Colleen Helen Tovar

Colleen Helen Tovar, 51, of Bloomington, Illinois passed away November 7, 2022. She was born August 7, 1971 in Warren, Michigan, to Maureen H. Phillips and Thomas P. Kenny. She married the love of her life, John Tovar on September 15, 2000, in Streamwood, Illinois.

Colleen is survived by her loving husband of 22 years, John; fur baby Basher; siblings Susan Hamill, Thomas Kenny and Kathryn Kenny. She is preceded in passing by her mother, Maureen Phillips; father, Thomas Kenny; father-in-law, Ralph Tovar; and mother-in-law, Marlene Tovar.

Colleen was the Production Manager of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and the School of Theatre and Dance at Illinois State University, where she taught and mentored the stage management students. Previously, Colleen was the Production Manager and Stage Management Instructor at Ball State University, the Managing Director for Fox Valley Repertory Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois, and was a freelance Equity Stage Manager for many theatre productions throughout the Chicagoland area.

She loved to cook, read, and listen to music. She was a huge fan of the Great British Baking Show, historical documentaries, and Marvel movies. While she preferred Star Trek over Star Wars, she would put the latter on the television for John… whenever she was napping.

Colleen was a fiercely loyal friend, dedicated teacher and mentor, and a stalwart leader. One of Colleen’s greatest pleasures was mentoring stage management students. She was so proud of her “kids” and was always ecstatic to hear how their careers and lives continued to grow after they graduated.

Described by others as:

• Steadfast, forward, and gloriously still – her energy sat like a flat glassy lake on a windless day – beautiful, deep, unmoving and reflective of the world around her.

• She was the most resilient, beautiful, and quick-witted woman they’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.

• Through every rehearsal, every tech, every chaotic meeting and interaction, Colleen was always the one modeling stability, grace under pressure, vision, humanity, and a keen awareness of where we were, what needed to happen next, and where we were heading.

• She lived her life so incredibly beautifully and meaningfully, and will leave a truly remarkable legacy behind. She was a guiding light to so, so many people.

• ‘Early is on time, on time is late, and late is fired,’ are some of the first words they heard from Colleen – every misstep in her program was a learning opportunity.

• There was nothing like a Colleen hug. She would wrap her arms around you and not let you go until you felt better. She was the ultimate mama bear and through her love you felt like you could do anything. Her belief in you as a friend and a person was so strong that when Colleen Tovar believed in you, you knew that you were going to kick ass.

A memorial service will be held for Colleen on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 10:00 am at:

Center for the Performing Arts (CPA)

Illinois State University

351 S. School Street

Normal, IL 61761

Parking is available in the School Street Parking Garage across the street from the CPA.

If you would like to read and share stories about Colleen, please go join the “We Love Colleen” Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/425829916412289/?ref=share

In Lieu of flowers, we have set up a Memorial Scholarship Fund in Colleen’s name. Please consider making a donation to this fund…

DONATIONS MADE ONLINE:

Donations made online can be made at the following link: https://giving.illinoisstate.edu/tovar

NOTE: There won’t be anything on the webpage that indicates your donation is made to this fund. Donors will need to add that to the “Gift Notes” section by listing it as “In Memory of Colleen Helen Tovar.”

DONATIONS MADE BY CHECK:

Donations made by check should be made payable to the Illinois State University Foundation and mailed to:

Illinois State University Foundation

Campus Box 8000

Normal, IL 61790-8000.

NOTE: It is important to note on your check’s memo line that the funds are earmarked “In Memory of Colleen Helen Tovar.”