Christopher Markle, associate professor of Theatre & Dance, passed away last Monday, July 28 at the age of 53. He died of a pulmonary embolism.

Markle has been with the university since 1998 and has a master’s degree in directing from Yale University.

“Chris was a remarkable talent with tremendous vision, compassion and humanity. He was imaginative, quirky, insightful, human and playful,” said Alexander Gelman, director of the school. “He thought of theater as a holy art. He believed in its transformative power and its innate kindness, wisdom and playfulness.”

Markle is survived by his wife, Sophia Varcados, an NIU employee as well as their 10-year-old daughter Zoe.

A memorial service will take place on campus this fall, according to the press release.

Chris Jones, assistant chair of the NIU School of Theatre and Dance when Markle was first hired believed his work was fresh and innovative.

“Chris struck me as an intensely intelligent guy and an unbelievably talented, creative artist. He never took an easy way out – he didn’t know how to take an easy way out,” Jones said.