David Allen Nebrig

For most of us band was our favorite class not really because we loved music, (although we ended up developing that love) but rather because we had an instructor who made loners and misfits feel like they belonged, someone who helped everyone feel seen and heard, gave us the confidence that we could be good at something, someone who challenged us but still gave us grace. I feel confident that Mr. Nebrig positively impacted the lives of thousands of students. He was the epitome of an amazing educator and I admire him for that. He will be so missed & we remember him because of the legacy he left. My condolences to the family and loved ones.

Every time I hear or see a marching band I remember so many memories with David.
David was walking down the hall at WAHS and I was registering my son as a freshman David asked if he played a musical instrument and my son said yes. David said "sign him up for band"! Prayers to be with Stephanie, their children and family.

He was a great mentor when I was in the drumline all 4 years of high-school. I played and marched every drum, and he was an amazing band teacher. He will be missed by many.

I remember working with Dave with the musical "Into The Woods." We had gone out to celebrate after the finale, I believe with Ms. Rea. It was a crazy experience for me (being it was my fist and last foray intojsical directing). In any case, we shared stories, with me being the proverbial new teacher and Dave being the seasoned vet. There were some stories, but not the forum to share ;) In any case, I remember coming to work the following day and he was no longer my coworker, but my new boss/ assistant principal. I was amazed at how he kept it secret but could not have been more excited for him. We would tease here and there, he always kept me on my proverbial toes, but in a good way. The one thing I will always cherish about our time working together, was not the work, but the way he made you feel. That impact/ripple will continue on for many years to come for anyone who had the privilege of knowing him. May he rest in peace and the rest of his family find solace in each other.

Stephanie, you and Dave both taught our daughter Emma--you in early elementary school and Dave when she was Western's tiniest powerful trumpet player in the marching band. We all loved you both very much! You both had a huge, positive impact on her, and we are forever grateful. Wishing you peace in your grief and as you and your family navigate life from here. Sending much love. Mari Bradley, Les Jolley, Emma Jolley

Stephanie I´m so sorry for your loss, I first learned of Dave through you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family

The best AP Western High had, my daughter loved Mr. Nebrig he always had a smile for her and all of her classmates

Met Dave through the Elon Lil Phoenix
He always had a healthy supply of sunflower seeds.
Such a great role model for our kids.
Thank you for the time that we had. You had a very profound impact on the baseball players that y´all coached.

RIP Mr. Nebrig- my daughter Gracee was an incoming freshman as EHS and he was the best thing that happened to her at EHS! I giggled as I read the obituary as I was that mom who called on him numerous times to please check on Gracee, she adored him and his mentoring her at Eastern! He always answered the phone and was always right there to go check on her in class or was right there to help her through some really hard times her freshman year! He was so very appreciated while at Eastern, by so many students, including my own daughter! He was one of a kind and will be missed! My prayers to his family!

Mr. Nebrig was my band teacher for four years in high school. He was our biggest cheerleader. Before band competitions he would always yell out to us: "remember, don´t lock your knees!" You made sure you didn´t, otherwise you would pass out. Everyday in class or during football games or competitions, you would see Nebrig with his famous diet Mountain Dew mini bottles. There was never a day where he didn´t drink one. If you had a Swiss cake roll or fudge round that you got during lunch and you gave it to him, then you were his favorite person for that day. You could hear his walking from all the way on the other side of the long hall as he had this stride with loud footsteps. He wore brown dress shoes and you could always hear that. If you didn´t hear that, you heard his keys or the loud whistles of old Queen songs or Red Hot Chili Peppers.
During class, he would go on random tangents about first winning a band competition in 1985 then all of a sudden go into how hamburger meat was made.
There was never a dull moment with him. He enjoyed scaring us from behind when we weren´t paying attention during marching practice. One time he was talking about the Appalachian mountains then transition into ranting about Aaron Copeland. You could try to follow his stories, but often times you were confused. If you were confused, he´d make a dry joke or talk about Star Trek or some old robot from outer space movie that was outrageous.

When I first moved into NC, Nebrig was the one who made sure I was never alone. I was a quirky and gangly young girl who had no confidence in herself. I would get overwhelmed with solos that I needed to play and start crying. One day after a crying episode, he told me to take a break and wait inside of the instrument storage room until class was over. He came in and pulled me into his office. This was his own break time that he spent to encourage me. He gave me a hug, came down to my eye level, looked me straight in the eyes. His exact words to me were: "Do you think I would have picked this piece if I didn´t believe you could play these solos? I believe in you. Now, let´s go over this piece together so you can believe in yourself!" That´s what we did. He would play the cd over and over for me and I would play along. He gave me a copy of "The Hounds of Spring." When concert competition came, I NAILED it. He was very impressed too as he smiled during conducting.

