Lindbergh School District Pays Tribute to Bob Spiegelman

Mr. Spiegelman led Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band to two Tournament of Roses parades.

Lindbergh High School lost a dear friend, a dedicated musician and a true “leader of the band” on Sunday, March 20, when longtime band director Bob Spiegelman passed away following a courageous battle with lymphoma. He was 54 years old. Through his passion directing the LHS Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band, Mr. Spiegelman touched the lives of hundreds of student musicians, teaching them a love of music and leading them through several once-in-a-lifetime performances.

In 2010-11, Mr. Spiegelman celebrated his 29th year as a music educator and 18th year as Director of Bands at Lindbergh High School. Most recently he taught music at LHS, and was director of the Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble. Prior to teaching at Lindbergh, Mr. Spiegelman was director of the St. Charles West High School Band in St. Charles. He earned his bachelor and master degrees from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

"LHS has lost a dear friend and faculty member in Bob Spiegelman," said Ron Helms, principal. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time, and we grieve alongside his extended band family here at the high school. Bob touched hundreds of lives during his many years as director of bands, and we will miss him greatly."

The highlight of Mr. Spiegelman’s career was leading the LHS Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band to the Tournament of Roses parade not once, but twice. In January, he took Lindbergh High School’s 200+ member band to Pasadena, Calif., where they marched for thousands of spectators and millions who watched on TV nationwide. The band first received an invitation to the parade in 2005, and the band was one of only 15 outside of California to be asked to play in 2011. 

“Through his dedication, compassion and contagious smile, Bob has touched everyone,” said Cherie Ellis of the LHS Bandstanders, the marching band’s booster group. “From students to parents, coworkers to the community—he has always managed to inspire in each and every one of us, the spirit to venture forth to seize the ‘magical moments.’ I am grateful and honored that his inspiration and spirit will live on through the dreams and passion he has shared with all of us."

Mr. Spiegelman served as President of the Missouri Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators and was instrumental in creating Missouri's first All-State High School Jazz Ensemble. He served as Missouri chapter President-Elect in 2005 of Phi Beta Mu, the professional band director fraternity. He was a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Missouri Bandmasters Association, and the National Education Association.

His career mileposts include performing for President Reagan, the NFL Cardinals and the St. Louis Cardinals, and at the World Series, the Paris Air show, the U.S. Ambassadors residence, the King Kamehaheha Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii and the Tournament of Roses parades.

The Lindbergh community is invited to post comments for Mr. Spiegelman’s family on his Caring Bridge site, at www.caringbridge.org/visit/bobspiegelman. Donations in his honor may be made to PBM-Lambda Foundation, 834 Rochdale, Kirkwood, MO 63122.

Click here for a 15-minute video tribute to Mr. Spiegelman courtesy of Bandstanders.

Editor's note: This article was not edited to conform to Patch copy style in order to preserve the district's sense of what they wanted to say, and how they wanted to say it.