Michael Dean Sewell

Sewell Michael Dean Sewell, 59, passed away unexpectedly in Columbus, OH, on April 15, 2017. He was a 1975 graduate of Whitehall-Yearling High School, and received his Bachelor's Music Education from Otterbein College in 1979. In 1985, he received his Masters of Music Education from The Florida State University. Mike began his teaching career in Crooksville, Ohio in 1979, and in 1981 Mike joined the music staff at Pickerington High School in Pickerington, OH, where he served as Band Director until his retirement in 2015. While at Pickerington, Mike directed The Marching Tiger Band, concert bands, jazz band, pep band, and musical orchestra. He also coached 7th grade basketball, and junior high and varsity baseball. Under Mike's direction the Marching Tigers performed for 6 NFL team's halftimes, 5 presidents, and appeared in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Dallas Cotton Bowl Parade, the Orange Bowl Parade and, the Miss America Scholarship Parade. The band was selected to the Phoenix Fiesta Bowl Parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and The Tournament of Roses Parade four times. For the past two years, he has been the Director of Music at Central College Christian Academy in Westerville, OH. Mike was honored by The Tournament of Roses in December 2014 for the most appearances (4) by an Ohio Band, selected by Columbus Monthly as One of the Fifty People, Places, and Things that make Columbus Great (January 2012), selected as Ohio Grange State Educator of the Year (2007), PLSD District Teacher of the Year (2000), and was Quarter Finalist for the 2013 National Grammy Educator of the Year Award. He was inducted into the Whitehall Yearling High School Hall of Fame in 1993. He was a member of OMEA, serving as an adjudicator, Sigma Delta Phi Fraternity, and honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. Mike is survived by his wife of 37 1/2 years, Karen; his children, Daniel, Scottsdale, Az., Alyson, Madison, Wi., Andrew (Katie) of Baltimore, OH, Lea Hope, Pickerington; his parents, Earl and Dolores Sewell, Whitehall; brother, Mark (Robin) of Florence, Al.; sister and brother-in-law, Gretchen and Jon Hargis, Northport, NY; and sister-in-law, Dawn Freeman, Centerville; eight nieces and nephews, and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. Friends may visit from 2-8 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at the Pickerington Central High School Field House, 300 Opportunity Way, Pickerington, OH 43147, where a musical "Sewellebration" of Mike's life will take place at 6:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2017 at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 268 Hill Rd. N., Pickerington, OH 43147. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Michael D. Sewell Memorial Fund at the Fairfield County Foundation, 162 E. Main St., Lancaster, OH, 43130.