Debra Rose Hesser

Hesser, Debra Rose
July 16, 1954 - Dec. 9, 2007

Debra Rose Hesser, 53, Bradenton, died Dec. 9, 2007.
A celebration of her life will be at 1 p.m. today at The Glenridge Performing Arts Center.
Survivors include her husband of 32 years, Karl; a daughter, Alexandra; a son, Mark; her father and stepmother, William and Mary Honeycutt; a sister, Ellen Harris; and a brother, Dennis Honeycutt.
She is also survived by son-in-law Alexander Wilder; brother-in-law Wayne Harris; sisters-in-law Kay Honeycutt, Karen Hesser and Beth Hesser-Nichols and her husband, Jack Nichols; and 12 nieces, nephews and grandnephews.
Deb and Karl met in Worms-am-Rhein, Germany, where they were married. While in Germany, she began her career in photography, teaching U.S. Army soldiers and photographing plays and musicals. After their return to the U.S., Deb began shooting professional productions, as well as head shots for actors and models. When Karl joined the staff of Florida Grand Opera in Miami, she became official company photographer, as well as shooting productions for Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach theater companies and university theater departments. She became production photographer for the Sarasota Opera in 2001 and relocated to Sarasota two years later, when Karl joined the staff as director of education. Her work is prized for her ability to capture the essence of the world's greatest operatic performers and has been featured in major newspapers and magazines throughout the world.
Deb's hospitality and cooking became well-known by actors, singers, directors, conductors and designers. Returning artists were never denied their favorite recipes, and Deb's warmth and generosity provided a home away from home for dozens of traveling artists. She loved them in return, first as individuals and then as artists.