OBITUARY SUPPLIED BY PAM (SPRIESTER) BELL:
Alfred Edward Spriester passed away February 19, 2019 at the home of his son Bart Spriester (Mary) and family of Duluth, GA. Alfred was born November 15, 1929 in Kansas City, KS to Fred Spriester (sbach) and Lillian Antionette (Muller). His musical career began at the age of 5 and became a professional trumpeter before graduating from Wyandotte High School, Kansas City, KS. He attended Graceland College for two years before studying trumpet under Renold O. Schilke and music arranging under Glenn Cliffe Bainum at Northwestern University, Willmette, Il. He received a Masters of Music Education from Northwestern and was a charter member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity at the University.
In 1951, he married fellow Northwestern University graduate Dorothy Zarbock and played lead trumpet for three years in the 5th Army Band headquartered at Fort Sheridan. He began teaching at Hobart Jr. High, Hobart, IN before becoming the first music instructor at Dist. 113, Deerfield, Illinois. While at DHS he taught music theory, directed Freshman, Concert, Jazz Bands along with producing and directing the annual broadway musical production from 1961 – 1987 and taking the band across the country. For many years he was a member of the Northshore Community Band, Evanston, IL and taught private trumpet lessons. In 1970, Al was the first conductor of the Deerfield Community Concert Band which he conducted for 17 years. His legacy is the students he inspired, lives he impacted and fond memories made through the many musical opportunities he created and directed.
He is survived by the families of his 2 sons Ron (Sharon), Bart (Mary) and 4 daughters Pam (Paul Bell), Sandy (Carl Markowitz), Laurie (Russ Davis), and Terri along with 11 grandchildren. A Memorial Service celebrating his life was held Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Zion Lutheran Church, 10 Deerfield Rd., Deerfield, Il. Life well spent Students called him ‘Big Al’ and he always said conducting was not a democracy. He taught discipline to excellence, exacting the best from each student while imparting the joy of creating music. Humble in nature, well-loved as a teacher, he never sought accolades or praise for his talents or embrace the impact he left on so many lives. His legacy lies in the inspiration, pride, and musical family created under his leadership and the musicians and music educators who are now creating their own legacies.
OBITUARY PUBLISHED IN CHUCAGO TRIBUNE, 2012:
Alfred Edward Spriester, Northwestern University graduate and former band director of Deerfield High School and first Deerfield Community Concert Band conductor, Deerfield, Illinois, passed away February 19, 2012 at the age of 82. He was Deerfield High School’s first instrumental director developing the program into an award winning department and teaching thousands of students.
He taught discipline to excellence, exacting the best from each student while imparting the joy of creating music. Humble in nature and well-loved as a teacher, he never sought accolades or praise for his talents or embraced the impact he left on so many lives. Passing on the baton, he leaves many of his former students as professional musicians and music educators. His legacy lies in the inspiration, pride, and musical family created under his leadership.
Alfred (Al) was born November 15, 1929 in Kansas City, KS to Fred Spriester(sbach) and Lillian Antionette (Muller). He started his musical career at the age of five playing cornet in the Kansas City American Legion Popeye Band becoming a professional trumpet player before graduating from Wyandotte High School, Kansas City, Kansas.
Al attended Graceland University for two years before studying trumpet under renown Renold O. Schilke Sr. and music under Glenn Cliffe Bainum at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. He was a member of the Wildcat Marching Band, Waa-Mu Show, and Symphonic Orchestra and Band. In 1951 he received a Masters of Music Education from Northwestern and was a charter member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity.
He married fellow Northwestern University graduate Dorothy Zarbock and played principal trumpet for three years in the 5th Army Band, Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He began teaching at Hobart Jr. & Sr. High, Hobart, Indiana before accepting an instrumental teaching position at Dist. 113, Deerfield, Illinois. While at Deerfield High School he taught music theory, directed Freshman, Concert, Jazz and Marching Bands, and produced and directed the annual Broadway musical production from 1961 - 1987. For many years he was a member of the Northshore Concert Community Band, Evanston, Illinois and taught private trumpet lessons. In 1970, Al was the first conductor of the Deerfield Community Concert Band which he conducted for 17 years.
