Michael Smuin's Passing

Just heard last night that Michael Smuin, choreographer and director of Smuin Ballets/SF, had a heart attack while at his company dance studios, and died. I always had the feeling he would never go quietly into that good night, so there is comfort that he died while doing something he loved.
See the SF Gate article here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/23/BAGAJPE2T84.DTL&type=performance
See his Obituary and sign his guest book here: http://www.legacy.com/SFGate/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=87511432

Working for his dance company was one of my favorite gigs, especially because most of my close friends worked the same gig. And the show was always interesting. He did new choreography for his dancers every year, including a ballet about Zorro, ballets based on compliations of songs from the Beatles, Elton John, and most recently Frank Sinatra. In spite of all the work it took to mount his shows (definitly more than lights and tights in his tour trucks), the show looked great and was continually held to Smuin's high standards, because he wouldn't have it any other way.
It sounds like I'm writing an Obit to the company. I'm sure the company will continue on, with new choreography by it's dancers that have already been encouraged in that direction. But it won't be the same (not that it should be).