In Memoriam: Mark Rymer

Mark Rymer, Band Director at Zion-Benton Township High School, passed away suddenly this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with his young family during this truly difficult time.

Mark Christian Rymer, 34, passed away suddenly at his home on Monday, April 25, 2011.

Mark was born March 7, 1977 in Waukegan, IL. He attended Zion Elementary Schools where his interests in sports and music were realized along with academic honors. Mark was a student of piano at Zion Conservatory Of Music throughout grade school and high school. At Zion-Benton Township High School (Z-B) he was a 3-sport athlete (golf, basketball, and baseball) and honed his musical skills which prepared him for a Northern Illinois University Music Education Major, graduating in 2000. While at Northern Illinois he was active in Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity. He was a music educator/band director at Lake Bluff Elementary School then became Director of Bands at Zion-Benton Township High School. In 2009 he earned his Masters Degree in Music Education at Vandercook School Of Music in Chicago.

He was a charter member, officer, and musically involved in Zion’s Full Score Orchestra as well as church music at First United Methodist Church of Waukegan in trumpet and vocal work. [more]