David Cuthbert, a middle-aged man with short, graying hair and glasses is seen in a dimly lit environment with colorful bokeh lights in the background. He is wearing a plaid shirt and appears to be looking off to the side with a contemplative expression. The vibrant, out-of-focus lights suggest a lively nighttime setting, possibly a bar or a festive outdoor space.

Remembering David Cuthbert

May 10th, 1965 - February 11th, 2025

I met David Cuthbert when he started at UCSC; the Digital Arts and New Media MFA program which I had just started working for funded his FTE and allowed the Theater department to hire a talented professional designer faculty member. We first crossed paths on the stairs of the Dean's office at Porter College. Later that week, I met with him to discuss any equipment needs he thought I should allocate our small tech budget toward. We ended up talking about theater and lighting.

Not long after, his daughter Sophia and my step daughter River had a joint first year birthday party. Maggi had helped organized a babies/mothers group, and David’s family—Sophia and Kirsten—were part of it. This pattern repeated itself: we’d be in UCSC faculty meetings, like me running the slides for portfolio review during student selection, and then we’d be side by side, taking pictures of our kids at a party.

A man holding a 1 year old girl
David and Sophia at the shared 1st birthday party in Santa Cruz.
A birthday cake with pictures of four one year old girls
The Cake

When funding came through for the Digital Arts Research Center, David and I began meeting regularly to plan what the fledgling program would need. Initially, the architects proposed two modest research studios within the approved square footage. I suggested an alternative: one small and one large space. I ran the idea by David, and it quickly became clear—we would make a black box theater.

A partially constructed building interior with exposed steel beams and columns. The space is open and industrial, with visible scaffolding and construction materials. Sunlight filters through large windows, illuminating the area.
October 2008, The Dark Lab, a black box theater David helped design, under construction.
Faculty and Students sit in a dark big room, one man stands at the lectern, with a large white projection behind him of an agenda for the meeting.
April 2011, The Dark Lab fully functional. David is in orange in the front.

I remember sitting in meetings with the architects as they suggested non-theater-standard systems. David redirected them, ensuring the space would function properly. I learned so much from him during that process—his ability to navigate bureaucracy, his deep knowledge of lighting (of course), and his commitment to making things right. The reason DARC has such a functional black box theater is, in large part, thanks to David.

A group of people is engaged in a serious discussion around a conference table. The room has overhead fluorescent lighting, and various documents and notes are spread across the table. Some participants are seated, while others are leaning in or standing, actively contributing to the conversation. The atmosphere suggests a professional or community planning meeting, with focused expressions and engaged body language.
UCSC Faculty and the DARC architects. David is center a bit credulous. August 2004
A man holds a pice of glass as an image is projected against it from behind.
David in 2006 doing a test for the treatment we were thinking of putting in the Light Lab window, we decided against it thanks to this test.
A man at a lecturne with flags behind him
David speaking at an Arts Division retreat, UCSC 2010.

The kids’ birthday gatherings grew into a tight-knit group of five families. We celebrated together, and eventually, we started taking a regular December weekend trip to Pismo, near where David grew up. After I left UCSC, my connection with David remained through this group. The women were especially close, and over time, we men followed suit. Eighteen years of raising kids and supporting each other built a deep trust and camaraderie.

Parties and Pismo, CA

A man sitting at a table with a birthday cake in front of him. A girl on the left looking at the man.
River and David at David's birthday, 2012
A man sitting at a table with a birthday cake in front of him. A girl on the left looking at the man.
River, David, and Kirsten in Ben Lomond, 2012
Hansom man looking at the camera.
David at his house in Ben Lomond May 2011.
Man in horned hat holding a rope.
David running a pinata at Sophia's 3rd birthday.
A man looking down with a had, we are looking over his shoulder.
David at a UCSC event in 2011.
A close up of a group of middle aged people.
Friends gathering, August 2012.
Kirsten and David at the Fourth of July parade in Boulder Creek, 2018
Kirsten and David at the Fourth of July parade in Boulder Creek, 2018.
A group of parents gathered together at a Fourth of July celebration in Boulder Creek, 2024.
The Pismo parents at James and Tracy's place in Boulder Creek, Fourth of July 2024.
A group of men standing together outdoors, likely in Pismo, CA
The Guys, in Pismo, CA, December 2024.

Camping and Lighting

About a year and a half ago David invited me to join him with his friends up in SF. A bunch of great guys, theatrical creative people, camping buddies. We started spending a lot more time together then we had in the past. Long drives to and back from SF. And camping trips where we laughed and ate, and talked theater and lighting.

We started doing more together, building furniture, having long talks about relationships, our personality quirks, his first stroke and how it affected him, how UCSC was funded and administered, the transformation of the Theater Arts department into Performance Play and Design, lighting techniques for musical and theatrical events, how to call follow spots for a show... and so much more.

Three men outside in suits.
David, Brian, and myself dressed for a show in SF, 2024.
Matt and David in 2024
Matt and David in 2024.

During this last year and a half David has changed my life in a myriad of ways. I am now part of a giant group of talented guys making art and fellowship. I am once again finding the joy in coming together and putting on a show, rekindling something I thought was gone forever.

I have lost a very close friend. I will miss him terribly. I will miss his laugh, his smile, his curmudgeon-ness, his stories, his advice, his wisdom, his kindness, his generosity, his talent, his leadership, and his love.

I have learned much from this man. He has changed me—helped me become a better father, husband, and human.

David thank you for being such a good teacher and friend, I will always miss you.

— Lyle Troxell, the end of winter 2025

Some more photos

Ten adults, clearly friends, looking at the camera.
The adults of the five families.
Three smiling adult friends looking at the camera.
David, Lyle, and Maggi at David's birthday in 2024.
David at a Fourth of July parade in Boulder Creek
David at a Fourth of July parade in Boulder Creek, 2023.
David looking over the kids at the parade
David looking over the kids at the parade, 2023.
A group of families gathered together at a Fourth of July parade. The scene is lively with people smiling and enjoying the festive atmosphere. American flags and parade decorations are visible in the background.
The families at the Fourth of July parade, 2024.
A man and woman facing the camera embracing - the woman is smiling and looking into the camera.
David and Kirsten
A young woman hugging her father
Sophia and David 2021
A man looking down with his eyes closed with a smile.
David in Pismo, 2024.
Kirsten and David in Pismo, 2024
Kirsten and David in Pismo, 2024.