Sean Michael Poole

Sean Michael Poole passed away on March 6, 2026, at the age of 69.

He is survived by his loving wife of thirty-one years, Terri (Teresa) Cabral, and his son, Ian Poole of Houston, Texas. Sean was the only son of the late Anita Kelly Poole and the late John Francis Poole.

He is also survived by his sisters, Maureen Poole Goff and her husband, Chef Bill Goff, and their daughters, Madeleine Goff and Kelly Goff; and his youngest sister, Eileen Poole and her partner, Royce Dudley. He is further survived by Eileen's children, Annie King and Dr. Briggy Poole Adams and her husband, Dr. Ryan Adams, and their son, Miles Adams.

Sean graduated from Servite High School in 1974 and from Cypress College in 1977, where he earned an Associate Degree in Communications.

During his childhood and teenage years, Sean made several trips to Dublin, Ireland, where his father was born and where many of his aunts, uncles, and cousins lived. In 2004, 2006, and 2008, Sean and his wife returned to Ireland to reconnect with family, and he leaves behind many beloved cousins there.

In August of 1973, Sean survived a devastating car accident that left him with a fractured spine and partial paralysis. Though the accident changed the course of his life, Sean faced the challenge with remarkable resilience. He recovered and continued forward with determination and grace. Many people who knew him were unaware of the extent of his injuries, though he walked with a limp for the rest of his life. He carried on with courage, adapting his dreams and forging a new path.

Sean began his radio career while in college, including participating in the KISS Workshop in Los Angeles. He later moved to Houston, Texas, where he worked in major market radio in a variety of formats, including Easy Listening, Classic Rock, and Classical music. He also worked as a sound engineer at Channel 26 television in Houston. His broadcasting career spanned approximately ten years.

During this time, Sean also became deeply involved in the Renaissance festival community in Texas. The Texas Renaissance Festival became a second home to him. In the late 1970s and early 1980s he performed as an entertainer at both the Texas Renaissance Festival near Houston and Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie. By 1987 he had become the Entertainment Coordinator for the Texas Renaissance Festival, a role he held for a few years. Throughout his life he maintained friendships with many performers and artists from Renaissance Festivals across the country.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Sean expanded his creative work into video writing, directing, and production. In 1985 he wrote the script for, helped film, acted in, and produced a video titled "Half of Everything," which was shot on location at the Texas Renaissance Festival. It can be seen on YouTube.

In 1992 he received the Bronze Award at the Houston International Film Festival for Best Educational Short for the bilingual automotive video "No One Ever Told Me That," an owner's manual designed to help everyday drivers better understand their vehicles.

In 1994 Sean met the love of his life, Terri Cabral, at King Richard's Faire in Carver, Massachusetts. Their connection was immediate. Within two weeks they were performing together as The Just Desserts Fairy Tale Players, presenting "Flipped Out Fables." For eight years they traveled the country performing at Renaissance festivals, county fairs, and city festivals, including the Chicago Fringe Festival. They also served as drummers for the T.I.G.E.R.S. show at King Richard's Faire. Sean wrote scripts and media for the T.I.G.E.R.S. shows and frequently served as master of ceremonies for the animal presentations.

Sean Poole was a talented poet, writer, entertainer, and artist.

After ten years of research into the Cuban painter Gattorno, Sean and his wife, Terri Cabral, a niece of the artist, published the award-winning coffee-table art book "Gattorno: A Cuban Painter for the World" in 2004. In 2009 the book received the Eric Hoffer Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing and also won Best Book Awards in both New York and Massachusetts. In 2014 Sean served as the keynote speaker at the Hemingway Conference in Ketchum, Idaho, where he spoke about his book and the friendship between Gattorno and Ernest Hemingway.

Inspired by Gattorno and many other artists he admired, Sean later turned to painting himself. Several of his works were exhibited in the Myrtle Beach area.

Sean Michael Poole truly embodied the spirit of a Renaissance man-creative, curious, resilient, and passionate about art, storytelling, and performance.