William Avery Mitchell

Mitchell, William Avery
Jan. 10, 1950 - Oct. 11, 2012
Bill Mitchell passed away peacefully in his sleep Thursday morning. He spent his adult years in theater management, the last several with the Historic Asolo Theater. He was passionate about Opera music and at one time helped with the Opera-tion program by introducing middle school students to opera music. Prior to his job at the Historic Asolo Theater he worked at the Golden Apple Dinner Theater, 13 years at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall , including 3 years as the Executive Director. He worked several years at Florida Studio Theater after moving to Sarasota in 1986. He became interested in Sarasota while visiting during Opera season, every year. Before settling in Sarasota, Bill worked for 12 years as a theatrical agent with the Fifi Oscard Agency in New York City. Other projects in Sarasota include The Sarasota Arts Council. He helped to establish the partnership between the Van Wezel Arts Hall and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Bill graduated from The Darrow School in New Lebanon, NY and the University of Hartford in West Hartford, CT. He attended ACT in San Francisco where he was involved with several theater productions. He also performed with summer stock in Williamstown at Williams College.
He was a member of St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Siesta Key. He was an avid skier when he lived up north and enjoyed walks on the beach during his time in Florida. Bill, a proficient sailor, enjoyed many summers on his family's sailboat at the Westport Marina, NY on Lake Champlain.
Bill was born in Cohoes, NY, the son of Dr. Henry James Mitchell III (deceased) and Frances Jackson Mitchell (The Meadows, Sarasota.) He was father of Henry B. Mitchell (Sarasota) and Marjorie B. Mitchell (Sarasota and Geneva, NY). He was brother to James Henry Mitchell, lV, Frances Mitchell Smith (Wellesley Smith) of Frisco, CO, Thomas Jackson Mitchell (Patricia Johansen) of Marysville, WA and David DeLano Mitchell of Cohoes, NY (deceased). He is also survived by 5 nephews: Arthur and Hayward Smith, Alex, Devon and Drew Mitchell, 3 great nephews and a great niece, and his former wife and friend, Betsy Mitchell.
A private family service will be held during the week with a memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: Historic Asolo Theater.