Distler, Paul Antonie

Paul Antonie (Tony) Distler passed away in Blacksburg, Va, December 28, 2016. Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Tony devoted most of his adult years to creating and building the Arts at Virginia Tech and in the NRV.

He is predeceased by his parents, Theodore and Alice Distler, his two brothers, Tad and George Distler, and his infant sister, Mary Alice Distler.

He is survived by his beloved children and their mother Ann and grandchildren: Paul and Jay Distler, Gretchen Distler, Jerry Flad, Alanah Flad, and Iris Flad; and Tod, Elena, Jon Henry, and Paul Wyatt Distler. All of them contributed in so many ways over so many years to making his life blessed.

Also especially important to him were his sister-in-law, Lynn Cheney, and his nieces Mary Alice Hurvett and Kathryn Pugliesi.

Tony was hired at Virginia Tech in 1967 to inaugurate a theatre program. With the artistic and personal support of his long-time friend and colleague, Don Drapeau, the first three BAs in Theatre were awarded in 1970. That same year, Tony was asked to take over the Music program and to develop a Communications program. During the 1970s BAs were added in both of the latter, along with an MFA in Theatre. The Theatre and Music Departments were eventually merged with the Department of Art to form the School of the Arts in 1979, with Tony as Director.

Along the way, Tony co-founded the predecessor of the Virginia Theatre Association and served as President of the American Theatre Association and the National Association of Schools of Theatre, as well as Dean of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre.

Tony was also a theatre practitioner. His career began as a child actor in 1948 as Whitney Day in a production of Life With Father at Franklin & Marshall College (PA). He continued acting yearly and joined Actors’ Equity Association (the union for professional stage actors) in 1959. He performed with such actors as Betty White, Anne B. Davis, Roy Schneider, and Robert Culp in the 1950s-1960s.

Most of his theatre career was as a director of professional, community, and academic productions and as a theatre teacher. He created the seminal course (and taught it for 18 years) for the undergraduate VT theatre major— Theatre 101—after which the physical theater on College Ave. is named.

When asked in 1973, Tony created The Marching Virginians (VTs), the (now) 330-member marching band that is the “Spirit of Tech,” and he was the PA announcer for both the VTs and the Regimental Band for 40 years.

Tony’s commitment and work also extended to Warm Hearth Village and Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the School of Performing Arts at VT and/or The Warm Hearth Foundation.

A memorial service for Tony will be held on May 5, 2017 his 80th birthday in Blacksburg. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.