Naperville mourns death of education icon

Gene Drendel was never the kind of principal to stay tucked away in an office.

Whether he was strolling the halls during the school day or attending after-school events, his students knew they had his support.

"He loved people. He loved children," said Sharon Drendel, his wife of 48 years. "His primary focus was on just making them good productive people and that they would care for everybody (like) he did. He cared for everybody."

Gene Drendel, who spent three decades as a teacher and administrator in what is now Naperville Unit District 203, died Thursday at the age of 71.

A fifth-generation Naperville resident, he grew up on a farm near Hobson Road where he made lifelong friends like Rita Harvard.

"He is just so encompassing of all the good things you think about someone," Harvard said. "He had a great sense of humor, was very compassionate and he cared deeply about his family, his friends and his students."

Gene spent most of his life in Naperville, attending Ss. Peter and Paul School and Naperville Community High School before leaving for what was then Iowa State College where he earned a master's degree in educational administration.

In 1963, he returned to his hometown and began teaching at Lincoln Junior High School. For the next 30 years he served as a teacher and administrator, also working in Naper and Beebe elementary schools before becoming the first principal of Jefferson Junior High School in 1970. After 15 years at the helm, Gene became the district's associate superintendent where he stayed until his retirement in 1994.

"Gene was tough but he was fair and he loved every single kid," longtime colleague and friend Mary Ann Bobosky said. "He would stand in the hall and he knew the name of every kid in his building."

There were five students to whom he needed no introduction. All five of Gene's children had him as their junior high principal.

Joseph Drendel said expectations were high as the son of the principal and Gene always knew his grades before he did. But his father also had high expectations of his staff and worked to make sure he had the best teachers in town.

Some of Joseph Drendel's fondest childhood memories are of helping his father at the school during summer vacation as well as the annual spring break trips to Alabama.

"With Gene, his family always came first," Bobosky said. "He had a passion for his kids and his grandchildren. He had such a heart."

Gene also was actively involved in the community outside the school district and had been a member of Rotary Club for the past 33 years. He served as an usher at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and was a member of the Little Friends Inc. board of directors.

His community loved him back. In 1999, District 203 dedicated Kennedy Junior High to Gene. He also won two awards from the Naperville Jaycees for his dedication to education and is a member of the halls of fame at both Naperville Central High School and Ss. Peter and Paul School.

Gene's wake will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Naperville North High School contest gym, 899 N. Mill St. A funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Oct. 20 at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 36 N. Ellsworth St., Naperville.