Andrew J. Marsala

Andrew “Andy” Joseph Marsala, 83, passed away of natural causes on March 5, 2026, in Palatine, Illinois, after facing health challenges over the past decade. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 1:00 PM at St Philip's Episcopal Church, 342 E Wood St, Palatine, IL 60067.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Joseph Marsala and Catherine Pocaro, Andy lived a life defined by creativity, reinvention, and a lifelong devotion to music and the arts. He is survived by his wife, Gretchen Schmalz; daughter, Jillian Marsala; son, Jordan Marsala; stepchildren, Evan, Madelyn, and Mya; sister, Roseann Ebert; and grandchildren, Jack and Edie Guberman. He was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Karen Lee Green.

A graduate of Farmingdale High School and the Manhattan School of Music, Andy was a jazz prodigy on the alto saxophone. He became the principal soloist with the Newport Youth Band as a teenager, performing at the Newport Jazz Festival and earning recognition from prestigious publications, including The New Yorker. He later performed with the International Youth Band, sharing stages with jazz legends including Cannonball Adderley and Louis Armstrong. One standout moment saw him trading musical phrases with Adderley in a thrilling exchange that captured his early promise. Andy’s life was full of rich experiences, from diverse careers in music, social work, programming, and massage therapy, to building and nurturing family bonds across multiple generations.

He first shared a family with his former wife Susan and her three children, then with Karen Lee Green, with whom he had Jillian and Jordan. Later, he shared deep love and companionship with his wife Gretchen, who was with him during his final moments.

A composer, arranger, and writer, Andy left behind a creative legacy of music, poems, and stories. He embraced life fully, including martial arts, jogging, and active living, and reflected often on the fleeting nature of moments, believing that life lives on in memory and in the connections we make. Like the final note of a great jazz solo that lingers in the air long after the music stops, Andy’s life and spirit will continue to resonate in the memories of those who knew him and in the music he leaves behind.