Herb Downer (194?-2021)
Word arrived at mid-week that Herb, our erstwhile Saturday Kitchen stalwart during the height of my Twenties/Thirties Club Group, ex-officio, involvement, has passed away.
There's not a lot of information available since Herb and St. Mike's went their separate ways about five years ago. In retrospect, it all seems to have been part of a slow-burning, generational dementia that blew through key members of the Kitchen crew. Herb will be remembered for his meticulous attention to tiny grace notes delivered to each table. Things like a tiny vase of fresh cut flowers.
And, for his home-made soups often served (much to the chagrin of the clean-up crew) at Intersection. It took some persuasion to finally convince him that disposable bowls and plastic spoons were perfectly okay (if they were recycled correctly.)
Upon information and belief, Herb was a graduate of the Yale School of Dramatic Arts and played the role of "Jim" in the Broadway production of "Big River" several decades ago. But, by far his most notable role was that of Jesus Christ in the annual Passion Play performed at St. Mike's every Palm Sunday. His deep, basso profundo cry of Our Lord's last words on the Cross was unnerving.
Take a bow, Herb.
There's not a lot of information available since Herb and St. Mike's went their separate ways about five years ago. In retrospect, it all seems to have been part of a slow-burning, generational dementia that blew through key members of the Kitchen crew. Herb will be remembered for his meticulous attention to tiny grace notes delivered to each table. Things like a tiny vase of fresh cut flowers.
And, for his home-made soups often served (much to the chagrin of the clean-up crew) at Intersection. It took some persuasion to finally convince him that disposable bowls and plastic spoons were perfectly okay (if they were recycled correctly.)
Upon information and belief, Herb was a graduate of the Yale School of Dramatic Arts and played the role of "Jim" in the Broadway production of "Big River" several decades ago. But, by far his most notable role was that of Jesus Christ in the annual Passion Play performed at St. Mike's every Palm Sunday. His deep, basso profundo cry of Our Lord's last words on the Cross was unnerving.
Take a bow, Herb.