Paul Bridgeman

Paul Bridgeman, 60, of Scottsdale, Ariz., died peacefully Dec. 17, 2014.Paul was born in Akron and spent his early years in Sharon Center and southern Ohio where he graduated from high school in 1972, and with a teaching degree from Ohio University in 1976.Over the next several years Paul pursued several vocations - teaching, acting, singing, and carpentry - eventually combining these skills and adding his artistic creativity and sketching talents to become the technical director for Grand Canyon University's theater department, Phoenix, in 1990. For 16 years Paul created award-winning theatrical designs and taught stagecraft to a generation of students who followed in his footsteps. He later held a similar position at Arizona Broadway Theatre. A performer himself, Paul sang for several years with the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix. Paul met his wife, Gina (Garagiola) in 1983, while both performed in a production of "Fiddler on the Roof." They married in 1985 and had two children, Ross, 25 and Maria, 20. In addition to his wife and children, Paul is survived by his parents, Martha and Bruce Bridgeman of Port Clinton; brother, Tom of Ottawa Hills; eight nieces and one nephew.Paul was preceded in death by his sister, Rebecca; and brother, Daniel.Services will be Jan. 17, at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, Scottsdale.