Dave Habley, Stevenson’s first band director, has died

A funeral will be held Saturday for Dave Habley, Stevenson High School’s first band director.

Habley, 82, of Lake Zurich, died Monday at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Barrington.

A Berwyn native, Habley began teaching at Stevenson High in 1967, two years after the Lincolnshire school opened. He previously had taught at Richards High School in Blue Island.

Habley was tasked with creating a band program, school spokesman Jim Conrey said.

A member of the University of Illinois’ marching band in college, Habley loved marching music and its impact on athletics, recalled his brother, Tom.

“He was quite a fan of John Philip Sousa,” Tom Habley said, referring to the legendary American composer and conductor. “He really felt the band was part of the winning, competitive culture.”

During his tenure at Stevenson, Dave Habley took students on performance trips around the country and to Europe. Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark were among the foreign destinations for performances.

Under Habley’s leadership, the school’s marching band also participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

Habley retired in 1984.

Visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Davenport Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St., Barrington. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. at Davenport.

Burial will follow at Ascension Catholic Cemetery in Libertyville.

In addition to his brother, Dave Habley’s survivors include his wife, Caryn, and two sisters.