In memory of Kathy and Sean

The local arts and entertainment scene lost two of its best in recent weeks: Kathy Earnhart and Sean Timms. Neither was well-known by the general public, as they were among the core of insiders who kept things running, and not entertainers. But both set the bar high and will long be remembered.

Kathy Earnhart died Oct. 21 after a bout with cancer. For the past 27 years, she had been the director of public relations for the Butler Institute of American Art, which is the only world-class arts facility in the Mahoning Valley.

Sean Timms died unexpectedly Nov. 22. He was the founder, owner and operator of Calvin Center for the Arts.

I knew Kathy for about a decade, and frequently worked with her on stories about the museum. I considered her to be the finest public-relations person in the area, and not just because she was an accomplished artist and educator who knew the material intimately.

Kathy was the quintessential behind-the-scenes player. She was prompt and helpful in meeting any request. She got things right the first time. She wrote artfully but with authority, and was content to stay out of the limelight.

Butler director Louis Zona worked with Kathy the entire time she was there, and said her passing was devastating. “It’s been tough on the whole staff,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many cards and emails I’ve gotten. She had been struggling with cancer and heart disease in recent months but she kept coming back to work, raring to go. When I said good night to her the last day she was here, I assumed I would see her again.”

Zona said Kathy was “happy to be in the back of the room. She never wanted credit for anything.”

In a note he sent to supporters of the museum, Zona wrote, “Kathy loved the Butler and greatly enjoyed her job, which she performed with extraordinary competence and grace.”

Sean Timms’ passing was totally unexpected but garnered a similar outpouring of appreciation.

I had never met Sean in person, and spoke to him only once. That was a phone conversation five years ago, when he bought the Calvin Center and revealed his plans for it.

The Calvin Center is the former school building a few blocks west of downtown Youngstown on Mahoning Avenue. It has become the home of Rust Belt Theater, Tribe of Eos bellydancing troupe, several artists’ studios, and a popular recreational basketball league.

It was Sean’s vision and his baby. He not only made it happen, but was there for every performance.

In fact, he spent his last night there, taking in a concert by rocker Ike Reilly in the Rust Belt Theater space.

Jeff Beede, who rents a studio in Calvin Center for his antique business, promoted the concert. He recalled the night his friend died.

“We were [at Calvin Center] talking about our next event until about 4 a.m.,” said Beede. “Finally, he said ‘I got to go, I have work in the morning.’ Sean might have died two hours later. He never woke up.”

The Ike Reilly concert was one of the best I had seen in many years. The blue-collar rocker has a connection with Youngstown, and the tiny venue meant that all 100 or so fans were close to the stage. I love Reilly for the street wisdom and wordplay of his lyrics, and it was chilling when Beede pointed out the final song he played was “It’s Alright to Die.”

The lyrics to the song are poignant, if not prescient:

Well, we had a good time

But then the wine ran out

All the people went home

And all the lights went down

Don’t think the only light that shines on you

Is when you’re alive

Well, I’ll see you when I see you

Baby, on the other side

And when your heartbeat’s defense line

And all your gods collide

It ain’t much to say that you saw me

At the one time when I was alive

It’s alright to die.

“Sean was selfless,” said Beede. “He never looked for payment for anything he did. Anything I wanted to do had the green light, and he even helped me pay for some of [the concerts]. ... Everything he did was for the benefit of the community, and Calvin Center was like a child to him. A bad child at times, because he was always juggling money around to make it work. But it was just starting to become profitable, turning the corner.”

The future of the building has not been determined but is stable for now.

“Sean’s father will be taking over operations for the time being, so business will go on as usual,” said Robert Joki, who runs Rust Belt Theater. “The family seems committed to keeping Sean’s vision alive. I’m going to go ahead and plan my season and hope for the best.”

Rust Belt is dedicating its popular musical “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas,” which opens Friday, to Sean.