Paul Donald Tremaine, known affectionately as "PT," died at his home in Honolulu on August 5, 2021. PT was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 21, 1930, to Jay Eugene Tremaine, Jr., M.D. and Evelyn Meribah (Ely) Tremaine, and was the second of the family's three children. His early childhood years were spent in Highland Park, Illinois until the family settled in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1941. Following his graduation from the Williston Academy in 1948, PT joined the U.S. Navy and for the next four years was stationed at the Long Beach Naval Station to the south of Los Angeles.It was in Pasadena that PT's dedication to a life in the theater began. After two years at the Pasadena Playhouse, PT spent the next three years dividing his time between summer stock at the Ramsdell Theater in Manistee, Michigan and winters at the Circle Theater in Nashville, Tennessee. For seven seasons he worked with the Erie, Pennsylvania community theater. It was here that he met Newell Tarrant who, in his later role as resident managing director of the Honolulu Community Theater, would invite PT to join him there. In the meantime, PT worked— on-stage and backstage— at both the Houston Playhouse Theater and the then newly founded North Carolina School of the Arts. In addition to a role as Announcer on the Kraft Theater, an early television program, PT's film credits would later include acting credits in Ride the Wild Surf (1964) and M Station: Hawaii (1980)
In 1963, PT accepted Tarrant's offer, taking a position as Technical Director at the Honolulu Community Theater (now the Diamond Head Theatre) in 1963. His association with the Diamond Head Theatre would continue for the next 58 years.
Early in his tenure at Diamond Head Theatre PT met Punahou School's drama teacher, Eldon Almquist. The two joined forces to address what was a constant and significant challenge— finding affordable theatrical equipment on the island. Their solution was to start their own business. With $200 in the bank and a small storefront rental, they named their company the Almquist-Tremaine Theatrical Company, later changed to ATTCO.
ATTCO grew from a three-person shop (Tremaine and Almquist were joined by David Newell in 1968)—building and renting theatrical sets, lighting, and props—to become the state's largest theatrics-for-hire operation, supplying equipment for trade shows, conventions, fireworks displays, and Hollywood television and films. PT's days were spent at ATTCO and his evenings at DHT. After his retirement from 'officially' working at ATTCO in 2013, he stayed active at the company as a volunteer. His work with the theatre continued as well, and long after his acting days were behind him, he continued to sit on the DHT Board.
In addition to his height and leading-man good looks, PT possessed charm, wit, an irreverent sense of humor, and a middle-schooler's delight in jokes (practical and otherwise). A lifelong ski enthusiast, he joined his brother for annual ski trips at mountains across the mainland or in Canada; a tradition ending only within the most recent few years.
PT never married or had children of his own. He did, however, leave behind an extended family and beloved friends, all of whom will miss him. Predeceased by his sister Maryanne (Tremaine) Hiebert (1929-2021), PT is survived by his brother and sister-in-law John Winthrop Tremaine and Elizabeth Tremaine of Silver Spring, Maryland; nephews Timothy Hiebert (Providence, Rhode Island) and John Hiebert (Wayland, Massachusetts), nieces Sarah (Hiebert) Flowers (Cranston, Rhode Island), K. Kirsti (Hiebert) Morse (Yarmouth, Maine), and Amy (Hiebert) Murphy (Warren, Rhode Island).
He also leaves behind his sailing partner and fellow prankster, former ATTCO colleague Gary Fenner, Kailua, Hawai'i, and fellow actor Joan (Vincent) Dillon, Kailua, Hawai'i, whose six-decade friendship (as well as that of her children Henry Vincent (1960-2011), Douglas Vincent (1955-1996) and Gail (Vincent) Godenzi, Kailua, Hawai'i) was central to his life.
A Memorial Celebration of PT's Life
will be held at the Diamond Head Theatre on a date tbd.
Information will be posted on the DHT website (www.diamondheadtheatre.com) when this has been scheduled.
