Lincoln-Way mourns death of West’s band director

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Michele Sorentino-Poole (right) reads student tributes to Lincoln Way West Band Director Steve Nedzel on Monday, June 20, 2011, at the school in New Lenox, Ill. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Updated: June 21, 2011 3:26PM

NEW LENOX — At a time when band students at Lincoln-Way West High School in New Lenox are normally gearing up for band camp, a silence has fallen on their marching field. Their band director, Steve Nedzel, is no longer there.

Nedzel died Friday after falling at his home in Chicago. He was 32.

Recent Lincoln-Way West graduate Ariel Ruttenberg said Nedzel was “truly one of the greatest men I have ever known.”

“He was so excited about West,” Ruttenberg said. “He had so much faith in us (band members) that it transferred through him.”

Nedzel, who worked for Lincoln-Way schools for 10 years, directed the marching band, pep band and percussion ensemble and taught music technology. He was chairman of Lincoln-Way West’s music department.

At Lincoln-Way West’s marching field a memorial has been set up at Nedzel’s directing tower with students, parents and alumni placing flowers, notes and gifts.

Stacy Holland, director of community relations for the school district, said Nedzel’s legacy is the Lincoln-Way West music program.

Before the 2009 opening of Lincoln-Way West High School, Nedzel had been Lincoln-Way Central’s assistant director of bands for eight years.

A graduate of Palatine High School, Nedzel had a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana and master’s degrees from Vandercook College of Music and Northeastern Illinois University.

He was involved with Lincoln-Way’s music program when the Marching Knights played at President George W. Bush’s second inauguration parade.

Ruttenberg, who played flute in the West Warrior Marching band during the 2010-11 school year, said Nedzel took the marching band to state competitions at Illinois State University every year she was in the band. She said this past year, the band placed ninth overall.

“When (Nedzel) found out we made it to the finals, he burst into tears, right in the bleachers with the rest of us,” Ruttenberg said.

Another 2011 Lincoln-Way West graduate, Eddie Brennan said, “He just touched so many lives with music. He will live on forever through us.

A memorial service for family and friends will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Lutheran Church in Palatine.

A separate memorial service for Lincoln-Way students and parents will begin at 11 a.m. July 2 at Lincoln-Way West, 21701 S. Gougar Road.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Steve Nedzel Memorial Fund, care of Lincoln-Way West High School.

“Steve was a teacher who gave his knowledge and love of music to his students,” Superintendent Lawrence A. Wyllie said in a press release. “Steve always put his students first. He was a very talented musician and teacher who shared his passion for music with his students.”