Sigurd A. Jensen, 76, of North Haven passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at Hamden Health Care Center. He was the beloved husband and best friend of Linda Lawrence Jensen. Son of the late Victor and Ailleen Jensen, he was born in New Haven, CT but grew up in Laconia, NH graduating from Laconia High School, Class of 1956. He worked for 17 years in summer stock at the former Lakes Region Playhouse, Guilford, NH and received his BFA and MFA in Dramatic Art from the University of South Dakota with additional graduate work at Penn State University. Sig was a Professor Emeritus of Theatre at Southern Connecticut State University where he taught theatre classes in addition to being technical director and lighting designer for 30 years before retiring in 1998 as Theatre Department Chairman. He was a lifelong member of the New England Theater Conference serving in various positions including NETC president, convention chair and head of multiple committees. Because of his dedication to promoting theatre throughout New England, the American College Theatre Festival awarded a Kennedy Center Medallion for Lifetime Achievement to Sig in 1998. Sig enjoyed being outdoors, working in his yard and vegetable garden and sharing the company of friends by the shore at Owenego Beach Club. In addition to his wife, he is survived by and most proud of his two children: Jon Jensen (Cindy Olsen) of Scituate, MA and Kristina Coppola of Branford. The joys of his life were his grandchildren: Sophia, Sam and Lily Coppola. He also leaves behind brothers and sisters-in-law: Bob (Kathy) Lawrence; Nancy (Bill) Bartolotta; Betty (Jim) McManus; Chris (Lucy) Lawrence; Loretta (Jack) Anthony and friends who all supported Sig and his family in his Alzheimer’s journey (especially in his final days) in addition to many nieces and nephews who knew him as “Uncle Sig”.
Relatives and friends are invited to go directly to St. Therese Church, Wednesday morning at 10:00 for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. The visiting hours will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 PM. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter, 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.
You and Sig were so much a part of our live even as we moved away we were still together. We have enjoyed our fun times together and will always remember Sig's smile. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Jon and Kristina
So sorry to hear of your loss. He will always be part of my childhood memories and of course "A Christmas Carol" makes me think of him once a year.
Linda, All my love to you. I have wonderful memories of my Southern days and working with Sig.
Sig was my teacher the Summer of '71&'72. He did what few teachers have a talent to do. Making hard work and long hours fun. I send my condolences to his family.
Linda,
My heartfelt condolences to you, Jon, Kristina and all your family.
I am proud to have been able to call Sig my friend, my teacher and mentor. A wonderful man whose heart was as big as the stage and theatre he loved. He truly is the biggest part of my fondest memories at SCSU. I'm so glad i was able to stay in touch with him and you over the years, although not often enough. Love and prayers to you!
Linda and family,
so sorry to hear of your loss. Sig was a great friend and neighbor, he was so much fun to be around.
When Sigie was just 13 yo his mother brought him to the Lakes Region Playhouse, and told the theatre's owner to put Sigie to work. Al Wilkes, at first hesitated, bcs of Sig's age, but Aileen said just keep him busy. And a career was born. I hope he learned from my father, but I know that my father came to depend on Sigie and his ability to think outside the box, planning, management of people and fixing disasters backstage at a moments notice. My best childhood memory is of sitting with Sigie during performances and allowing me to call cues beginning at the age of 6, maybe younger. Sig was always there, never impatient and always putting me to work. My mother's dismay was ever present when I would appear in the doorway covered in some substance from head to do. He'd wear his black rimmed glasses and was constantly pulling up his tool belt. From a child's memory Sig Jensen was fun, kind, patient, gentle giant of a man. As his family, you have much of which to be proud.
Linda, Jon & Kristina
Always enjoyed the stories my parents would tell about their time spent in New Haven with Siggy and Linda. Those stories and my own memories of him will keep him with us forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Dear Linda,
My thoughts are with you Jon and Kristina.
Sig was well loved, big hearted and had a great booming laugh and sense of humor.
He was a great mentor at Southern and a great friend outside, of school, and for years afterward.
I can't listen to Lake Woebegone without smiling and thinking of Sig.
He will be well remembered.
Linda, it's been years since the trip to Regrowth when those folks there wanted to start a theatre but I recall the trip well.
I am so sorry for your loss. The sun will shine a little less brightly in a world without him, but all who knew him were blessed with his warmth and humor and his celebration of
life.
We will miss your smile Sig. You were a great husband, father and friend. We will always remember you coming around the hedges to share a laugh with us. Our condolences to the whole family. The devotion you show each other is beautiful.
So sorry to hear of Sig's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Linda, Jon and Kristina,
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. Jon and Kristina I know your father had a wonderful influence on your lives. He would be most proud of you.
Linda, my prayers are with you and your family.