Auntie M acknowledges upfront that probably no one reading this will know who John Royston is, so I will tell you.
He was my tenth grade English teacher, the man who turned me on to Shakespeare, plays, acting and writing. He was jovial, inspiring, loved literature, and understood my bibliomania. He was the one teacher who encouraged me to be a writer.
Recently he’d been on my mind and I decided it was time to try to find him, to thank him for his influence and to tell him that after a 30 year successful nursing career, I was finally doing what he and I both knew I’d always wanted to do–be a writer. I knew he would be happy that I’d made it there.
I figured he’d be retired by now, but couldn’t find him anywhere I searched. Then in an email to an old high school pal, I mentioned trying to find him and she told me she thought he had been a member of a theatre troupe in Port Washington on Long Island.
Tonight I finally stole a few minutes to Google with great anticipation: John Royston, Port Washington, NY.
And up came his obituary. He is being buried tomorrow, having died earlier this week after ” a valiant fight with cancer.”
I waited too long to tell this fine man how much his teaching had meant to me and I am so sad about that. I signed his condolence book and explained who I was to his wife, but it won’t be the same.
My message tonight to all of you out there is: don’t put off what you want to do, especially if it’s something that could warm the heart of someone else.
Sad in North Carolina tonight. JR, Rest in Peace.
Auntiemwrites Crime-Mystery Author M K Graff 
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear about this. I’ll be googling my 5th grade language arts teacher tonight.
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No! Oh! Sorry you didn’t make it–but I know his wife will appreciate the effort.
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I knew and worked with John Royston, as a member of Play Troupe of Port Washington, from 1980 to 1992. He was all that you said and more. I enjoyed working as his stage manager and set painter for the shows he directed. He was always the consummate gentleman. His wife, and their two boys were also kind, interesting people. I also am sorry to hear of his passing. Although I had not been in contact with him or his family since I left the area in 1992, it is sad to to know that he is gone. I stumbled across your writing while trying to find out what ever became of Play Troupe. I was sorry that that too, no longer exists.
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Yes, Pauline, he was indeed a special man, almost Dickensian in his humor and sparkle. It was so nice of you to write to me and I truly appreciate it~how sad the Play Troupe is no longer in existence, too.
So you left LI, too~where are you planted now?
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I still live on Long Island in the town of East Northport. I do miss the days when I was able to work on the shows with John and many of the other talented and interesting people. They truly enriched my life. It is hard to fathom that a cultural icon was just left to fade away. It had been in existence since, I believe 1927. It started as readings in the library and then progressed from there. So sad that each year we seem to loose more and more of our cultural heritage. And I am not convinced that with all our computers, and WII’s, and twitters and what not, that we are any better off. So much of the past is being lost, with its rich tapestry of art, music, literature and theatre.
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