John J. Marszalek

John Joseph Marszalek, or “M”, as he was widely known to his students, of Edinboro, passed away on December 28, 2024 after giving cancer the “steel finger" for nearly five years.

“M” was born in McKeesport, PA on May 14, 1953 and was raised in Homestead in the Pittsburgh area, where he attended Boyle High School. He met his wife, Marilyn Sidoni, while they both were studying Music Education at Edinboro State College.

He taught music at General McLane High School for 39 years. During his tenure, with Marilyn by his side as the head percussion instructor, he grew the Marching Band from 18 kids to an incredibly successful, inclusive program that became the “Pride and Spirit of General McLane.” While he taught his students to always do their best, his focus was not on winning awards, but rather giving as many kids as possible the chance to play, perform and appreciate the joy that music can bring to their lives. His philosophy was that even if a student had other passions, there was always room for them in the band, and he collaborated with other teachers and coaches to make this happen. He started the tradition of bringing the GM Marching Band to Kennywood for the Fall Fantasy Parade to proudly show-off his life’s work to his family and friends.

“M” had an encyclopedic knowledge of cars. He could catch a brief glimpse of a vehicle, rattle off the make, model, and year, and then could tell you several interesting facts about it. He took great joy in collecting model cars and gifting one to any child who crossed his path. He also loved model trains and spent many Christmases building lovely displays around the family tree. He shared his love of them with his grandchildren, who still enjoy playing with them. He took them on excursions to see live trains, a tradition that started when his father took “M’s” daughters to spend the day on his job at the Union railyard when he worked for US Steel.

His enthusiasm for jazz was unmatched. When he wasn’t shopping for model cars, he loved hunting through used record stores to find treasures. He especially loved Stan Kenton’s catalogue and his favorite arrangement was “My Favorite Things.” He taught his students to love jazz as well, not only by introducing them to great charts (many by Sammy Nestico), but also by taking them to festivals and giving them the opportunity to experience live jazz. He was an active member of JazzErie and helped start the annual Next Generation Jazz Concert, which brings jazz bands from local schools together at McLane Church to perform for each other along with a Big Band of local professionals.

Not only did he love to teach, but he loved to play. He was on the Board of Local 17, the Musician’s Union, and played either clarinet or baritone saxophone in many bands in the area over the years, including the Doug Dressler Big Band, Dave Stevens Big Band, Misery Bay Big Band, Bayfront Dixieland Band, Northwest Concert Band of PA, the Musician’s Concert Band, Savelli Band, and the WD Packard Band. He also played in several groups in Ft. Myers, FL, where he and Marilyn escaped every winter after they retired.

“M" was given the honor of being inducted into the Pennsylvania Music Education Association’s Hall of Fame in April 2024. During his acceptance speech, he said “I would like to believe that people thought of me as a hard worker, and that I demanded hard work from my students. I feel lucky to have been able to touch the lives of so many of these incredibly talented young people. Yet, you can’t work with students for four years and not become totally attached to them. These are bonds that can never be broken.” This was true to the end, and he and his family were so grateful for all of the love and support that was shown by his students, colleagues, and friends during his last days.

He was preceded in death by his amazing parents, John and Florence (Lechtanski) Marszalek, his beloved sister, Janet, who passed away when they were children, his infant son, Andrew Brian, and baby granddaughter, Aria Grace Ann Sornat.

He will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 48 years, Marilyn; his charming daughters, Lisa Marszalek Wright (Christian) of Flower Mound, TX, Pamela Mikulcik (Adam) of Edinboro, and Kristyn Sornat (Michael) of Wildwood, MO; his music-loving grandchildren, David, Juliet, Beauen, Theo, Kadence, Brooks, Everett, Epic, Joey, Scarlett, Kepler, and Sora; and the countless students he taught over the years. His legacy will live through them always “putting people first” and “signing their names to everything they do.”

The Glunt Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Edinboro is entrusted with funeral arrangements. 

Friends may call at McLane Church, 12511 Edinboro Rd., Edinboro, PA on Friday, January 3, 2025 from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday, January 4th from 10 to 11 am at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 128 Sunset Dr., Edinboro. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 am. 

Please help celebrate “M” by wearing GM red and white, and feel free to bring an instrument to play during the reception at McLane Church following the funeral on Saturday. 

Burial will be in Edinboro Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the General McLane Band Boosters or the General McLane Foundation “M” Fund, both at 11761 Edinboro Road, Edinboro, PA 16412. 

“Hey Jude. Don’t make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better.”