University Star

For students, the death of professor Charles “Chuck P” Pascoe was like losing a friend.

“He was like the grandfather of a big family,” said Nicole Bennett, BFA musical theater senior.

Pascoe died Nov. 23. He was a professor of child drama for 29 years and director of children’s theater at Texas State for 25 years. He wrote and directed children’s plays performed by Texas State students every spring for elementary schools in Central Texas. 

Libby Hollinger, BFA musical theater senior, said she worked with Pascoe on one of his shows for elementary students.

“It was just a once in a lifetime —,” Hollinger said, crying so hard she dropped the phone and was unable to finish the sentence.

Bennett picked up the phone from the ground and spoke on her behalf.

“Libby is my best friend. We met in one of Dr. Pascoe’s shows,” Bennett said.

Bennett said she had the opportunity to work with Charles Pascoe twice in his spring semester shows.

“Dr. Pascoe really motivated us to not just be a cast. We were really a family,” Bennett said. “He really nurtured that.”

John Fleming, department chair of theater and dance, said in addition to music and theater, Pascoe’s focuses were teaching and students majoring in education.

Barbara Pascoe, Charles Pascoe’s wife, said he wrote all of the songs for his shows without being able to read music.

“For me he was the most, oh God, he was a genius,” Barbara Pascoe said. “And he was, I don’t know, this is hard for me to say, the most wonderful husband anyone could have ever hoped for.”

Barbara Pascoe said her husband not only worked hard on his shows, but displayed an interest in his students as people.

“He just changed students lives by letting them know that he cared about them,” Barbara Pascoe said. “Student’s would say, ‘Oh wow! I’ve finally found a professor that talks to me as a person and not just as a student.’”

Katie Cross, theater senior, said Pascoe put a new spin on teaching in his creative drama class.

“Class focused on fun,” Cross said. “He was always emphasizing the fact that teaching kids is supposed to be fun, and learning is supposed to be incorporated into that. Everyone that had that class had fun. Everyone gained something from that class. I felt like I was in second grade again when I was in there.”

Pascoe’s classes focused on creative drama as an art form and a teaching tool. His students were taught to use creative drama in elementary school curriculum.

Fleming said Pascoe was known for teaching traditional subjects in nontraditional ways.

“He loved performing these magical stories, kind of like fables, that told about life in a very magical way,” Fleming said.

Pascoe directed children’s theater for 25 years and wrote his plays. His works included: Candlestein, Foxtales, Cave Song, Backyard Story, Gecko 43, The Next Amendment, Slavemaker, Rodeo Mongolia, Oracle of the Balcones, A Gathering of Spirits, Emperor Toad, Kingfishers 3 and Blue.

Barbara Pascoe said she believed Charles Pascoe will live on through his students.

“His door was always open,” Barbara Pascoe said, “And (students) used it. I think that’s why he will live on, because all those students across Texas are using what he taught them.”

Charles Pascoe’s memorial will be held on the main stage of the theater building Wednesday at 6 p.m.