The Sarasota Opera has announced that Greg Trupiano has passed away.

The company revealed that the former artistic administrator died on Feb. 18 at the age of 64 in a hospital of cold or flu-like symptoms.

Trupiano began working with the Sarasota Opera in 1987, and remained with the Saratoga Opera for more than 30 years as both the longtime company manager and, more recently, as director of artistic administration.

During his time with organization, Trupiano was responsible for making sure that all the pieces for each production came together, from arranging artist and rehearsal schedules to recruiting singers and compiling resumes for auditions for artist leaders.

Outside of his work at the Sarasota Opera, he was the founder and artistic director of the Walt Whitman Project, a Brooklyn-based community arts organization. He ran the organization with his longtime partner, Lon Black, who served as associate artistic director.

In a statement via Facebook, his partner Black wrote, “It is with profound sadness that I report the passing of my partner, Greg Trupiano, in Sarasota, Florida this morning where he worked for Sarasota Opera. He was an absolute treasure of a human being and touched hundreds of people in positive ways. So many, including me, have been devastated by this news. Health wise, he had been doing extremely well in the last several years and his death was shocking and unexpected. We were together for over 38 wonderful years. I love you so much you dear, sweet man.”

The Sarasota Opera will organize a memorial celebration for Trupiano in March.