Alfred Edward SPRIESTER
Obituary

Alfred Edward Spriester, former band director of Deerfield High School, Deerfield, Ill., and first Deerfield Community Concert Band conductor, passed away Feb. 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 Nov. 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Kan., 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, Kan. Al attended Graceland University for two years before studying trumpet under renowned Renold O. Schilke Sr. and music arranging with Glenn Cliffe Bainum at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. He received a Masters of Music Education from Northwestern and was a charter member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity. In 1951, he married fellow Northwestern University graduate Dorothy Zarbock and played principal trumpet for three years in the 5th Army Band, Fort Sheridan, Ill. He began teaching at Hobart Jr. and Sr. High, Hobart, Ind., before accepting an instrumental teaching position at District 113, Deerfield, Ill. 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, Ill., 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), Terri Gibson and 13 grandchildren. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 14, at Zion Lutheran Church, 10 Deerfield Road, Deerfield, Ill. 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 Road, Deerfield, IL 60015.

Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on Mar. 11, 2012



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