Howard Thies, Lighting Designer, is Dead at 50

Howard Scott Thies, lighting designer and technical director of arts and cultural programs for the City Parks Foundation, passed away Thursday, January 17 at the age of 50. He suffered heart failure due to massive pneumonia.

Thies is survived by his wife of 28 years, Meryl Vladimer; mother Karin DiGia; father Winthrop Drake Thies; brother Daniel Di Gia; and two sisters, Brenda Gibney and Melissa Thies.

Thies taught himself lighting design and became a 30-year veteran of the industry. He designed lighting and worked as the technical director for La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club from 1980 to 1998, where Vladimer and Thies also married on stage. His designs appeared in the works of Andre Serban, Ping Chong, Andre De Shields, as well as Blue Man Group and Al Pacino's Salome. He was awarded a Sustained Excellence in Lighting Design Obie in 1993 and another Obie in 2001 as part of the design team for the play Jennie Richee.

Perhaps his longest relationship as a lighting designer was his work with SummerStage, which he began lighting in 1987. This past summer the SummerStage crew threw a party in honor of his 25 years with the company. Thies also led technical production for the City Parks Foundations for 13 years.

Family members plan to cremate Thies. They are planning a memorial service in the upcoming weeks, and friends will honor his involvement with SummerStage through a service this summer. The family requests that no flowers be sent.