Johnstown, PA - EATMAN - Rodney H. One of Johnstown's long-running cultural ambassadors has died. Rodney Eatman passed away from stroke complications on July 10, 2026. He was 83 years old. His love of the theater and music began early in childhood. Growing up in Texarkana, TX, he began putting on his own shows in grade school and by high school was already directing plays at his church. It was also at church that he found the piano and amazed everyone with his ability to play full arrangements of songs by ear. He earned a degree in theater from Baylor University, then moved on to complete a master of fine arts degree from University of Texas, and later a PhD from the University of Michigan. Coming to Johnstown in 1978, he joined the faculty at UPJ where he taught and directed - helping the theater program evolve and prosper for 31 years. His children, two daughters and two sons, grew up in the family home in Westmont. Alongside his family life, he found a home at Westmont Presbyterian Church working with Tom Fleming and later Jim Hutchinson to bring a consistently polished and passionate program of sacred music to that community. Once retired from teaching, he joined his dear friend Dave Ward in producing community theater via The Stonebridge Players. Together, they presented 13 lively productions. He also directed numerous shows at Westmont High School. In his later years, he enjoyed playing the piano for the farmer's market in Johnstown and at local hospitals. He also had the good fortune to winter in Mexico several times where he played at a piano bar at night. He loved to share his gifts. He is survived by his brother, Timothy Eatman; his children, Laurel Sullivan, Heather Eatman, and Robin Eatman; and by his former wife and mother of his children, Celia Nourse Kupersanin. He was predeceased by their son, Geoffrey Eatman.