In an email to the Hamilton community on Aug. 29, Dean of Faculty Suzanne Keen announced the passing of Carole Bellini-Sharp, the Margaret Bundy Scott Professor of Theatre Emerita.
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,
I regret to inform our community that another dedicated and devoted member of the faculty has passed away. Carole Bellini-Sharp, the Margaret Bundy Scott Professor of Theatre Emerita, died last night after a lengthy struggle with heart disease and cancer. She taught on College Hill for 43 years.
Carole was instrumental in shaping the theatre program on College Hill, beginning as an assistant professor of drama at Kirkland College in 1973, and then continuing as a member of the Hamilton faculty after the two colleges merged in 1978. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Pennsylvania State University and her Ph.D. in drama from Carnegie-Mellon University. A number of her Hamilton students went on to distinguished acting careers, some after studying at the Yale School of Drama and other prestigious MFA programs.
At Hamilton, Carole taught courses on acting, directing, and voice. When she retired in 2016, she had directed more than 60 professional and college productions. Her directorial work was both innovative and avant-garde. She served as a member of the Committee on Academic Policy, the Planning Committee, the Committee on Appointments, and as College Marshal. The Hamilton Alumni Association honored Carole with its Distinguished Service Award in 2004 for her pioneering work on College Hill. ‘Over the years,’ the citation read, ‘through their vision and commitment, individual faculty members have occasionally made an indelible imprint on the academic programs on College Hill. We count you among those rare individuals, for, with regard to Hamilton’s theatre program, your permanent imprint has already and unquestionably become evident.’
The citation concluded: ‘True to your ardent belief that theatre is empowering in its recognition of the human condition and celebration of human character, in addition to being great fun, you have been the theatre program’s guiding light virtually since its inception on College Hill.’
On behalf of the College, I offer my sincere condolences to Carole’s family, friends, colleagues, and former students.
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