Morgan Stock in December 2011.
Morgan Stock, the Peninsula theater veteran who founded the Monterey Peninsula College drama program, died late Tuesday at his home in Pebble Beach. He was 93 years old.
He died of "old age. He died very peacefully," said Brian Stock, Mr. Stock's son. "He's just been declining for the last several months and it finally took him away."
Mr. Stock was appointed the first head of MPC's theater program in 1954, according to the Monterey County Theater Alliance website archives.
He directed the first play on the college's main stage, a 1970 production of "West Side Story," ushering in a legacy of theater on the Peninsula that inspired several generations.
The college's main stage, which is undergoing reconstruction, was renamed the Morgan Stock Main Stage more than a decade ago.
It was appropriate, given that Mr. Stock had the vision to build the MPC theater more than 40 years ago.
"Morgan was the big spearhead behind convincing (former MPC president) Bob Faul to build a theater on the Peninsula," said Peter DeBono, retired MPC theater department chair.
DeBono succeeded Mr. Stock as chair in 1982. He retired in June 2011, when he was replaced by current chair Gary Bolen.
At the time of the theater building's opening, it was the state-of-the-art theater in the community.
"Because of Morgan's foresight and urging, that theater was built," said DeBono. "To me, it's a lasting legacy to Morgan."
Reconstruction is scheduled for completion in early
spring 2013, said Bolen."We were so hoping that the first time we opened that stage to the public, that Morgan could be there," said Bolen. "We were hoping to have Morgan as a centerpiece for the opening. That's going to be very bittersweet, because we're all anxious to get back in the building."
Mr. Stock was born July 8, 1919, in Newark, Ohio. In an interview with the Monterey County Theater Alliance, he said he got his first taste for the stage in the first grade.
"I think I held up the sign saying 'Merry Christmas' ? probably upside down," he said in an interview for the alliance's newsletter. "It was clear even then I liked getting up in front of people."
He was the fourth and final child born to Jacob Clemens Stock, a musician, and Anna Lou Evans.
In 1934, Mr. Stock went with his father and sister Katherine to California, where he finished high school then studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.
He bounced around doing odd jobs and had a brief stint in New York City before returning to California and getting drafted into the military during World War II.
After returning home from World War II, getting married and settling down in Southern California, he discovered his joy for teaching.
He moved to Monterey and attended MPC before enrolling at Stanford University, where he majored in speech and drama, earning a master's degree.
He was invited to teach at MPC in 1954 teaching English, public speaking and drama. He spent the next 28 years at the school, retiring in 1982.
DeBono met his mentor as a 13-year-old and eventually took classes with Mr. Stock at MPC during the mid-1960s.
DeBono went on to study theater at UCLA before embarking on a professional acting career. Mr. Stock invited his former student to teach at MPC during the mid-1970s.
DeBono said the greatest lesson Mr. Stock passed along to him was to "just give everybody a chance."
"He always provided people with an opportunity to do some good work," said DeBono. "He was never wanting to take credit for things. Whether it was in front of the scene or behind the scenes, he just provided opportunities for students."
Bolen called Mr. Stock a "giant of the theater community," with an immeasurable amount of influence.
"Without question, theater as we know it (on the Peninsula) would not have existed without Morgan Stock," said Bolen. "He was the father."
Brian Stock said his father taught the family to simply pursue their passion.
"Follow your heart," was the advice Mr. Stock passed along to his children, said Brian Stock. "We've all had very fulfilled lives because we followed our hearts. That's what he did with his drama and acting career."
Mr. Stock is survived by his wife, June; his children, David, Kevin, Brian and Maggie; and grandchildren Emily, Spencer and Louisa.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Marcos Cabrera can be reached at 646-4345 or mcabrera@montereyherald.com.
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