Donald Gansheimer 62, of Ballet San Jose
By Patrick May


Mercury News
Article Launched: 11/16/2007 01:44:53 AM PST

t's been a week of ups and a down at Ballet San Jose, and the sad news came first: Donald Gansheimer, the 62-year-old financial wizard who helped the struggling dance troupe find its fiscal footing, died at home of a heart attack Monday morning.

An hour later, with the staff still reeling, the latest numbers showed ticket sales for this weekend's run of "Carmina Burana" had gone through the roof.

For a company that not long ago was fighting to stay afloat, the news from the box office was bittersweet.