Longtime Lourdes music educator Gene Eiden dies

Dec. 29—ROCHESTER — Reflecting on his life as musician, educator and band director whose music was interwoven into the rhythms and celebrations of a community, Gene Eiden would often talk about the wonderful and fulfilling life he had led.

It was a sentiment Eiden expressed on Christmas Eve Day on the last day of his life, surrounded by children and grandchildren.

"Music was his life," his daughter Carol Stortz said. "And he always said, 'I've had a blessed life and I wouldn't change a thing.'"

The longtime Rochester resident and retired Lourdes High School music educator died on Sunday, Dec. 24, from an abdominal aneurysm, a known condition he had lived with for many years.

During his 38-year career at Lourdes, Eiden and his marching band were fixtures at nearly every parade and community celebration in the area. His music regaled Lourdes athletic teams, stirring a swelling school pride when they returned from state tournaments.

But Eiden wasn't parochial about who he played for. He performed the same musical fanfare for John Marshall High School teams.

He played "Taps" at military funerals and memorial services until near the end of his life at 93. He performed the bugle call 150 times alone when he was 90.

"He felt so strongly that it was important for these veterans that died to have a live 'Taps' player," Stortz said.

Wherever he went in life and no matter what the stage, music defined Eiden's life. After receiving a degree in music education from St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota, he played in the 7th Armored Division Band while serving in the Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

At Lourdes High School, his bands graced presidential visits, marched in parades, played in pit orchestras and provided the musical pep for sporting events. He had a reputation for being ready to perform no matter how short the notice.

"Whenever we had a need for Gene and his students to play, even at the last minute, he has always said 'Yes,'" said the late Rochester Mayor Chuck Hazama at a 1990 event honoring Eiden's career.

Eiden was known for his jokes and his laughter. He collected an encyclopedia of them. Because he was known for his jokes, people would tell them their comical stories. In retirement, he drove the courtesy car for 37th Street Tire and Auto Shop, and Stortz would tease her dad that the only reason he took the job was so he could tell his old jokes to a new audience.

Even on the day he died, as he grew weaker and weaker, he sought to elicit laughter by telling a joke about "Gabriel at the gates of heaven."

"It was pretty cute," Stortz said.

A week before he died, Eiden showed up at the children's nativity play at Pax Christi Church in Rochester, a performance to which he devotedly attended.

"He said he wouldn't miss it, because the children telling the story of Jesus's birth just touches him so much," said Stephanie Rauh, a one-time student of Eiden's.

Rauh, a French horn player, played in the church band to which Eiden, a trumpeter, was a member. Rauh was 13 when she started playing in the church band. The band played at Easter and Christmas events. Later, Rauh taught band for five years at Byron High School. She was 22 when she started, teaching 18-year-old students, and "it was a challenge." And Eiden offered to help.

"He came in to mentor me and that was really, really helpful to me," Rauh said. "I remember when he came to mentor me, he showed up in a full suit."

Eiden's wife, Frances, to whom he was married for 70 years, made his career possible by supporting him and taking on numerous roles.

"I can remember late at night hearing the typewriter, because she was typing out programs with all the kids' names on them. And for dad to run off to concerts at Lourdes, she was the secretary and the cook and caregiver of us kids so dad could do these things," Stortz said.

As word spread of Eiden's death, the condolence section of Macken Funeral Home's website filled with remembrances and testimonials.

Mike Riester, an American Legion Guard member, said the community has lost a "remarkable man."

"This community will miss Gene immensely for all he did for veteran organizations and funerals. We will miss his stories, jokes, warmth and engaging laughter," Riester wrote.