George Alan Rusnak

Alan is survived by his parents, George and Nancy Rusnak of Bloomington, Indiana; wife Sandra Long; his daughter Alexandra; and his sister, Jerri Rusnak of Bloomington, Indiana.

Alan was born in Bloomington, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University in 1989 with a Bachelors from the School of Fine Arts, and then with a Masters in Scenic Design from Indiana University’s School of Music. In 1995, the New Orleans Opera Association invited Alan to become their Resident Scenic Designer, Technical Director and Scenic Studio Manager. For the past 19 years, Alan designed at least 25 new productions, such as Lakme, Rheingold, and Othello, to name a few. Many of Alan’s sets were used in Opera productions across the US and Canada in cities like Seattle, Detroit and Ottawa.

In the last 14 years Alan has also designed as many as 18 different productions for LSU Opera, including the World Premier of Carlisle Floyd’s “Willie Stark” in 2007. Besides New Orleans Opera and LSU, he also designed scenery for Puerto Rico Ballet, Loyola University, Southern Repertory Theatre, Michigan’s Bay View, Summer Stages and Madewood Music Festival.

Alan was accomplished at design, and painting. He was a generous, witty, dedicated individual who loved life and who was passionate about art. He worshiped in the parish of St Clement of Rome and often volunteered at St Clement of Rome School.

Visitation will be at Leitz-Eagan Funeral home from 6:00-9:00 on Wednesday October 22 with a Masonic Service held at 7:30pm until 8:00pm, located on 4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd. There will be visitation before the funeral Mass at noon Thursday, October 23 from 10:00am to noon at St Clement of Rome Church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Alan’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Tulane University Cancer Center for Prostate research. Condolences can be sent to www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.