Died: Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Age: 89
Former Lindbergh Schools Board of Edu-cation member and longtime Lindbergh Schools administrator Dr. Gene Engelhardt died Tuesday, May 7, following complications from a stroke.
He was 89 years old.
Dr. Engelhardt is survived by his wife, Delba, eight grandchildren, and three children: Elaine Kimker, retired LHS family and consumer sciences teacher and LHS Class of 1972 graduate; Mark Engelhardt, LHS Class of 1971; and Diane Heinicke, LHS Class of 1978. He was preceded in death by his son, Jon Engelhardt, LHS Class of 1975.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Dr. Gene Engelhardt Memorial Scholarship fund through the Lindbergh Schools Foundation.
Dr. Engelhardt dedicated his life to serving Lindbergh Schools and the community. He spent more than 50 years working in Missouri public schools, and following his retirement in 1985 he remained active in education, serving as a school board member and university instructor.
Current Board of Education President Vic Lenz worked for Dr. Engelhardt as a teacher and counselor. Later, they worked alongside each other as principals of Truman and Sperreng middle schools, respectively.
Gene was my mentor, Lenz stated in a district news release. He was all for the kids, but also was always thinking about the welfare of teachers and what was best for them. As a member of the Lindbergh Board of Education, other board members looked to Dr. Engelhardt as the voice of reason when it came to issues related to teachers and students. He was just an all-out people person.
After serving 17 years in various teaching and administrative positions in southeast Missouri, Dr. Engelhardt moved to the Lindbergh School District in 1958 and served as Lindbergh Junior High School principal for 10 years.
He became the states first middle-school principal in 1968 when Lindbergh became the first school district to change to the middle-school format.
For 13 years, he was principal of the Sperreng Middle School, and in 1983 Dr. Engelhardt transferred to Lindbergh High School, where he served as 11th-grade principal until retiring in 1985.
He served on the Lindbergh Schools Board of Education from 1991 until 2000, and received several awards, including the Lindbergh High School Distinguished Educator Award (2010), St. Anthony Society Ageless Remarkable St. Louisan (2007), Missouri State Board of Education Pioneer in Education (2003) and Lind-bergh Leader (1988).
Dr. Engelhardt was an example of Lindbergh at its finest a man who gave his whole life to Lindbergh, Lindbergh Schools Superintendent Jim Simpson stated in the release. He was always someone who gave selflessly. It was never about him, but always about the students.
Dr. Engelhardt was charter president of the Crestwood-Sunset Hills Kiwanis Club and governor of the organizations Mis-souri-Arkansas District.
During his 40 years of perfect attendance, Dr. Engelhardt built 74 new Kiwanis clubs throughout the district and recruited more than 1,100 new members.
As an educator, civic leader, school board member and college instructor for more than 60 years, Dr. Engelhardts legacy is a lifetime of caring for others. His outstanding leadership, dedication, vision and optimism were an inspiration to all those with whom he worked, and the districts thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time, the news release stated.
Visitation and services were at Kutis Funeral Home, 10151 Gravois Road.