CODY  COLLIER
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In Unison, We Thank You, Mr. Fortlander

6/13/2017

16 Comments

 
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Two days ago, I received a phone call. It was my mom. She had called to tell me she had gotten word that my former band director at John Glenn School Corporation, Dan Fortlander had unexpectedly passed away.

It was shocking to say the least. Absolute Shock. Extra-ordinarily shocking, actually. Why? Because even though I had not seen him in a couple of years, I talk about, think about, or tell someone about Mr. Fortlander almost every day. He was my teacher for 7 years. Not many teachers have an opportunity to impact a student for that long, and he never wasted a second of that time. From 6th grade when I first picked up a pair of drumsticks, until I graduated high school, he was the one ever-present face in my life other than people in my family.

Mr. Fortlander taught me music. No, Mr. Fortlander taught me discipline. Because music is discipline. It’s one of those art forms that can’t be fully appreciated by anyone else other than the performer. Only the performer knows all of the emotions felt, sacrifices made, hours of sleep lost, hot summer days spent, and long months endured practicing so that one 10 minute performance could be as good as it could possibly be.

Mr. Fortlander taught me how to be a leader. He had the best leadership style of anyone I’ve ever known. He had a unique ability to demand really hard things from people every day, and still maintain the best of relationships with them. His influence was wide, and when I was playing, I knew he was listening. I wanted to show him that I did the work, and earn that smile.

His smile. He was good at faces. He was very expressive. He communicated a lot by giving you “a look.” My favorite “look” was a combination of: a single raised eyebrow, and disbelief. If you ever got the look, you know what I’m talking about. It was the look he gave you when you were getting busted for some shenanigan you know you shouldn’t have been doing. It was the look that said, “Seriously? You’re better than that.” Then without a word spoken by either party, he would go back to teaching, and I would go back to being a model student.  It was true. He honestly believed that we were better. He believed in us.

A co-worker at the studio has a son who is exactly the same age now, as I was then. He’s a drummer in his high school band, and I have been re-living my drumline glory days this past year as she shares updates on what his band is doing.

My wife Ashlie and I first began our relationship together on a Falcon Pride marching band trip to Walt Disney World when I was 15 in 2001. I played snare drum, she the flute. We actually just got back from a family vacation in Disney World this April, and we made it a point to show our 3 children where we marched around Main Street USA, and tell them about how hot it was, how my marching line had to march with one foot in the trolley track the whole time, and how it rained that morning, and how their mommy and daddy had their first date over hot dogs at Casey’s Corner. It was the details that brought back memories.

The details. They are what set apart the best from the masses. Mr. Fortlander was set apart. Oh, was he.
 
At the end of every marching band rehearsal he would call us to attention by yelling, “BAND, TEN-HUT!” and we would shout back together in response as loud as we could, “GO!” or, as it was eventually changed to, “PRIDE!” Sometimes he would do it 3 or 4 times consecutively to get us really fired up. It was awesome. I loved it.

The gift of music inside a person is a priceless resource that is discovered, mined, refined, and consumed. He could find it in me. He could get it out of me. He got me to take pride in my gift, and he gave me opportunities to use it beautifully.

Thank you. “Band Ten-Hut,” Mr. Fortlander. You have been called home.
 

-Cody Collier
John Glenn Falcon Pride Drumline, 2000-2004

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16 Comments
Sarah
6/13/2017 05:05:12 pm

Beautifully written Cody.

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the best essays ever written link
12/12/2017 11:10:58 pm

I used to have a teacher who had impacted my life. She was my English teacher back in Middle school. We had a task to report a specific topic in front of the class and she noticed that I was having trouble speaking in public. After the class, she called me and asked me to stay for an hour after class. I stayed and she taught me how to be more confident in speaking. She taught me so much when I became the class valedictorian, I dedicated to her my achievement in being confident in front of a lot of people.

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Patricia Clevenget
6/13/2017 05:54:47 pm

Cody,
This is a beautiful tribute to Mr. Dan Fortlander. He was an inspiration to students, faculty, families, and the entire John Glenn Community. He will truly be missed. Condolences to the Fortlander family.
Sincerely
Patricia Sriver-Clevenger
Retired 5th Grade Teacher
North Liberty Elementary School

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Jessica Beam
6/13/2017 06:37:34 pm

Cody,
This was an amazing tribute! Very well said, I too, very much remember "the look". Lol! Got it quite often. I remember the countless hours and the heat and when we finally made it to state for the first time my freshman year and how pumped and proud Fort was, which in turn pumped us up even more and made us that more proud. He will most definitely be missed and I'm so glad I was able to call him my teacher/friend for so many years! RIH Fort!

Jessica Beam (Luther)
Flute/Piccolo 1999-2003

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Angela Bussard
6/13/2017 06:41:11 pm

So beautiful, Cody. Thank you!

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Mike Shuler
6/13/2017 07:41:24 pm

Outstanding, Cody!! Fort would be proud of you and your essay would move him greatly!!! You are one of so many whom have been touched by his greatness.

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Tina Denham
6/13/2017 07:42:59 pm

So on the spot. Well said cody... I encourage my kids to do band.. becuase of how he taughr and connected to the kids. He had a way to touch each member.

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Kim Snyder
6/13/2017 08:11:49 pm

When my son received the news of Mr. Fortlander being called home, he struggled. He is just a young cadet band member and he was really looking forward to learning under his instruction. At a particularly sad moment, he stated, "now I won't ever learn to play the way I could." Obviously we know this is not the truth but, wow, what an impression that man left for on students! I was a band member long ago and although the music inspired me, my director just didn't have that passion. Moving forward, I will remind my young brass player that he can honor Mr. Fortlander by practicing and playing with that much dedication.

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Beth Schmeltz
6/13/2017 08:15:39 pm

Thank you for this wonderful tribute. Everything you said is so true for so many.

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Kaylyn Fannon
6/13/2017 08:36:26 pm

Thank you so much Cody!! Fort was one of the greatest and most influential men in my life! I never went more than a few months without thinking about the Falcon Pride and our fearless leader. He truly was the epitome of an educator who made a genuine difference in the lives of his students. Thank you for the beautiful tribute!

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Pam Overmyer
6/13/2017 09:53:58 pm

Beautiful story Cody! Thank you for sharing! I love your description of the the look!

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Kimberly Ross
6/13/2017 11:44:09 pm

Thank you Cody! Though I was never a band member, I do recall the look. Seen it given many times. I appreciated his knowledge that was extended to some of us in show choir as well. I have spoken about Mr. Fortlander many times and how the marching band was so strong and built with his passion, concert band was nothing to blink an eye at, and our pep band was second to none! A legacy he will leave, many hearts he touched, and a fondness of his smile that will never be replaced! Prayers and blessings for the family!

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Walter Calhoon
6/14/2017 12:36:48 pm

Well said and true.

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Pam Pearish
6/14/2017 01:17:01 pm

Thank you Cody for your kind words about your experiences with Fort and your daily witness through the media of music!

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Angela Clemons
6/15/2017 08:04:15 am

Well said Cody! All of us that were in his class were touched by him in some way. He will be missed by many!

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Jane Bliley Moore
6/16/2017 08:44:03 am

Thank you Cody for beautiful to Mr. Fortlander.... he was a great teacher! I too was so shocked when I heard the news and still can't believe it and don't want to do thank you for keeping him in alive in memory!

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    I'm an artist. My  mediums are music, faith, and family.

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