Libertyville High School band director retiring after 36 years
Don Shupe, Libertyville High School's musical Iron Horse, is retiring in June after 36 years on the job.
Like famed baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who earned the 'Iron Horse' nickname in the 1920s for his consecutive-games streak, Shupe started his career on a substitute basis.
He filled in while onetime band director John Chambers was on leave in 1974. Chambers came back after a year but Shupe stayed at the school, and eventually he replaced Chambers as band director.
Shupe will be joining his wife, former Libertyville High English teacher Martha Gorun, in retirement. She left the school a year ago.
Shupe said he hopes to stay involved in music, starting with some short-term directing gigs this fall and winter.
"It is a big part of who I am and what I do," said Shupe, 58, of Libertyville. "You never really just say 'I don't want to do music anymore.' I don't know anyone who's ever done that."
Shupe spent his entire teaching career at Libertyville High. He went there straight after earning a master's degree from Northwestern University in 1974.
He's served as band director since 1978. In that post, Shupe led the freshman band, the wind ensemble, the concert band, the marching band and a jazz ensemble. He also has assisted the orchestra wind section.
"Playing great music with a lot of great kids at the highest level has just been a great joy," Shupe said. "It's a job to work with people who want to make fine music sound great."
Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 Superintendent Prentiss Lea called Shupe the very definition of a master teacher.
"Don is a great educator (who) has truly touched the lives of thousands of students, parents, community members and staff," Lea said. "He has been a true ambassador for Libertyville High School."
Shupe said he'll miss spending time with Libertyville High students. Teens, he said, are fun and interesting.
"It's never boring," Shupe said of teaching. "You never have the same day twice."