The Kathleen Pepin Scholarship Fund

The Kathleen Pepin Scholarship Fund

 

A force of life, retired music educator Kathleen A. Pepin, age 69, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2022. To honor her musical legacy, Kathleen’s family is establishing a scholarship in her name, the Kathleen Pepin Scholarship Fund.

 

The Kathleen Pepin Scholarship Fund mission is to provide scholarship assistance and educational support to Chicago students pursuing music, performance, and education. This award(s) is for a Chicago-area 8th grader with financial need who shows a commitment to pursuing music/theater/education. The scholarship will provide tuition assistance or a stipend for music-related expenses during high school. More details about the application process for this scholarship will be forthcoming.

 

“Kathy Pepin changed my family's life in all of the best possible ways. Overlapping with my three kids for fifteen years, Kathy led a golden age of the fine arts at Bell School, impacting thousands of people. She had the rare talent of spotting the perfect person for the perfect role--and then preparing them for it. Kathy was exacting, tireless, outrageously creative, outrageously ambitious, gregarious, sensitive, broad-minded. She was a master of both the big production and the small moment. Kathy understood well, and helped others (her influence extended beyond students to colleagues, parents, grandparents, cousins, neighbors) understand what was most important. Her generosity was boundless and her legacy lives on in the hundreds of students, including my own children, for whom music is a central part of their identity.”

—Monica Drane

Bell School parent

“Ms. Pepin inspired students not only by sharing her gift, but by showing each student their own gift. She set up the trajectory of my whole life as a musician and teacher from what she saw in me when I was only in third grade. I'm very thankful for the musical opportunities I received as a result of her encouragement, and I hope to see current and future Bell students gain that same support. I hope you will consider donating to this scholarship in honor of Ms. Pepin.”
      —Cleo Goldberg
      Former Bell School student 
      Music Teacher, Bell School

“Kathy had such a special way with the students at Bell, and they truly adored her. They could not wait to tell her about their musical endeavors outside of school, and—no matter what they said, whether they were performing in a professional stage production or singing happy birthday at their cousin’s birthday party—she made those kids feel like they were rock stars. She had an uncanny ability to see the potential inside each student and recognize the musical gifts that they had, even when they did not see that in themselves. She made an incredible impact on so many people’s lives, including my own. We had a wonderful partnership that lasted for more than a decade, working together to produce Bell’s legendary Broadway musicals, Talent Shows and countless other productions. She took us all along on an incredible ride during her 18 years at Bell School. I am forever grateful that she took me under her wing and allowed me to be her co-pilot for so much of it.”
      —Alison Newberry
      Creative Technology Teacher, Bell School

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About Kathleen, "Mrs. Pepin"

 

Kathleen knew she was destined to be a teacher as a young girl. With three little sisters in tow, she had a built-in ready-made classroom. In addition, her many active years in Girl Scouts, including troop leader, helped prepare Kathleen for a lifelong career in education and mentorship.

 

Kathleen received her degree in Music Education from Roosevelt University, with a concentration in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting. She was a classically-trained vocalist who performed professionally with many of Chicago’s famous choral groups, including the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Grant Park Chorus, as well as cantor for numerous Mass Celebrations throughout the city.

 

Kathleen was an extremely gifted educator who always prioritized the best interests of her students. Kathleen taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade for 25 years at various Archdiocese of Chicago elementary schools, including Saint Clement’s, Transfiguration, and Saint Gregory the Great, where she served as Vice-Principal along with music teacher for the entire school. Kathleen continued her career with The Chicago Public Schools, where she proudly taught music and theater at Alexander Graham Bell School for the next 18 years.

 

Throughout her career, Kathleen produced and directed numerous musicals, holiday concerts, and talent shows that always showcased her students’ incredible creative gifts. Her passion and commitment to teaching were deeply moving. Kathleen inspired countless students to pursue music, theater, and performance, but most importantly, to always live with a song in one’s heart. Kathleen was a proud Golden Apple Award Nominee multiple times and was honored at Petterino's Cooking for Curriculum award night in 2015.

Read Full Obituary Here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/chicago-il/kathleen-pepin-10546263