John Lochner – Maroons Online

Our Teachers

A long over due collection of tribute pages to the individuals who accepted the challenge of educating us.

1985 Ashby Award Recipient

Mr. John Lochner

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John was a music teacher for almost 30 years in the Ridgewood, NJ school system, and also served as Supervisor of Music for that town until he retired.

As much as he loved educating, however, he was primarily a fine musician, having played the cello professionally all his life, mostly with orchestras and chamber groups throughout the NY metropolitan area. John was also a conductor, and led the Ridgewood (NJ) Symphony Orchestra for many years.

Carrie Stewart:

“Have the courage of your convictions!” – even when you’re not sure of the note, play it like you mean it! I use this saying often and think of Mr Lochner every time. Also called a bad note a ‘clam’ – cracked me up.

Jack Zerbe:

John came to RHS in the early 1960s to teach instrumental music (Bob Whittmore thinks it was either ’62 or ’63). He was a multi-talented man who directed the orchestra, the concert band, and the marching band. As one can see in the photo above, he was a cellist, but he seemed to know something about every classical instrument one can imagine. It is anyone’s guess how this accomplished musician came to be not only the music director of a marching band, but also the person who choreographed and taught the band its field routines (“guide right!”). He was convinced that the last bastion of school spirit was the marching band, and he was our passionate defender. So, one weekend, after the football team ran back onto the field through the band as it was in the middle of its half-time routine, he insisted we would not play again until we received an in person apology from the coach. The coach made that apology in sincere humility and the bond between the band the the football team was saved and even reinvigorated. I will always admire his integrity for how he handled that incident. John retired in 1986 and continues to be an accomplished cellist. He played at Bob and Betty Whittemore’s wedding in 2004.