Michael Kuchwara, AP drama critic, dies at 63

Michael Kuchwara, AP's drama critic, died at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan on 22 May 2010. He was admitted to the hospital on 10 May to receive treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis - a lung disease that causes scarring, his death was due to cardiac complications that resulted from his treatment.

Ponder Henley, his brother-in-law, said Kuchwara was surrounded by family and was listening to music from his favorite show "Gypsy" on his iPod when he died.

Following his death Kuchwara's family said in a written statement, "Michael touched so many of you, his friends, family and business associates. Your outpouring of love and support these last days and weeks were a great comfort to Michael and to his family. We will miss him dearly and these next few days will be challenging, but we know that Michael is without pain and at rest".

Born in Scranton, Pa., Kuchwara was a graduate of Syracuse University. He also had a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

Kuchwara was appointed AP's drama critic in 1984. Before being named to that position, he worked for the AP in Chicago as a general assignment editor and reporter and in New York on its General (now the National) Desk, the main editing desk for national news. He was a past president (1993-1995) of the New York Drama Critics' Circle.

Kuchwara, (Kuch to his friends), was a popular figure who was known for his warm personality. His mild and good natured persona would often come through in his writting - even when posting a negative review for a show he did not use sarcasm and cutting remarks to express his distatse.

Theater publicist David Gersten will have expressed the view of many within the industry when he told journalist Cara Joy David, "Mike truly loved what he did and we all loved him in return. He was not just a great critic but a great friend. I cannot imagine the world without him on the other end of the phone."

Kuchwara is survived by his sister and by his wife, Johnnie Kay Kuchwara, whom he married in 1975.