In Memory

Donald Nevins

Donald J. Nevins

Donald Nevins

EDWARDSVILLE

Donald J. Nevins, 60, died at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at St. John'sMercyMedicalCenter in Creve Coeur. He was born July 30,1942,in Alton to Dewain and Dorothy (Dodge) Nevins.

He married the former Suzanne Shaw on Feb. 26, 1983, in St. Louis. She survives. He received his bachelor of arts in education from Southern Illinois University in Alton and received his master's degree in music and education administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

He taught music in the RiverviewGardensSchool District for 15 years before moving to New York to sing opera. He studied voice with Lyndon Crews and was a soloist with the Long Island Symphony for three years before returning to the St.

Louis area. He sang and played the piano professionally and established his own

business, Dinner Concerts Inc. He returned to teaching choral music and orchestra in the FortZumwaltSchool District. He would have just completed his 14th year. At the age of 13, he wrote choral arrangements for barbershop singing, which his mother directed at that time. At the age of 16, he sang with a national championship quartet from the

Peoria area. He later directed the St. Charles Barber Shoppers and the Riverview

Adult Chorus. He was the organist and choir director at the First Christian Church in Edwardsville until 2001. Music was such an important part of his life, but he

was most proud of his family.

He was truly loved by many and will be sorely missed. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a son, David M. Nevins of Edwardsville; two daughters, Dionna Raedeke and her husband, Daniel, of St. Louis and Emilie S. Nevins of Edwardsville; two cousins, Thomas L. Henesey of Alton and Susie Pruetzel of Rosewood Heights; an uncle, Thomas Henesey of Alton; and two brothers-in-law and their spouses, William and Earlene Shaw and Robert and Rebecca Shaw.

A private visitation was held. Memorial services were held at the First Presbyterian Church in Edwardsville. The Rev. John Hembruch, pastor, and Mary Anna Davis officiated. A private burial was at SunsetHillCemetery.

Memorials may be made to EdwardsvilleArtsCenter or the First Presbyterian

Church.

 



 
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02/26/10 05:21 PM #2    

Jo Anne Goodwin (Huntsman)

I remember Don Nevins from way back at Milton School. I went all through school knowing him. He was always a nice
guy and very talented. His mother also taught Second Grade at Milton School.

03/25/10 03:52 PM #3    

Roger Cooke

I remember Don from ninth-grade algebra. He had a puckish sense of humor and was clearly very bright. I'm sorry I won't be seeing him again.

03/31/10 07:34 PM #4    

Thomas Stuchlik

i remember don from jr. high to college at siu in alton. great musical talent. great sense of humor. but down to earth and no big ego.

02/09/22 04:22 PM #5    

Larry Donahue

It has been almost 20 years since Don"s passing and I miss him so much. I think of him when ever I hear the song "Piano man" by Billy Joel, it reminds me of the days he would come over to the Meeden house and Don would play the piano, I would play Darning needles like drums and Dan meeden would play something that escapes. me now and we would have fun. What a talented guy he was, you could call out a song while he was playing and he would go right into that song with out missing a beat. A life lived well but way to short.


02/10/22 09:35 AM #6    

Roger Cooke

I can endorse what Larry just said.  I never fully appreciated how talented Don was until I read his obituary.  He was outstanding.  And a terrific guy.  I still remember his deadpan humor, always kind, never hurtful.

And how can it possibly be 20 years since he left us?


07/21/23 08:47 PM #7    

Larry Donahue

If any of you who knew and liked Don, want to honor his memory, play Billy Joel- the Piano Man. I do

this many times thru the years and I feel as if he is in the room with me. He used to come over to my parents house and play the piano and the Organ for us and could he ever put on a show. So talented and a great friend to me, I miss him every day.Play this one for Don.


07/22/23 10:47 AM #8    

Roger Cooke

A great way to remember Don, Larry.  I've  been a BIG fan of Billy Joel since I spent a week back in 1991 working with a bunch of bright teenagers.  They all loved BIlly Joel, and I came to love him also.  My younger daughter, who was a teenager back then (yikes!  she's now 46!) also became a big fan and went to a concert he gave jointly with Elton John.  She was devastated when Billy and Christie Brinkley got divorced.  Billy was, like Don, an excellent musician in all genres.  I recently heard one of his symphonies on the Symphony Hall channel of  SXM radio.

In line with your suggestion, I'm now going to put his "Storm Front" CD on and listen to it.  It has the piece "Leningrad" on it, about his meeting with a clown at the Circus there.  Also, "And So It Goes" and of course, the title track, which is outstanding. 

And finally, I never noticed until just now that Don was born exactly one day before I was.


07/24/23 10:40 AM #9    

Bill Kodros

 

Yes, Don Nevins was a great guy and very musically talented. I was lucky enough not only to play softball, baseball, and basketball with him, but sing some barbershop and go to one of his voice lessons in St.Louis. After one of our barbershop practices, we even went to Norb's Tavern and earned a pitcher of beer singing a few songs!! What a great talent and good upper Alton friend. One more thing, when he came back from NYC, he gave me an LP he cut, and I'm holding it in my hands right now, " myheartsings "!!! Perfect title don't you think?

 

 


07/26/23 11:15 AM #10    

Marilyn Hope Waide (Lake)

I realize I missed a lot by not being a close friend of Don Nevins. But it is wonderful to hear all these remembrances from our classmates! Bill Kodros, what a treasure to have an LP cut by Donny!! Hang onto that. 

 


07/27/23 08:43 AM #11    

Roger Cooke

Well said, Bill.  I have yet another wish:  I'd like to hear BILL singing the piece Don sang.  (Seems to me, we did that piece either at East Jr. or AHS.)  Like Marilyn, I think it would have been nice to pal around with Don (not that I regret having been close to the people I knew well).


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