Also see: A photo slideshow tribute to George N. Parks

At the University of Massachusetts-University of Michigan football game in Ann Arbor, Mich. Saturday, one of the biggest stages ever for the UMass Minutemen Marching Band, the band took the field to perform without their beloved leader and cherished friend.

George N. Parks, 57, the University band director for the past 33 years, passed away last Thursday after suffering from a heart attack following a performance at Cuyahoga Falls High School in Ohio, said Frederick Omega Pye, associate director of the band.

The band decided to continue on to Ann Arbor, Mich. to play on Saturday as planned. Assistant Director Thomas Hannum, who assumed leadership of the band during the game, placed Parks’ hat on the conductor’s podium for the show.

“It’s a mixture of awesomeness and sadness. We don’t know what to feel,” said junior color guard member Kassie Wolin as she sat on the sidelines with the band.

It was a surreal feeling throughout the weekend for the Marching Band.

“It feels like he is going to come in the stadium any second,” said Pye.

The band embarked on its long anticipated trip to the University of Michigan Thursday morning. The caravan of seven coach buses stopped at Cuyahoga Falls High School Thursday night to perform for the local community and spend the night in the school gym.

Prior to the game, Parks began to complain of chest and neck pain, said Pye. His close colleagues urged him go to the hospital but he insisted on completing the evening’s show and promised he would go immediately afterwards.

Pye, a longtime colleague and friend of Parks for nearly 30 years, described Parks’ last performance.

“He was incredible with so much energy. He knew how to make the crowd go wild,” he said.

Very few were aware of Parks’ pain, said Pye. The 57-year-old director fainted next to the van that would take him to the hospital five minutes from the high school. Paramedics arrived at the scene and transported him to Summa Western Reserve Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 11:02 p.m.

The band was fast asleep on the gym floor when Hannum woke them around midnight. He asked the band to gather around and broke the news that Parks had passed away, said Pye.

Band members described the next few moments as that of instant shock, followed by hours of tears and grieving. Five local clergymen were called to assist students and faculty during the grieving process but arrived to find that band members were using each other for support.

“They are a family,” said Pye. “They consoled within each other. Everyone was so impressed with their maturity.”

After hearing from University officials and the opinions of band members, the band took a vote and decided to pack up their instruments and head to Ann Arbor.

“We knew that we would never be the same again if we stopped now,” said Pye. “It is what he would have wanted and the students wanted to do it for him.”

With 110,187 people in the stands, the band ran on to the field wearing black felt armbands at halftime for a five-minute performance of a Madonna medley including “Like A Prayer.” An announcement made at the stadium stated that the game had the most television viewers for a college football game in the country on Saturday.

After the game, in Big 10 tradition, the two bands split the field and alternated playing their halftime show music for the lingering stadium guests including Michigan’s Lady Gaga medley and UMass’ ‘The Wind and The Lion’, ‘Oye Tu Conga’, and ‘God Bless America.’

To conclude UMass’ performance in the stadium, Hoop Band director John Leonard took to the podium to lead the band in Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way.’

Through the tears, band members sang with pride for their college family and love for the man who had led them until this weekend.

“And now, the end is here. And so I face the final curtain. My friend, I’ll say it clear. I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain,” sang band members, as they performed Sinatra’s hit.

The song continues: “I’ve lived a life that’s full. I traveled each and every highway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way.”

To honor Parks, the Michigan marching band learned ‘Fight Mass’ to perform during their pre-game show. Though known for being ruthless on visiting athletic teams and bands, Michigan fans stood among Massachusetts parents and supporters to cheer for the marching band, respecting their loss.

On Friday, UMass officials held a press conference at the Fine Arts Center to discuss Parks’ passing. UMass spokesperson Ed Blaguszewski said that plans are being made for a memorial to be held on campus. Details will be announced in the coming days.

“[Parks] believed that the band was the heart and soul of the campus,” said Jeff Cox, chair of the Department of Music and Dance. “The faculty is in shock. George had no prior health issues that I know of.”

Carol-Ann Batchelder, director of special gifts and programs, noted that two of the “biggest things” Parks wanted were a chance to play at the University of Michigan and the construction of a band building.

She added that Parks had put together the most successful grassroots campaign she had ever seen, raising $1.4 million for the band building. The building was named the George N. Parks Marching Band Building at Homecoming last year. She said it is expected to open in March, 2011.

“He leaves such a lasting legacy that it will go on forever,” she said.

An email from Provost James V. Staros and Chancellor Robert Holub was sent to the campus body Saturday night, commending the marching band for playing “the ultimate tribute to their beloved leader, as they performed in Michigan, despite their grief.”

The email also asked for donations to be made to the George N. Parks Memorial Fund, in lieu of flowers. A link to the fund can be found at http://umass.edu/umhome/parks/.

“The outpouring of sorrow and support, both on campus and beyond, has been tremendous,” the administrators said in the email. “We must all take solace in knowing that while we grieve, we do so as a community.”

Professor George N. Parks led the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band for 33 years through halftime shows, parades, presidential inaugurations, marching band festivals, the Bands of America Grand Nationals, and more.

In addition to teaching students at UMass, Parks founded the Drum Major Academy, an annual summer program designed to teach nearly 3,000 high school students leadership skills and the art of being a drum major.

During his UMass career, Parks was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award, an Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Scholarly and Creative Activity and a Chancellor’s Medal.

In 2006, Parks was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame.

In 2004 and 2008, Parks led the Bands of America honor band in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Alyssa Creamer, Matthew M. Robare and Chris Shores also contributed to this report.
Lindsey Davis can be reached at [email protected].