Rita Ann Giomi

Rita Ann Giomi (12-13-1952 to 7-15-2026) was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was a well-recognized Seattle director with 35 years of professional experience in the Northwest theater community.

Rita came to the theater somewhat by accident: as a teenager, her reasoning mind led her to high school debate and interpretive reading, in which she became a New Mexico state champion. She was still pursuing studies in science when someone suggested she might be good at directing and gave her a chance to try.

She didn't look back, moving to Seattle to attain a master's in fine arts at the University of Washington, after graduating from the University of New Mexico and before freelance directing in Seattle and elsewhere. She went on to serve as Director of Seattle Children's Theatre's (SCT) Young Actor Institute from 1993 to 2007 and as Artistic Associate of SCT from 2007 until her retirement in 2019.

What she found really interesting about theater was the minutia of behavior that tells the story. She loved the challenge presented by the text of a play, to solve the puzzle it posed. "I've never been somebody who will stop if I don't understand something," she once said. "I'm always interested in finding something out I don't understand."

In addition to her analytical inclination, Rita possessed a sharp humor. One colleague recalls that she had a rubber stamp she'd sometimes use to give directing notes which said simply: "Act Better". Both her mentorship and friendship was deeply appreciated by her colleagues.

She loved the small garden she tended in Seattle and the crop of heirloom tomatoes she could always coax from it. She always made time to watch the Seahawks play and cheer them on.

We will never understand why she was brutally robbed of her essence by Alzheimer's.

Death has graciously released her to be herself again. May perpetual light shine upon her.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Marcello and Ioli Giomi, nephew, Alex Hughes and brother-in-law, Joel Crespy. She is survived by her siblings in Albuquerque, Andy Giomi (Joan Blackburn), Sylvia Giomi (Scott Hughes), Julie Crespy, and her much adored nephew, Evan Giomi (Maya Klein). She also leaves behind her friends who became family in Seattle, Lori Michutka, Tracey Conway, Barry Allar and Linda Hartzell.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Seattle Children's Theatre https://www.sct.org/ways-to-give/ or The Alzheimer's Association https://donorservices.alz.org/