Man had business mind, comic’s heart, giving soul
From his front porch, Craig Poore watched a parade of cars slowly pass by his Orlando home on April 28. Decked out with balloons and signs reading “Love and hugs!” and “SAK loves the Poore family,” the cars were driven by dozens of friends of the vibrant arts supporter.
At home with his wife, Lauren, and their 8-year-old son, Thomas, Poore died of colon cancer on May 22. He was 54.
“He was like a brother to me,” said friend Diana Hopkins. “I will miss him forever.”
The close friendship among Poore, Jay and Diana Hopkins, and John and Gina Hunter had its roots in a mutual love of SAK Comedy Lab, where they all took classes, performed or worked behind the scenes.
Poore had a business mind but found joy in improvisational comedy.
“Even though he was very analytical, he had this creative side and could do improv,” Hopkins said.
The Hopkinses called on Poore’s business acumen when they opened Jester Theater Co., the mom-andpop theater they ran for 10 years. They sought his advice and got it — plus an investment.
Loved for his richness of spirit, Poore was also known for his financial generosity.
In times of crisis, “he bailed us out financially and was really there to support us,” said SAK president David Russell. “It was always quiet, though. He never bragged about anything.”
He supported other arts endeavors, such as the Faith Arts Village Orlando near downtown, as well.
“Craig was a dedicated Fringe fan for many years. He loved our local theater scene,” said Orlando Fringe executive director and friend Alauna Friskics. “His enthusiastic spirit and smile will be missed.”
Poore also supported Doctors Without Borders, UP Orlando and International Rescue Committee; in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to those organizations.
His generosity extended into the realm of food. On Christmas Day, he would open his doors to friends for a waffle breakfast. And his homemade Thanksgiving pies were legendary.
“Every year, he’d call: ‘What’s your order this year?’” said Hopkins, who favored his pumpkin chiffon. “The day before Thanksgiving, you’d get this fantastic pie delivered to your home.”
April’s parade of cars, and an accompanying tribute video, kicked off a new initiative called the SAK Joy Squad, which will deliver random pop-up events to spread cheer. It was a fitting honor for a man who “could reach his fellow performers with an unbelievable level of compassion and understanding,” Russell said.
For longtime friend Susan Mitchell, who drove in the parade, “it was a reminder of how many people genuinely cared about him … one last chance to thank him for all those lovely moments we had together.”
A member of Park Lake Presbyterian Church, Poore was a graduate of Edgewater High School and the University of Florida. He received an MBA from Rollins College and worked 21 years for software company SAP after a stint in information systems with Orlando Regional Medical Center.
The Poores would have celebrated their 10th anniversary in July. Besides his wife and son, Poore is survived by sister Margaret Ellis and husband Ed; brother-in-law Thomas Boozer and wife Nancy; in-laws Lawayne and Shea Sieferman; and aunt and uncle Patricia and Robert Brigham.
A memorial service will take place at a later date, but one thing is sure, Hopkins said: It will feature songs from “The Musical of Musicals (The Musical),” a show he loved.
After his cancer diagnosis in 2016, Poore underwent eight surgeries and more than 40 rounds of chemotherapy. A month ago, he wrote to family and friends about his state of mind.
“There have been many strong emotions on this journey but the strongest by far has been gratitude. I have been blessed to know, love and be loved by so many amazing people,” he wrote. “I’ve truly gotten to live my dreams, and I refuse to be bitter now just because I won’t get to live them forever.”