Nebrig also wouldn´t take no for an answer when you refused his gifts. I had my son in 2007. He ran into me at Walmart. He looked at me and said "you had a baby? You didn´t tell anyone!" I hadn´t. He offered to buy all of my baby items in my cart. I declined his offer and he eventually "gave up." I checked out all of my items and he came running up to me with the biggest box of Pampers in the store. I cried because he knew I was a single mother that was struggling. No matter what, he still kept in touch until I moved.

To Stephanie, Ashlin, Brennan and Alex:
I hope you find solace in the stories that your husband/father had with his students. It takes an amazing person to be as good of a teacher as he was. Your husband/father never went a day without talking about you. You all were his pride and joy. Whenever you all were around, he would exude that happiness. And speaking of the living room pools, he told us those stories too! Stephanie didn´t like the living room pool much! Ha ha!
He will always be watching over you, likely with a diet Mountain Dew in his hands. :)
Nebrig family, you are very much loved and thought about during this difficult time. I send you all of my love and thoughts during this difficult period.
Mr. Nebrig was one of a kind and I will never forget him.

Stephanie, my heart goes out to you and your family. I am so sorry.

Him rocking the drums in middle school as we played "Bohemian Rhapsody". He was good

He saw so much potential in me that I didn´t see in myself, from me skipping class and him saying "Dylan where are you supposed to be" to him bringing me in his office and just telling me how I can do it I just got to want to do it..he was always there and seems his eyes was all over western I will forever cherish all the times I had with him when I was doing good and when I was getting in trouble 100% the best assistant principal ever definitely was one of the nicest souls out there ...prayers go out to the family not to sure if be here today if I wasn´t for you was hoping you´d still be at western when my son got there and he´s here now and boy if he isn´t just like me and definitely a daddy´s boy you would´ve had your hands full... thank you for everything I love you Nebrig

He was one of the only adults that actually impacted my young life, genuinely. He also taught me more about music than anyone else, and that has absolutely been a gift to my life every single day. He was so funny, so kind to us kids, SO patient (haha), funny, and passionate about his work. You just knew he loved what he did. And he loves his family!! I had the joy of being in Ashlin's friend and being in the mellophone section all 4 years. It was clear how much Mr. Nebrig loved his daughter, the rest of his kids, and his wife. There is so much more to be said, but I'm thankful for the time I had interacting with such a special individual. He is gone far too soon, but will be memorialized by so many. He left one hell of a legacy

I had Mr, Nebrig in band at western Middle and remember him being the best teacher! Prayers for the whole family!

Always loved Mr Nebrig he was my favorite teacher in middle school and really lit a passion for me to want to learn more about music and life. He will be sadly missed.

Wish I could have known David and his family and the wonderful person he clearly became and was. My sister Lexie and I knew David in highschool. We were all in marching band together and there was a group of us who spent a lot of time together the summer after we graduated. David, Scott Wynn, Chris, Jerry, George.......David was hilarious and fun and cool and so nice and kind of nerdy all at the same time.
He liked Devo and made the marching band competition bus trips go by so fast with his jokes, pranks and fun sense of humor.
And Ill never forget that time a few of us hiked all the way up to mount Pisgah and I couldnt catch my breath because David kept us laughing so hard.
Lex and I were just talking about how great it would be to see him.
Our love and thoughts go out to his entire family and all those whom he knew and who's lives he touched in such a positive and uplifting way.
Mimi Nes

Stephanie, I am so very sorry to hear of David´s passing. You and the family are and will be in our prayers for the days & months ahead.

Carol Apple

My prayers are with you! May God comfort you in this huge loss in you and your children´s life.

May he RIP. He will be missed.

David was just a super person. Smart, funny, humble... the best. He had a gift for communicating with and mentoring young people. He was so generous with his time and was a wonderful family man. He will be missed by many. My deepest sympathy to the Nebrig family- Jim and Beth Scruggs

As a Western High School graduate (2011) I started high school being in his marching band class though I had given up my trumpet in middle school I chose to join the marching band being in color guard. Nebrig was by far one of the greatest teachers I had in high school. I will never forget the mini tantrums he had during competitions because of a miss step on missed note from our line and of for hearing about it after coming off the field. He later became a pretty awesome assistant principal to. He is truly going to be missed.

My deepest condolences to all the Nebrig family, especially Stephanie and the children. David was a wonderful co-conspirator in making Western Alamance Band plans and as treasurer for several years, we hoped for great things together. The band trips were great and a hot mess all at the same time. David was so supportive of a mom raising two on her own. He gave tough love when it was needed and a listening heart when it was appropriate. Through the Middle School band year, High School band years, and all the travel, his face was always a happy one to see. His love of music and the joy he got from seeing people grow and succeed was contagious. RIP dear David, you have traveled far and wide and deserve a magnificent peace where I am sure there is music. There has to be music because it was the food of your soul. May the many memories you have of David, console you in coming days and years.