David Genger

Genger, David
David Genger, age 47, of Lake Bluff passed away suddenly of a heart attack on Wednesday, June 16th. Dave was born September, 17th 1962 and grew up in Warrensville Heights and Shaker Heights, OH. Dave's father, David, Sr. was a corporate attorney who practiced law for 38 years in Cleveland and retired as a partner with the law firm of Arter and Nadden. His mother, Nancy, was a long time, revered teacher and learning development specialist in the Shaker Heights school system. Dave's brother, Mark, is Manager of Finance with Fleet Response, an accident management service provider in Cleveland, OH. Dave graduated from Shaker Heights High School and Wooster College, where he met his soul mate and wonderful wife, Vanessa. Dave and Vanessa have three beautiful daughters: Melissa, 21, Coley, 19, and Allyson, 17. All three girls graduated from Lake Forest Country Day School, and Melissa and Coley graduated from Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, where Allyson just completed her junior year. Melissa just finished her junior year at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA, while Coley just finished her freshman year at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA. When Dave and his family moved to Lake Bluff thirteen years ago, he joined the faculty at Lake Forest Country Day School as Chair of the Science Department. From the beginning of his time at the Day School, it was clear that through his own passion for science and the teaching of science, he motivated students to share his excitement for the work they were doing together. He truly had the pied piper charm as students were drawn to his charismatic personality and his humorously divergent manner of thinking. His infectious laugh and playful demeanor inspired wonderful relationships with children. His creative development of curricular ideas, the integration of technology into his science classes, and his emphasis on innovative science projects also made him a favorite among students. For the past three years, Dave has served as the Head of the Upper School, a position which won him universal respect from students, his faculty, and his administrative colleagues. A multi-dimensional interdisciplinary thinker, Dave loved to challenge those around him to grow to their fullest potential. All of us at LFCDS were enriched by his presence and inspired by his leadership. Dave had just recently been named Head of School at the Rio Grande school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was to have started this new position on July 1st. A memorial service was held on Tuesday at the Woodlands Academy Chapel. Memorial contributions can be made to the scholarship funds, in memory of Dave Genger, at Lake Forest Country Day School, 145 South Green Bay Rd. Lake Forest, IL 60045, Attn: Sarah Thomas and Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, 760 East Westleigh Rd Lake Forest, IL 60045, Attn: Laura Curley.

This obituary was originally published in the Antioch Review.