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24 | May 24, 2018 | The tinley junction Life & ARts tinleyjunction.com Family remembers ‘fun, thoughtful’ Andrew teacher Jon DePaolis Freelance Reporter To truly understand the influence that Andrew High School biology teacher Lloyd Eichwald had not only on his family but also on that of the community, one needs to understand two things. The first is that he cared greatly about anyone and everyone. The second? Eichwald could turn a phrase with the best of them. Whether it was telling one of his daughters, Shannon, that she needed to “build a foundation,” or welcoming students to his class by saying, “Good morning, aspiring scholars” — Eichwald had a saying at the ready. Perhaps his most famous catchphrase? “Biology is life.” “We’ve received so many kids’ artwork that says, ‘Biology is life,’ [as well as] T- shirts and letters,” Shannon said. “That was his go-to phrase, but I think what is so cool about that is that he truly believed it.” But Eichwald coined many over his years — and they always came with a deeper meaning. “‘Shannon, you got to be the third little pig and build a brick house,’” his daughter recited, laughing. “He was able to come up with analogies to things to make you understand and also understand how important what he was saying was.” Eichwald, 58, of Mokena, and formerly of New Lenox and the Tinley Park area, died unexpectedly on May 6. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; their children, Shannon, Lindsey and Erich; and hundreds of students, colleagues and friends. Being present in the moment Eichwald always had a zest for life. In fact, it was that trait that drew Nancy to him. Nancy said she met Eichwald when she was 24. He was friends with Nancy’s brother, and he and that group would meet at the beach to play volleyball. While the two had both attended Tinley Park High School, they didn’t know each other at the time. “He was so fun, and he was so thoughtful,” Nancy said. But while they first met at the beach for volleyball, it was really the second time they interacted while cross country skiing that she could sense sparks. She said she is the type of person who would push through and enjoy the workout of skiing, but that Eichwald would call out for her to stop and take a moment to look at the world around them. On that occasion, it was so he could point out a blue jay to her. “He was always present in the moment, and I think that’s why he had such a great impact on people — he cared about everything,” Nancy said. She said Eichwald was like no one she had ever met in her life. “Right away, the first time we ever spent any time together, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the guy I want to be with,’” she said. “It was just immediate. It was magical being with him.” Shannon also had similar experiences with her father. “He was always someone who was teaching, and not just because he was a teacher but because he truly wanted you to share in the experiences he had,” Shannon said. Her father would take her and her siblings on nature walks during the summer months, and Shannon said Eichwald would constantly stop them in their tracks to ask them if they heard what was happening around them. “‘Did you hear that sound?’ or ‘Guys, look at this tree and how old it is,’” Shannon recalled. “He made such an impression on me to stop and smell and observe what is going on. He always was there throughout our childhood to really teach us lessons along the way.” Shannon said they often took road trips as a family, and Lloyd would serve as the navigator. And whether they were driving to California or Florida, Shannon said her father would always stop along the way at the roadside tourist traps for new experiences. “Whatever moment he was in, he wanted to enjoy it to the fullest and [make sure] we enjoyed it to the fullest,” Shannon said. Getting to teaching Nancy said at the time she met Eichwald, he managed a bicycle shop — but he dreamed of being an oceanographer and working in marine biology. Over time, however, and as their family grew, Eichwald began looking for a way to combine some of his talents and joys — his knowledge of science and nature, his creativity, and his love for working with people. Teaching was a perfect fit. Twenty-three years later, hundreds of students would agree, and it wasn’t a surprise to Nancy. She credited her husband’s dedication, and she gave the example of how dozens of students had reached out to her since Eichwald’s passing to express gratitude because he had written them letters of recommendation. “He was literally getting up at 3 a.m. and writing these,” Nancy said. “He was just so dedicated to what he did, but he was also so caring. I told him that he needed to put a limit on these, because so many people would ask him. But he said he couldn’t, because they were such good kids and they deserved it. He really cared, and I think that was really the root of it.” Continuing on his legacy Since her father’s passing, Shannon said she and her mother had been reading letters from former students of Eichwald’s, as well as childhood friends. They all further cemented how she viewed her father. “He’s someone who was passionate about science, and I think that’s what he brought to his class,” Shannon said. “But he also cared about every single person that he met. Whether it was a student in his class or a colleague.” Shannon said every time her father would meet someone for the first time, it was like a physical reaction. Eichwald would stop, pause, shake the person’s hand, and ask three or four questions. “He truly wanted to know about people, and I just think he found so much value in that,” Shannon said. “You felt that from him, and that’s not something that you forget. We saw that from students’ letters — them remembering him from 10 to 12 years ago. He truly cared about each person he came into contact with, and I just think that’s so special.” She said her father also always looked out for the people at an event who could use a friend. “He truly looked out for people that needed someone to talk to, and I think that’s important,” Shannon said. “He looked outside of himself. He was very observant.” She believes that idea of how people treat others is important, and something for which she hopes her father’s legacy can serve as a guide. “My dad treated everyone with kindness, with respect, and with a true desire to get to know them and what was going