Bob Kane Dies at 54 Years Old

[MNicolai]

Bob Kane, the VP of Operations for Mainstage Theatrical Supply, died of natural causes last week.

Bob Kane loved the theater business, but his best gig was volunteering as camp director to help young burn victims.


He helped develop the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety's Summer Camp for Burn-Injured Children, held annually at Camp Timber-lee in East Troy. Thirty-seven campers were there the first year, in 1995. Since then, as many as 95 young people, ages 7 to 17, have attended the annual camp.


"Bob showed such leadership, we made him camp director," said Dan Gengler, chairman of the alliance. "No child has ever paid a penny for the camp in 14 years, and Bob made sure of that."
Kane served as director until 2003, when he stepped down due to health problems.


Robert L. Kane died of natural causes Sunday. He was 54.
Injured as a teenager, Kane knew firsthand what it was like to survive serious burns, said his wife, Nancy Kane.


"He was in a burn unit," she said. "He had burns on his neck and upper body and arms. He always carried the scars – he healed real well – but he was a lucky guy.


"He wanted kids to have a normal experience. That was important to him."
Kane talked about that in stories about the camp, she said.


"Put one of these kids into any other camp and they're still the odd man out," he had said. "But nobody stares at them here."


Even children who lost fingers or limbs to burn injuries have the chance to be kids at camp - canoeing, swimming and climbing.


"We don't have any limitations here," Kane had said. "Whatever it is, we'll work around it."


He and other volunteers, including firefighters and medical personnel, found reasons to come back.


"You can put out the fire in the house, you can take care of them while they're in the hospital, but this is a whole different path to healing," he had said. "That's what keeps all of us coming back - the kids and the counselors."


A graduate of Custer High School, Kane studied theater at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He specialized in lighting and the technical side of the business. He also became something of an expert in swordplay.


"We performed at the Renaissance Faire and did sword fighting," said Dave Krajec, who first met Kane about 30 years ago. "Our group was called the Ring of Steel."


In 1980, Kane and Krajec were tapped to help as swordsmen with the Skylight Opera's "Vagabond King."


"We also were hired as choreographers for the show," Krajec said. "We taught opera singers how to hold a sword and look like they knew what they were doing."


Kane met his future wife through mutual friends during those swashbuckling Renaissance Faire years.


"I got to be a wench with their troupe," Nancy said, laughing. They married in 1981.


Other volunteer activities included the AIDS Walk Wisconsin and the Rotary Club in Wauwatosa.


Kane's longtime day job was working as general manager at Mainstage Theatrical Supply Inc.


"He was the big-picture guy who could take care of the minutia," said Krajec, now systems sales specialist with the firm. "And he could tell a story - that was probably the most important thing. He was a heck of a storyteller."


In addition to his wife, survivors include daughter Nichole, sister Kathryn Pearson and brothers Tom and Tim.


Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. today until the memorial service at 7 p.m. Both will be held at Church and Chapel Funeral Home, 1875 N. Calhoun Road, Brookfield.


Memorials are suggested to the WAFS Burn Camp, P.O. Box 1442, Brookfield, WI 53008.



Kane was a driving force behind camp for young burn victims - JSOnline

From their website:

It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of dear friend and co-worker Robert “Bob” Kane, Director of Operations. Trained at UW-Milwaukee, Bob worked both locally and nationally as a lighting designer in the entertainment field since 1974. Moving to the supply side of the theatrical business, he worked interfacing with architects and engineers providing consultation services. He began his career with Mainstage in 1993. Bob was a camp director for WAFS Burn Camp and educated many of his friends and co-workers about the importance of this work. He was also an accomplished underwater diver. We send our sympathies and prayers to Bob’s family and friends - his constant presence, intelligence and quick wit will be sorely missed by all.

Having been in their shop today, I know that everyone at Mainstage is having a hard time dealing with this. The tone was very somber there. It's not made any better that the only administrative password to their network was known my Bob, so now they have to hack into their own system, which is only causing them more headaches.