It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Emeritus Donald DeRoche, a cherished member of the School of Music community for almost 30 years. He remained a close friend to our community, long after his retirement, as his wife, Julie DeRoche, served on the faculty until her retirement in 2024. He died on June 9, 2025 at the age of 82.
Don received his Bachelor of Music in music education and Master Music in music performance from the University of Illinois. After graduation, he spent several years performing with the U.S. Army Band in Washington, D.C., and with the Victoria (Canada) Symphony. While in Victoria, he also played chamber music and musical theater and taught at the University of Victoria. He returned to the U.S. to become the Director of Bands at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, IL, where he established an excellent high school program. He left there to attend Northwestern University to pursue his studies in music education, earning his PhD. A year after he obtained his degree, he was hired by Fred Miller, former dean of the School of Music, to become the Director of Bands, a position he would hold for the next 29 years.
Throughout his career at the School of Music, Don served in various roles, including Chair of the Performance Department and Chair of Music Education, and participated in numerous committees for both the school and the university. He was an integral part of the faculty that worked tirelessly together to elevate the performance program and the school's national profile. He was a powerful advocate for training music education students to be musicians at the same level as performance students as he had a deep desire for the School of Music to be known as a top school for both performance and music education degrees.
Don was responsible for taking the DePaul Wind Ensemble on several international tours, which included performances in Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Russia, Poland, and Estonia. He also established the DePaul Wind Ensemble Recording Project, seeking out new and interesting music, along with older pieces he believed should not be forgotten, and solo works with prominent guest artists. These recordings made a strong impression in the wind band community far beyond the walls of DePaul. His literal "mark" remains throughout the musical scores in our ensemble library, teaching our current students even today. The ensemble directors often think of him as they study his scores, recognizing his handwriting and learning from his notes.
Early in his career with DePaul, Don built an honors program for Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic high school band students. He would add members of the DePaul Wind Ensemble to this honors band to fill out the instrumentation and build community between the players. This ensemble was his way of bringing the School of Music closer in partnership with the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Don was also active in the wind band profession, serving as a member of CBDNA (College Band Directors National Association) and WASBE (World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles), holding several leadership roles in both organizations for many years.
Upon his retirement in 2008, the university presented him with the Via Sapientiae Award. This award is the highest honor that DePaul can bestow upon a member of the university community, recognizing those who have made extraordinary contributions to DePaul throughout their professional lives while upholding the highest standards of professional, ethical, and Vincentian values.
The School of Music was truly a family affair for Don. His wife, Julie, joined the faculty in 1984, and before retiring in 2024, she served as Professor of Clarinet, Chair of the Music Performance Department, and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. Their only son, Jeffrey, became a Double Demon (BM '08 and MM '10), earning his degrees in percussion at the School of Music. Jeffrey met his now-wife, Traci Nelson DeRoche (BM' 09), at DePaul, where she was studying trumpet.
After retiring from DePaul, he continued to educate and mentor students, serving as the Director of Chamber Music with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and leading their artist faculty.
All will remember him as a passionate educator and performer, committed to excellence and inspiring all to reach their full potential. He was a kind, welcoming, and supportive colleague who moved through the world with grace. His imprint on our programs is incalculable, as he helped generations of young people become some of the most outstanding performers, educators, and artists in the world today. He will forever be a beloved and respected member of our community.
Our prayers are with Don’s family as they mourn this significant loss.