'Incredible front man' for rock band moved audiences

As a former high school football player, Russell Scott Kotlarz hardly looked the part of a lead singer in a rock band. But once he started singing, friends say, he commanded the room.

Kotlarz had been well known throughout the Northwest suburbs as the lead singer in the band, WAVE and more recently, in Peg 7. Both groups played alternative music, covering hits by Pearl Jam, Creed and Stone Temple Pilots.

The bands drew huge crowds everywhere they went, most notably at Toto's, Carlos Murphy's and Chicago City Limits, all in Schaumburg; as well as the Penny Road Pub in Barrington and Durty Nellie's in Palatine.

"He just nailed all of that music," says his friend Nick Testa of Elgin, who played lead guitar. "He just sang with such force. He was an incredible front man."

Now, his legions of fans are mourning his death.

Mr. Kotlarz passed away Nov. 1 from complications related to cardiac disease he had contracted from a virus, called viral cardiomyopathy.

The Algonquin resident was 39.

On Wednesday, Mr. Kotlarz had been scheduled to have a cardiac defibrillator implanted to prevent his irregular heart rhythms. But his heart couldn't hold on, family members said.

Family members say Mr. Kotlarz had been a heart patient since 1999, when he contracted the virus that inflamed his heart and left it permanently damaged. It resulted in congestive heart failure and, more recently, other complications.

Mr. Kotlarz grew up in Elk Grove Village and attended Elk Grove High School, where, he initially played football and trumpet in the band. By junior year, he started playing bass guitar, and soon formed his own rock band.

After graduation, Mr. Kotlarz attended Rock Valley College in Rockford and graduated with a degree in aircraft maintenance, leading to a job with United Airlines. Over the last three years, he supplemented his income as a mechanic, becoming licensed as a home inspector and working in partnership with his brother, Paul Kotlarz, of West Dundee.

"I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with him over the last three years," his brother says. "Everyone that got to meet him was better for it. He was upbeat and so positive. He just filled a room."

Besides his brother, Mr. Kotlarz is survived by his wife, Jackie, and 18-month-old daughter, Chloe Hannah, with another child due next year. He also is survived by his parents, Ronald and Halla Kotlarz of Elk Grove Village.

A celebration of Mr. Kotlarz's life will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Fireman's Hall, 218 S. Main St. in Bartlett, with an 11 a.m. funeral Mass on Saturday at St. James Catholic Church, 820 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.