We were so amazed to find out that we both knew Porter -- and we are so sorry to hear about his passing..... although it has been 3 years now I know you will always miss him as will the rest of the world! We were just saying how few people have been lucky enough to have worked with Porter! All my love, Hannah Neufeld (Kathi Neufeld)

Dearest Porter: You live in my heart with memories that lift my spirits, make me smile, and fill me with a warmth that brings tears to my eyes. As the Wizard said to the Tin Man: "A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others. If this is true, and I think it is, you have one of the biggest hearts of anyone I've ever known because you are loved dearly by so many. From the heart - Timothy Wayne

Mr. Van Zandt,
Sir. I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country when you served in the USN during WW II and also for being a member of the Greatest Generation. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

debra, i was so shocked to see porter's name last night on the tonys. and so sad. as you know, i dearly loved him, and he was the best stage manager broadway ever produced. my love to you and the children.....what a loss, and what a fabulous man. and what a talent!

Porter shaped my adult life with one very long phone call where he explained what a wardrobe supervisor does and then asked if I'd like to be one as of Wednesday next week with The Acting Company. He taught me to budget time, to divide a sheet of paper into all the areas in which work had to be done and millions of other useful, important run the show information. When I came to NYC, I only knew about being a costume designer, Porter gave me my life's work. Thanks. Karen L. Eifert...

I was watching the Tony Awards last night and recognized Mr. Van Zandt's name as a name that was recently entered into Chapter Grand of Phi Delta Theta. I send my condolences and know that he made huge contributions to the stage. Our love to you and your family during this time. --Phi Delta Theta staff

Dear Deb,
I am so sorry to have lost touch with you two and stunned to see Porter listed in AEA Final Curtain today...he helped me so much in so many ways when we worked together. I shall certainly keep him and you in my prayers

Oh, so sad to hear this news. Kind and funny and sweet and smart. You will be missed Porter.