Vaughn R. West

He was born in Picqua, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1955, son of William Montgomery and Vona (Owens) West. He graduated from Xenia (Ohio) High School and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University, and completed graduate work in the MFA program in theater at Brandeis University.

Mr. West then lived in New York City for 17 years, working as an actor, director and costume character performer. During this time, he worked for United Media Enterprises touring nationally and internationally as Garfield the Cat.

In 1989, he and his wife moved to Keene, where he earned his post-baccalaureate teaching certification from Keene State College.

At the time of his death, he was an adjunct professor at Keene State College, where he had taught courses in theater and integrated studies for 20 years. He also worked as an adjunct professor for Mount Wachusett Community College, where he taught drama and speech.

Mr. West was a member of the board of directors of the New Hampshire Dance Institute and performed as the narrator of the NHDI Event of the Year in May 2009.

His love of the theater was shared with the Keene community as a performer and director. His stage roles were many and included work with theaters at Keene State College, Mount Wachusett Community College, the Keene Lions Club, the Edge Ensemble and Raylynmor Opera Company.

Over the years, he directed many productions for Keene State College and Mount Wachusett Community College, including “Damn Yankees,” “The Foreigner,” “Crimes of the Heart” and “Agnes of God.”

He was a huge baseball fan and also enjoyed playing softball. He was a member of a senior group softball league in Brattleboro, and enjoyed playing throughout the summer.

Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Susan (Kromphold) Ericson-West of Keene; two sons, Evan West and James West, both of Keene; three brothers, Lawrence West and his wife, Frances, of Dayton, Ohio, Raymond West and his wife, Delila, of Crossville, Tenn., and Steven West and his wife, Catherine Chase, of Acton, Mass.; a sister, Sue West of Cincinnati, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.

A time to gather and remember will be held Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Fletcher Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 33 Marlboro St., Keene. Friends are invited. A memorial service will be held later this summer or in the early fall.

The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Mr. West’s memory to the New Hampshire Dance Institute, 29 Center St., Keene 03431; or to the Vaughn West Memorial Program Fund in Theatre and Dance at Keene State College, 229 Main St., MS 2701, Keene 03435; gifts may be made payable to Keene State College with West Program Fund noted on the memo line.