Former resident writes novel

By The Montana Standard Staff - 02/26/2009

Former Butte resident Pan Pantoja, a 2000 graduate of Butte Central High School, recently published a novel titled, "God Comes Near in Us." The novel is mostly Pantoja's creative illustrations and includes some text. Chapter titles include "A Previously View Life," "It is a Jungle Out There" and "The Cat That Morphed into a Small Man." Pantoja, who lives in Fernley, Nev., said he's a professional painter, sculptor, playwright, director, author, illustrator and documentary filmmaker. He is a full-time artist-in-residence through the Sierra Arts Foundation and the Nevada Arts Council. He also gives four to eight hours a week helping at-risk and criminal youths in Nevada.

Pantoja graduated from Carroll College in 2004. His parents are Jim and Collette Pantoja of Butte. His wife, Trish (Gollinger) Pantoja, is also from Butte.

According to a newspaper article in Nevada, Pantoja is directing a hip-hop opera, which will debut in Reno on May 30.