Peter Jack Tkatch

Peter Jack Tkatch, a co-founder of the pioneering Equity Fights AIDS organization; a theatre actor and professor; a warm and light-hearted brother, uncle and friend and a dedicated advocate for the underdog, UVM Professor Emeritus Peter Jack Tkatch died of prostate cancer on July 5 at Respite House in Colchester, Vt.
With his feisty, Puck-ish charm, his light step, his infectious laugh and his attention to detail, Peter stood out in every crowd. Peter built deep and lasting friendships and became soulmates with college classmates, fellow actors and teachers as well as castmates, neighbors and friends. He was a devoted brother and a doting and immensely proud uncle and great uncle.
During his last days, family and friends from around the globe called to celebrate their time with him. His students know him by his motto "Joy in the work" and noted their lives changed by his influence. One student channeled Peter Jack's love of Shakespeare so much so that he named his daughter Juliet. Peter's college and New York City friends remember him comforting them by cooking and serenading them. One said: "Cooking with Peter is one of the joys of my life."
They also remembered his resilience and courage during the height of the HIV / AIDS crisis – not only co-founding Equity Fights AIDS but sitting with people, counseling them and standing up for them. "He blazed a trail," said one who became an HIV/AIDS social worker." His best friend said: "He threw himself heart and soul into that crisis. He was very, very brave. I don't know anyone else who worked so hard and so lovingly."
Peter worked on Broadway, off Broadway, off-off Broadway and in stock and regional theatre. He was a co-founder of Equity Fights AIDS in fall 1987 at the height of the HIV/ AIDS crisis along with friend and colleague Colleen Dewhurst and others. The merged Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $300M for essential services for people throughout the US who have HIV / AIDS, are struggling with COVID-19 and facing other critical illnesses.
Peter was born in and grew up in Sherrill, NY, to the late Janette Cowan and Peter Tkatch. He graduated from University of Albany / State University of New York; and got his master's in fine arts at Temple University.
He acted and stage managed for more than 40 years at numerous Off Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, stock and regional theatres such as the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the American Shakespeare Festival, the Kennedy Center, the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Riverside Shakespeare Company, Theatre by the Sea, The Minetta Lane, Theatre at Sea, and the Vermont Stage Company. He appeared in Androcles & the Lion, The Cat and the Canary, Misalliance, Charley's Aunt, Seascape, The Apple Tree, Oh What a Lovely War!, Stop the World (I Want to Get Off), Spoon River, Julius Caesar, Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Merchant of Venice, King John, Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Measure for Measure, The Tempest, Othello and many, many more.
In New York, Peter served on committees at both the Screen Actors Guild and Actors' Equity Association. At SAG he was a recipient of the Joseph C. Riley Service Award for service to membership on the Agency, Conservatory, Film, Nominating, and VITA Committees. At Actors' Equity he was elected to the governing Council and served as vice chair of the LORT, Off Broadway, and Equity Fights AIDS Committees, as well as a member and vice- chair of several contract negotiating teams. Prior to coming to UVM, he also served on the Board of Directors as well as the founding Steering and Program Committees of Broadway Cares, later Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and as a board member of the People With AIDS Theatre Workshop.
From 1992 to 2014, Peter was an associate professor theatre at the University of Vermont in theatre where his specialties were acting and voice. He also was the resident director leading annual departmental productions of The Elephant Man, Angels in America, Blithe Spirit and many more.
Prior to UVM, Peter taught at the Circle in the Square Professional Theatre School; the New York University BFA Acting Program; the University of Alabama MFA Acting Program; the Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Temple University; and Villanova University.
Peter remained a voting and dues-paying member of Actors' Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Drama League and was formerly a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Stage Managers' Association, the Voice and Speech Trainers Association, the Actors' Fund of America, the Voice Foundation, and the Drama League.
In Vermont, Peter was a regular attendee and supporter of the arts and was a financial supporter of dozens of charities particularly those supporting the LGBTQI community especially Vermont CARES, and other groups supporting people in need and the arts. He also was a 20+-year board member of the Ledgewood South Condominium Association board.
Peter was pre-deceased by his parents, many friends and colleagues and his cat Meow and other feline family members. He is survived by his sister Mary Tkatch (Tim) Smith, two nephews Eric (Amy) and Sean (Renee); great niece Maddie; great nephew Justin; close cousins Jack and Diane; college classmates Gloria Avner, Lillian Turner, Jim Lobdell and Karren Ashley; friends from NYC including Mercedes Ruehl, Linda Varvell, Mary Lou Westerfield, Anne F. Zimmerman, Sarah Peterson Nuland and Marge Murray Roop; Vermont friends John Forbes, Robin Fawcett, Sarah Carleton, Ruth Wallman, Betsy Liley and so many others; former colleagues, neighbors and a legion of adoring students.
Peter would encourage you to remember him while enjoying nature, supporting the arts or spending time with those you love. He will be buried with his parents and extended family in Sherrill, NY.