Aug. 15, 1952 – June 17, 2009

Larger than life.

This phrase has been used to describe all types of individuals but I never knew anyone actually larger than life until I met Fes Stevens. Fes was my best friend and I guess that colors my judgment, but ask any old-timer from the Springfield theater community and you’d probably get a chuckling agreement.

Fes was active in Springfield community theater for more than 30 years. I first met Fes when we were cast in Paint Your Wagon at the Muni and soon realized that he was the ringmaster in a rowdy cast of characters. Theater in those days may have lacked the sophistication of today’s productions but it was much more fun.

Fes always attracted a wide range of friends who gravitated to his gregarious nature. Over the years, Fes entertained Springfield audiences in a wide variety of roles, from a towel-clad Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar to a drunken Pap Finn railing about the “guv’ment” in Big River. But my favorite Fes performance occurred in South Pacific.

I directed that production and made him wear a goofy turkey costume in a Thanksgiving pageant within the show. The costumer, Karen Fifer, had created a wonderfully garish outfit that only a best buddy would wear in front of a Muni audience. That’s the kind of friend he was.

Fes passed away this June after a long battle with cancer. He is greatly missed by his beloved wife Frannie and hundreds of friends.

Fes Stevens — larger than life.

Rich McCoy Jacksonville