Peter Whinnery, a longtime tech advisor to student performing arts groups and a lecturer in the theater arts and English departments of the School of Arts and Sciences, died on August 25, 2022. He was 64.

During his childhood, Mr. Whinnery worked with his hands early on, learning woodworking techniques from his father in a small woodworking factory in Spring Lake, Michigan. He majored in mathematics at Albion College but took his first job at the wood shop at National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan, the summer after he graduated. He also held a job early in his career at Drew Theater in Long Island.

Mr. Whinnery came to Penn in 1982 after graduating from a master’s program in technical theater and design at the University of Michigan. Initially, he had a temporary role supervising the shop in Irvine Auditorium, but nine months later, the division of University Life hired him full-time. He came to hold great influence in Student Performing Arts, helping design the Performing Arts Council (PAC)’s wood shop at 41st and Walnut Streets when the shop moved out of Irvine Auditorium in 1997 and building sets for dozens of productions, often more than ten a semester, for various student groups. Mr. Whinnery became a beloved figure on campus, teaching students how to use intimidating tools and working through time crunches to get sets ready for productions’ opening nights.

“I worked under Peter for 13 years at the PAC shop,” said Michelle Moller, currently an assistant in the shop. “He was consistently the kindest, most knowledgeable, and patient person I have ever met. He provided a safe space for students to learn new techniques—his office was always full of students asking for advice on sets, school, and life. He loved summers, when he could go stay at his cabin with Jorja, his family, and often his cats. He was such an amazingly wonderful human.”

“Peter was responsible for creating a scene shop space specifically for students who wanted to create,” said Amanda Labonte, the present technical advisor to the PAC shop. “Every piece of the shop was so thoughtfully laid out that we feel Peter’s presence daily. He always put students first. When I met him, one of the first things he said to me was, ‘this is their shop. Let them put their art on the wall. Let them be them.’” Mr. Whinnery’s mantra was, “it should be good enough for who it’s for,” reflecting his passion for designing beautiful and creative sets for the students he loved.

Between 1985 and 2018, Mr. Whinnery also taught courses in theater arts (specifically in lighting, scene, and costume design) and in English, both in the School of Arts and Sciences and in the College of General Studies (today’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies). Academically, Mr. Whinnery advised many students concentrating in design-related areas, and supervised honors theses. Aside from his Penn duties, Mr. Whinnery was the main lighting designer and contributing member at InterAct Theater Company, founded by Penn alum and Mr. Whinnery’s mentee, Seth Rozin.

Mr. Whinnery retired from Penn in 2018, an occasion that merited a celebration at the 2019 Alumni Weekend.

He is survived by his wife, Jorja.