Gay ex-director of Sixth Floor Museum dies

Jeff West, right

Jeff West, the former director of the Sixth Floor Museum, has died, according to his friend Russ Vandeveerdonk.

West, who was openly gay, directed the museum for 10 years. He had also been executive director of the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas and managing director of the Dallas Theater Center. He worked with DIFFA Dallas and the Dallas International Film Festival.

Little information was available Monday afternoon, but Vandeveerdonk said West’s death was sudden. West posted on his Facebook page early in the afternoon and was busy working on a fundraiser that will take place over Memorial Day weekend.

At the time of his death, West was vice president of real estate for developer Matthews Southwest.