He is survived by the families of his two sons Ron (Sharon), Bart (Mary) and four daughters Pam (Paul Bell), Sandy (Carl Markowitz), Laurie (Russ Davis), Terrie Gibson and thirteen grandchildren. A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 14 at Zion Lutheran Church, 10 Deerfield Rd., Deerfield, Illinois. A lunch gathering for friends, students and colleagues will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the DHS - Alfred Spriester Music Scholarship Fund, Deerfield High School, attn: Beth Gilfillan, 1959 N. Waukegan Rd., Deerfield, Illinois 60015.
This obituary and the picture below were provided by Al's daughter, Pam Spriester Bell.
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LOCALLY PUBLISHED OBITUARY PROVIDED BY PAM SPRIESTER BELL:
Alfred Edward Spriester(sbach) 1929 - 2012
Dad started his music career at the age of 5 when he joined the American Legion boy ‘Popeye band’. By the time he graduated from Wyandotte High School, Kansas City, Kansas, he was moonlighting evenings with local Kansas City big bands. Since he did not have his own transportation, he traveled by bus to late night shows. After graduating high school in 1947, he attended Graceland University for two years before receiving his Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University. At Northwestern, he lived and studied with trumpet maker and teacher Renold O. Schilke where he was luckily enough to meet other Chicago Symphony players. In his Senior year he was a charter member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity.
Upon University graduation Dad enlisted in the 5th army band and married the beautiful brunette Northwestern University graduate and French horn player, Dorothy Zarbock. He always said marrying her was the best thing that ever happened to him. He not only gained the beautiful and musically talented love of his life, but a family who blessed him with traditions and love. After his three year Army commitment, Dad taught in Hobart, Indiana before accepting the instrumental teaching position at Deerfield High School. Every August he plotted marching band routines on the dining room table with magnetic pawns and a metal graph board. He personally calculated and wrote out each of the squad’s movement through a routine. You knew school was starting when the magnetic board was on the dining table.
Dad always kept busy during the school year whether directing the many bands, or producing and conducting DHS’s annual musicals. He also set up annual band trips to different destinations across the United States and arranged for the band to play at the inauguration of Illinois Governor Dan Walker and President Ronald Regan’s visit to Illinois.
In the summers, Dad worked for his father-in-law Fred Zarbock who taught him carpentry and employed him building houses in Wheaton, Illinois They developed a close bond and completed many projects together spending many nights telling their life stories over beer. In the 1960s we built a lake house in Wisconsin and when Dad retired, spent many weeks during the summer relaxing at “The Eighth Rest.”
For many years Dad and Mom played Wednesday evenings in the North Shore Concert Band under conductor John Paynter and traveled with the band to Europe in 1976. Usually one very unlucky DHS band member babysat their five children that evening. When Deerfield Park District formed the Deerfield Community Band, later to be called the Deerfield Community Concert Band, he was asked to be the first director which he led for 17 years. There were many July 4th celebrations played under the hot sun at Jewett Park.
Dad retired from teaching in 1987 when Bart graduated from DHS.
After retiring, Dad was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church as a member of the Property Committee and playing in Bell Choir. Al and Dorothy became interested in genealogy and when not traveling to visit their children and grandchildren, would be researching their ancestries wherever it took them.
Following Dorothy’s death in March 2009, Al moved to Duluth, Georgia, to live with Bart’s family. While there he enjoyed warmer weather, sipping Belgium beer, visits by his children and grandchildren, and teaching Bart’s children to play card games. Dad had a full life filled with music, friendship and family.
Mr. Spriester’s legacy is the students he taught and the caliber of music he introduced into the DHS music program. The Alfred Spriester Music Scholarship is meant to assist a Deerfield High School instrumental student in strengthening their musical skills and artistic development through attendance at an educational summer music camp. Donations to fund a summer camp scholarship may be mailed to DHS, Spriester Scholarship, attn: Beth Gilfillan, 10 Deerfield Rd., Deerfield, Il. 60015
This one is for you Dad.
Spriester family