Milford Alumni Send Love to Music Teacher Facing Disease

If all the world’s a stage, and we are merely players, there must be a director leading the music that connects it all together. At Milford High School that man’s name has been Jim Sandahl.

This beloved music teacher has guided many young musicians to share their heart’s song with the world. A role model, a friendly face and a lifelong inspiration in and out of the classroom.

Jim is now facing the end of this life’s performance as he battles a deadly lung disease that offers no cure, and little time. His final opus is by no means an a capella as former students, friends and family join him to strengthen his spirit for one last crescendo.

One of them is Marlena Phillips, a Milford native and a student of Jim’s in the early 1980s. Today she is a professional singer, songwriter and vocal teacher, but back then she was a shy young girl afraid to stand out. She stayed in the back with her xylophone in band, and wasn’t confident in her ability in chorus.

Mr. Sandahl made quick work of these insecurities and replaced them with unbridled confidence. He got her to join jazz band as a singer to perform in front of the crowds she once feared.

“He kept hearing me sing in the chorus, and finally said ‘you gotta get out there and sing in front of people,’” she said “He told me I could have a career in music and that really encouraged me.”

Phillips would go on to blossom as an accomplished musical artist, and her old teacher has been giving her encouragement all along the way. Jim has stayed in touch with her and his other students over his long career in music, and made it a point to attend their performances. A friendly face in the crowd, and a voice of support for a lifetime.

“In a way he has become a father figure to me,” said Phillips. “He would say ‘believe in yourself’ or ‘just try it.’ All of the little things he says here and there, even to this day I remember them.” 

Jim’s presence has still been felt by his students, even when he and his wife, Nancy, moved to Westmoreland a few years ago to take care of her mother. Last month, Phillips received the news from her mentor that he had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This rare lung disease will soon take him, and he wanted her to sing at his funeral.

This was devastating news. As sad as she had become, however, this loyal student decided to show her friend just how much of a difference he had made in his 42-year career of teaching .

Phillips reached out to friends and former students to have them share their love and appreciation for a man who has given so much. Alumni and others who were touched by Sandahl came out with an outpouring of support.

They wanted to organize a concert in Jim’s honor, but he is not well enough to attend. That is when alumni Travis Fyfe and Christopher LosKamp reached out to the current band director, Brad Smith, chorus director Jennifer Kennedy Erdody and accompanist Kimberly Whitehead to record a special tribute for him.

The Milford High School choir recorded the song “Home” by Phil Philips, and the band performed their tribute to Mr. Sandahl. Phillips recorded “To Sir With Love” to show her love and appreciation. (Video of these performances can be found above)

These tributes, along with the many letters, emails and Facebook comments, have strengthened Jim’s spirit and helped his family as they support him through his disease. His daughter, Heidi, said that it has all brightened his days, which they are cherishing one at a time.

His body may have weakened, but his inner strength has not wavered in the face of this crippling disease. Each morning, Jim gets up and puts these dear messages into a scrapbook. Phillips said that these shared memories help him relive every moment with the people he has been with over these many years.

“He reads it and feels like he has made a difference in people’s lives,” she said.

If you would like to send a message to the Jim and the Sandahl family, you can email them at JMNCSNDL@aol.com, or by mail at James & Nancy Sandahl, 578 Route 63, Westmoreland, NH 03467. There is also a Facebook group called Mr. Sandahls Angels, which is open to anyone, and an easy way to leave him a message.

Messages for Jim Sandahl:

Ben Putnam

Jim Sandahl was my band instructor for six years, 1983-1988. Looking back, Jim was a significant role model and mentor for me. In fact he is one of a very few reasons I myself have gone into education. Having now taught for eighteen years myself I can't thank him enough. His consistent support and unconditional caring and generosity helped me get through high school. He always had a smile, he always made time, and he was never shy about sharing his disappointment and frustration when he knew I was better then the decisions I was making. All qualities I now bring into my own classroom now.  With much love, Ben Putnam

Tammy Lenz Daniels

Mr. Sandahl was always there for in the Music Dept at MASH. He always said HI to all the students no matter if you took Band or not. He is a great teacher!! His loved for Music and for Chorus was great. Mr Sandahl always hang around with the Mr. Recchia, They always put a smile, awhile watching the bus port at MASH.