on in their lives,” Shannon said. “I think if you can bring that sense of presence to the interactions you have with people, that’s pretty powerful.” For Eichwald, it was always about doing the right thing, Nancy added. “With him, it wasn’t a question — just do the right thing,” Nancy said. “That’s why he was such a great dad and such a great teacher.” It also couldn’t be denied that he was a people person. Any time they would go to the grocery store, for example, Nancy said she’d always have to ask where Eichwald had went. Undoubtedly, he would be off helping another person, who couldn’t find or reach something. And he was assuredly a man who put his family first, Nancy said. “We were just such a great team,” she said. “Even as time went on and our kids got older, I would tell him that, ‘You are the person I want to grow old with.’” Eichwald’s memory will live on in his family and the students with whom he interacted. And Nancy hopes some of those lessons live on, too. “Be kind to people, because you never know what they are going through,” Nancy said. And, of course, things like having a greater awareness of the environment and of nature, and making the world a better place were high on the list. After all, biology is life. Advertise your RENTAL PROPERTY in the newspaper people turn to first CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 | www.22ndcenturymedia.com
tinleyjunction.com Life & ARts the tinley junction | May 24, 2018 | 25 Local nonprofit invites public to ‘Kick Off to Summer’ event SUBMITTED BY THE CRISIS CENTER OF SOUTH SUBURBIA Summer is right around the corner and one of the first fun events in the southland is The Crisis Center for South Suburbia’s “Kick-Off to Summer.” This premiere family event, presented by Frankfort’s Sturdi Iron, to benefit the Tinley Park-based nonprofit will be held from 1-7 p.m. on June 10 at Water’s Edge Golf Club, 7205 W. 115th Street, Worth, IL. “This event has something for the entire family and all of the proceeds benefit victims of domestic violence supported at the Crisis Center,” said Jessica Brooks, Special Events Manager for the Crisis Center. The event includes a large beer tent with headlining entertainment including Related Rhapsody of Oak Forest and one of Chicago’s most popular bands - Midnight. A bean bag tournament and raffles will also be part of the festivities. Free children’s activities include face painting, bouncy houses and more. Assorted beverages, brats, burgers and more will be available for an additional cost. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $20, which includes a raffle ticket for the Big Top Cash Raffle and a door prize ticket. Only Advanced tickets are eligible for the cash raffle. Tickets are available at both Neat Repeat store locations: 6602 W. 111th St. in Worth and 9028 W. 159th St. in Orland Park or can be purchased online at ww.crisisctr.org/ events/kots. Tickets at the door will be $10 for adults, $5 for kids 4-10, and kids under 3 are free. For more information on the Kick-off to Summer visit www.crisis ctr.org or call (708) 429- 7255. The Crisis Center for South Suburbia provides housing and support services like counseling to nearly 2,000 victims of domestic violence each year. One out of every four women is a victim of domestic violence in the US. Prevention and outreach services benefit nearly 20,000 south suburban residents each year. Annual VVAC art show & sale features Tinley Park artists works SUBMITTED BY TINLEY PARK-PARK DISTRICT The Vogt Visual Arts Center, located at 17420 S. 67th Court in Tinley Park, will host its Annual Art Show and Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 2. This is a day-long celebration of the arts, featuring many original works of art from local artists with a wide variety of artistic works on display. Attendees can expect to add unique piece to the collection or a gift for family and friends. In addition to the show and sale, there will be live entertainment, kid’s crafts, live demos and more. Be sure to meander through the gallery for the June exhibit, “Music.” From 1-3 p.m. attendees can meet some of the artists and enjoy light refreshments. After finishing shopping and viewing the current exhibit, relax and enjoy the cool jazz sounds of Nuclear Jazz Quarktet at the VVAC Gazebo from 1-4 p.m. This event is officially endorsed by Illinois Bicentennial and partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. The Vogt Visual Arts Center is a facility of the Tinley Park-Park District. Further information on VVAC, upcoming exhibits, hours and classes can be found at tinleyparkdistrict.org or by calling (708) 342-4200. The 2017 Summer High School Community Band Festival featured members from all throughout the Chicagoland area. PHOTO SUBMITTED Calling all high school musicians Play with Tinley Park Community Band next month SUBMITTED BY TINLEY PARK COMMUNITY BAND The Tinley Park Community Band, directed by Barb Abarro, invites high school musicians to participate in a fourth annual Summer High School Community Band Festival. Students will play alongside adult band members. The concert is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on June 28 at the Tinley Park Park District Bettenhausen Recreation Center, 8125 W. 171st St., Tinley Park. Audience members are kindly asked to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Concessions will be available for purchase. A rain date has yet to be announced. High school musicians 14-years-old and older, or those who will be graduating junior high, are invited to participate. There’s no residency requirement. Rehearsals will be from 7-9 p.m. on June 4, 11, 18 and 25 at McCarthy Park, 16801 S. 80th Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477. New participants’ fee is $25 and includes a polo shirt. Returning participants fee (who have a polo shirt) is $10. Concert attire is the polo shirt and khaki (tan) pants. Fees are requested as soon as possible. See the website’s Schedule page for a downloadable form to print and mail. Mail form and check payable to Community Band Foundation of Tinley Park, Inc. and mail to PO Box 562, Tinley Park, IL 60477. The Concert Band was established in 1987. Members come from all over Chicagoland. Musicians age 14 and older are invited to join. There are no auditions or residency requirements. For more information, visit concert band website at www.tinleyband.org.
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