Talented American puppeteer and puppet builder Roger Mara has passed away at age 53.

I just read the sad news on Patrick Johnson’s Puppet Design Blog that Roger Mara of Snapdragon Puppets has passed away after a short battle with stomach cancer at the age of 53. I never had the opportunity to meet or speak with Roger myself, but I was a fan and admirer of his work. Roger was known to encourage and mentor aspiring puppeteers and was among the very first puppet builders to publish puppet building tutorials on the internet.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of premature death in North America. It’s so sad to hear about it claiming another member of the puppetry community. Please consider making a donation to support The Canadian Cancer Society and/or The American Cancer Society and their efforts to fund research and help them find a cure for this terrible disease.