Charlotte Parmenter Jameson

What an incredible giving man. He would always help Nancy with our school events (MVVS) and never did you see him angry or upset! Truly a giving, unselfish, caring, compassionate human being. Nancy is a lucky lady!

Deb Fraser

I am writing to you to share my story about Mr. Sandhal.  I was his student from 1984-88.  He IS the reason why I a music teacher today.  His love from music and the way he shared his love and passion with all of his students has been an inspiration to me for years.  My senior year in High School he gave me added responsibilities of being the bands manager.  I did everything from handing out uniforms, totaling up fundraisers, to sorting music.  I loved every minute of it!  He helped me prepare for my audition to Keene State College and with his help I was accepted to the Music Education program.  My favorite and most precious memory is when I got my corsage for the Senior prom there was a card attached.  Mr. Sandhal had paid for my corsage!  I was so touched.

He continues to be the man & teacher I most admire.  I struggled in school but music was were I was able to excel.  Mr. Sandhal knew this and fostered my love and talent.  It was due to his support I am now able to share my love of music with the students I have taught the past 20 years and with my future students.  For that I will be forever grateful.

Joseph Exley

I graduated from MASH in 1982.. I was never in the band or anything but I do remember you.. more than that I remember kids loved you allot.. I remember them

wanting to do their best for you..I remember how good the marching band was... when I played football. I understand your dealing with an illness.. know that you

and your family will be in my familys prayers. Thank you for making a difference in so many peoples lives Mr. Sandahl.

Kacey Freel Boone

I was a 1991 graduate of MASH and I had the pleasure of having Mr. Sandahl as my teacher for a variety of classes including chorus, select choir and piano.  I was a student who struggled in school, but music and the arts was where I thrived.  I took as many music electives as I could.  I did this not because it was the easy way out, but because it's where I felt like I belonged. I was not the best singer or musician by any chance, but Mr. Sandahl always welcomed and encouraged me.  He helped teach me that being involved in music doesn't mean you have to be the best.  Music can touch your life regardless of your ability.  Now 22 years later music is still a huge part of my life and I have passed along my passion for playing instruments and singing to my children as well.  I am forever grateful to Mr. Sandahl's dedication to teaching.  His smile is infectious.

Kevin St Onge

Jim Sandahl was my high school's band director back in the 80's. If I have my facts straight, his daughter, Heidi, was also a classmate. The Patch article attached details his struggles with lung disease. It provides a wonderful outlet for people to express their thoughts and reflections on this man who, quite frankly, and I don't mean this to sound cliche, could have served as the muse for "Mr. Holland's Opus."

I just wanted to take a moment to add my dis-jointed thoughts.

I blame Jim - for not being the band director sooner! We had a different band director in the district when I was in junior high school. He was a nice guy but he was pretty serious and not very approachable - at least to me. I might have stayed with music longer if Jim had been in charge then!

I stopped playing trumpet and got into football. By the time I got to MASH, Jim was the "new" band director. As a football player, I have to say, I always loved practicing and playing when the band was either in the stands or over on the soccer field practicing...game days were awesome - the drum section while they were marching always got me pumped up to play....you'd never know it by our performance on the field but the band, under Jim's direction, was great. We could always hear them during halftime - usually over the coaches telling us everything we did wrong - but I really wish I had seen the fruits of his labor. Jim was always on the sideline telling us how good a job we did, no matter the score. I appreciated that...but doubt I ever told him.

As a teenager, I was always wary of the "happy" adults. I mean, most of my teachers were "doing a job" and we all had to be there...but whenever I saw Jim in the hallways, or walked by his class or talked to him - he always seemed at ease with his surroundings and more importantly, genuinely interested in what another random teenager had to say to him...he simply didn't view us as another random teenager...

