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Sycamore Remembers Late Supervisor of Music
The Sycamore Family suffered a deep loss this weekend. Beloved music teacher and Sycamore Schools Music Supervisor Lonnie Stover passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 50 years old.
Mr. Stover served our students and families for more than 20 years, encouraging and inspiring countless students to pursue and excel at musical opportunities. Mr. Stover joined the Sycamore Community Schools Music Department in 1997. In addition to serving as the district’s Music Supervisor, Mr. Stover taught band grades 5-12, junior high choir, elementary general music, music theory, guitar, study of rock music, percussion ensemble, indoor percussion ensemble, junior high jazz ensemble and marching band.
Mr. Stover once said the best job he ever had was teaching Fifth and Sixth Grade Band at Sycamore. Under his direction, interest in both programs grew rapidly.
“The Sycamore family lost a giant this week,” said Frank Forsthoefel, superintendent. “Lonnie epitomized the essence of a teacher and servant leader. His mission each and every day was to fuel the musical passion of our students while leading our district to one of the best musical communities in the state.”
Prior to coming to Sycamore, Lonnie taught with the Field Local Schools, Brooklyn City Schools and the Forest Hills Local Schools. During his career, he did freelance work as an indoor percussion and marching band drill designer, arranger, and adjudicator.
Mr. Stover was honored in 2016 to serve as the Conductor of the 2016 Land of Grant Junior High Honor Band. Mr. Stover earned the Ohio Department of Education Master Teacher designation in 2014. He was nominated for the 2012 Hamilton County Educational Service Center Celebrate Excellence Award. He also served as the OMEA District XIII Seventh Grade Honor Band Conductor in 2003 and 2006. In 2001, he was named the Sam’s Club Local Educator of the Year. He was also published in the Ohio Educators Journal, TRIAD.
Mr. Stover leaves behind his family, which includes wife Christina, who is a music teacher with Fairfield City Schools. His son Noah, who plays trombone, and his daughter Ellie, who plays the horn.
Mr Stover’s legacy will live on in the students he touched with his passion for music and the arts. We extend our most heartfelt sympathy to Mr. Stover’s family during this most difficult time.
A Visitation will be held Thursday, October 12 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Services will be Friday, October 13 at 12:00 p.m. Both the visitation and the service will take place at Avance Funeral Home located at 4976 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH. Following the service, Lonnie will be interred at Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton. In order to be excused from school to attend the service, students will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, or have their parent’s written permission to attend. If your child is planning on attending the visitation/service, we encourage you to prepare them for the experience and attend with them.
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