Dr. Sherwin Sloan, the ultimate ‘Ring nut’?

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Even in the rarefied world of opera, Dr. Sherwin Sloan was known as perhaps the ultimate “Ring nut.” Since 1975, he had seen Richard Wagner’s four-opera cycle known as “The Ring” at least 90 times.

After witnessing his first production in Seattle in 1975, Sloan went on to co-found the Wagner Society of Southern California and often spent six months a year leading tours that traveled the world to see “The Ring.”

Sloan, who was an ophthalmologist, retired early, in 1998, to indulge his passion. He had served on the boards of both L.A. Opera and the Opera League.

One long-stated hope of Sloan’s: To see “The Ring” staged in Los Angeles. Over the weekend, L.A. Opera began unveiling the first complete performance of “Der Ring des Nibelungen” in L.A., but Sloan was too ill to attend. He died Monday at 72.

A complete obituary will follow.
-- Valerie J. Nelson