Even though I never took a class with him in high school, I got to know him a little and he made you feel like you were the most important person.

Honestly, as a jaded sort-of athlete, I didn't think anyone could make you feel that great except maybe a coach giving a pre-game or halftime speech...but a band director? C'mon...

Considering Jim now, through the eyes of a 44 year-old, time and perspective and life experience and all that - I just wish I had gotten to know him better back in the day.

I will pray for him and his family. And whenever I hear a marching band play, I will think of and remember fondly, Jim Sandahl.

Christopher Loskamp

I want to thank you for being such a great teacher and inspiration to me (and many others). I will forever remember and tell stories of my high school years in band and choir. I really wish time didn't go by so fast, those were the best of times. My thoughts are now of you and your family.

Angela Flaherty

Jim Sandahl was one of the most incredible men I ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was always fair and respectful to his students. He treated us as adults and expected that we would treat him with respect in return. 
Mr. Sandahl made being a chorus "geek" a pleasure. It was the only part of high school I actually enjoyed. He always pushed us to do a little more and explore our limits. 

He has a way to make you smile, even on the hardest days and his laugh is contagious. 
I feel honored to be been lucky enough to have known him not only as a student but also as a friend.

Christine M Aveni Flanders

I never had the pleasure of him as a teacher. But I do remember his presence in school and can't recall him without a smile. Prayers and thoughts to him and his family.

Lori Ann Hathaway

Mr. Sandahl always had this happy energy about him that was contagious....it should help in his battle!!!

Kyle Oliver

I was in Mr Sandahl's chorus/choir class for my 3 years at MASH (89-92). I always looked forward to that class. I was not the best singer by a long shot, but Mr Sandahl always made it fun. I remember a trip to Boston to see Les Mis after we had spent a few months working on the songs in class. Mr Sandahl was also a favorite of my two older sisters (Bethany L Oliver and Megan Oliver Winther). 

Mary Carr Popik

Not only did you make a difference at Milford HS, but also at St. Christopher School in Nashua. You taught my son, Connor, how to play the trumpet. Music is a large part of my family's daily life. Recently, Connor said, "How can the Taliban censor music? Music makes people happy." That trumpet has passed through each of my children's hands/mouths. Thanks for the gift of music! We will pray for you.

Jacques Lamarre

Marlena Phillips contacted me about your illness. I am truly sorry to hear the news, but am happy to hear that you are increasingly being reminded of the hundreds, if not thousands, of lives you affected with your work as a teacher. I know that I was a fairly terrible clarinetist and probably a tremendous pain in the ass as a student, but you had a deep and lasting impact on me all this time. Because of you I have learned the following:

1. At the Dover Band Show, you could take a ragtag pack of pimply highschoolers and bowl over the announcer and the audience through sheer determination and force of will.

2. If you actually want to be any good, you need to practice. Or sit next to someone who can play better than you.

3. If you want to seem taller, stand next to Carl Recchia.

4. I will never be able to count out a proper time signature, even with a metronome. To this day, I don't know how people like you do it.

5. I can never listen to the Queen City Music Invitational vinyl album without hearing the dreadful squeak I made on the bass clarinet, immortalized forever.

6. Only a hero could take a bus full of pubescent hormone cases to Akron, New York and Old Lyme, CT and live to tell the tale.

7. The marching band is the ONLY good reason to sit on a cold, metal bench during a November football game.

8. There is an actual marching band arrangement of J. Geils Band's "Centerfold" and it is best showcased by making a box around the flag corps. 

9. That one person can can take a bunch of people and teach them to make something harmonic, beautiful and moving (minus a squeaking bass clarinet).

Thanks to you and your important influence, to this day I have made my career in the performing arts. Although I wisely left music to the musicians, I worked for 5 years with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Later this month, I will be performing onstage with them in front of thousands of children. Lucky for everyone, I will only be speaking and not playing an instrument. I am a playwright now and work at The Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT, but I always make room for music in my life and my work.

I want to wish you peace of mind, body and spirit. Know that your legacy lives on every time I hear someone strike up the band.