Dugald Van Orden MacArthur ’52

Dugald Van Orden MacArthur ’52 passed away on September 29, 2015, a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. Dug was born in 1929 in Birmingham, Alabama, moved to Glens Falls, New York, and prepared for college at Kent School (Connecticut). At Dartmouth he majored in English and was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the Dartmouth Players. He also lettered in crew and was a boxing and wrestling champion. After college Dug received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, served in the U.S. Army and briefly entered business (plastics) before turning to his true calling, the theater. His extensive and successful career took him from an M.S. in theater from Baylor University to director of the Arkansas Art Center, chairman of the theater department at San Francisco State University and early member of the California Institute of the Arts. In 1973 Dug was chosen to lead the M.F.A. program in theater at Temple University in Philadelphia. He served there for 25 years, producing many memorable plays and directing numerous plays in other venues around the country, including two at the Hopkins Center. After retiring he served as director and board member at the Lantern Theater in Philadelphia. His talents earned him many theater awards and he served as an advisor and consultant to several artistic organizations. He is survived by his wife, Christine; daughters Gwyneth, Meredith and Alexandra; son Lorne, three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.