George P. DeFrancesco

George Paul DeFrancesco, lifelong teacher, musician, artist, and coach passed away on July 17, 2016 at the age of 75. George was born on April 19, 1941 and was raised in Steger, Ill. Music was an important part of the family, and George began taking piano lessons at an early age. In eighth grade, he picked up his father’s guitar and found a new love. After just few years of lessons, George was playing jazz, big band, and rock and roll. At age 16 he became a member of the American Federation of Musicians, and formed his first band, the Blue Notes, while attending Bloom Township High School. In high school, George was also an accomplished athlete, lettering in both football and track. He was hired as a student coach for the track team, an experience that influenced George throughout his career. George attended Northern Illinois University, and received a degree in art education in 1963. He developed his skills in drawing, painting, ceramics and jewelry making. He continued touring with the Blue Notes and then with the Swinging Lads. On graduation, George began teaching art at Steger Central Junior High and giving private guitar lessons to make ends meet. In 1966, George moved to Delavan, Wis. with his first wife Anne and their children to teach at Delavan-Darien High School. He joined the coaching staff for football and track, and helped develop a show choir group that combined vocals, choreography and stage band arrangements. He met his second wife Susan Miller, and the two married in 1979. George earned a Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1978. In 1980 he and Susan moved to Las Vegas, Nev. and he was hired as an art teacher at Bishop Gorman High School. At Gorman George was part of the coaching staff that produced several championship football teams in the 1980’s. As head golf coach, he led the Gorman Gaels to back-to-back state championships in 2002-2003. He was named coach of the year by the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Associations in 1996. George retired from teaching in 2004 after 24 years at Gorman High School. In his retirement, George worked as a marshal at Paiute Golf Resort. Most of all he enjoyed creating and playing arrangements of his favorite standards, and spending time with his family. George is survived by his wife, Susan Miller-DeFrancesco; three children, Gina DeFrancesco of Englewood, Fla., Giulianne (Jeff) Krug of Columbia, Mo., and Gion DeFrancesco, of Oxford, Ohio; seven grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. A celebration of George’s life will be held Friday, Sept. 16 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Paiute Golf Resort, 10325 Nu-Wav Kaiv Blvd., Las Vegas, Nev. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the George DeFrancesco Memorial Scholarship Fund to assist a first-generation college-bound student pursue a degree in visual art or music. Details at georgedememorial.org. Travel assistance available through Dignity Memorial Bereavement Travel Program, 1-800-224-4177, code #1013.