Words to Live By...and He Did

BY PAUL GUTRECHT, CORNELL STUDENT 1985-1989, ACTOR / DIRECTOR / CURRICULUM CONSULTANT TO THE CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM, NEW YORK CITY, NY
After reviewing everyone's postings, I was terribly moved by the out-pouring of affection for our dear Tony. I studied acting with Anthony Cornish at Cornell University--in 1987-88. His time there apparently came after his first stint at Tufts, I understand.

Not only did I take class with him, but I was directed by him in "Tonight We Improvise" and I acted with him in "Love's Labours Lost."

He was a great teacher--tough on me, but I grew tremendously as an actor for it. Over the years, Tony would let me know when he was headed towards whatever town he knew I was in at the time. We would always meet up for a bite to eat, or tea. And of course he was up to date on everyone--filling me in on up to the minute details of people I had completely lost touch with.

One time, we met up in Cambridge, Mass for lunch. At one point in making our way to the restaurant, we had to cross a street. We looked down the road and a car was coming swiftly. In the split second while I was deciding whether the car was far enough away for me make it across the street, Tony had crossed. When I looked back at where he had been standing, and then across the street to where he'd gone, enough time had elapsed such that I had to wait for the car to pass. When I joined Tony across the street, he said, "Hesitate and you are lost." Never forgot that. Didn't always succeed in living those words myself, but I never forgot them.

I owe some of my dearest friendships to Tony Cornish. In the fall of '99, I got a call from one Josh Gates and one Philip White. They had just moved to LA, and Tony had told them to get in touch with me. Apparently Tony wrote of me in the list of names and descriptions he gave the guys: "Paul Gutrecht.....he is a beaver." I think he felt that I was always busy with something--which must have been the influence of his "Hesitate and you are lost" advice.....

I met Simon and Linda when they visited Tony at Cornell. I was glad to meet you both then. I am very glad that Josh has created this. One of the last things I have made was a short film that screened at a lot of festivals. I was fortunate enough to have Josh bring Tony to a screening of it back in March of 2004. Tony knew he knew me, though he couldn't quite place the school or the time. But he could still evaluate a short film, and afterwards gave me a firm, "good work." It meant a lot to have this teacher of mine see it.