It is with the utmost sorrow that we share the news of the death of our friend and colleague, Todd Koeppl. Todd passed away on September 30th in Louisville, KY after a brief illness.For the past five years Todd has been the Quotations Manager for Grand Stage in Chicago, IL. For nearly three decades prior to that, Todd held management positions for Chicago Spotlight, Intelligent Lighting Creations, and Rent-Com. Whether it was integrating a system in a new performing arts center, creating an effect for an exhibit in a museum, or designing lights for a high school production, Todd attacked every situation with professionalism and passion for the art. He adhered to the principal of providing the best and most elegant solution for the client’s needs.
Todd loved to share his knowledge and often commented that he wished he had followed his parents into teaching. After earning a degree in Recording and Sound Engineering from Brown Institute in Minnesota, Todd became the Technical Director at Norris Cultural Arts Center in Saint Charles. Being in this environment gave Todd the opportunity to work not only in a professional theatrical roadhouse, but also to mentor students from St. Charles High School, many of whom continued into the industry Todd introduced them to.
Together with his wife Kristina, Todd raised two wonderful sons, Tyler and Sam. Todd used to say his favorite sound was the “sound of his kids”. Given the fact that Todd had an eclectic taste in music, from Jazz to Country to Rock to Broadway Musicals, for Todd to choose the sound of his kids as the sound he loved most says it all. Todd loved to spend time with his boys, whether it was fishing, building them a Halloween costume, or coaching their baseball teams, Todd was an “All-In” kind of Dad. His workspace was filled with pictures of his kids. In the family culture that is the of hallmark our industry, Tyler, Sam, and Kristina became our family too.
Todd spent the last 35 years of his life working in the Industry that he loved among people he cared about. Hopefully, Todd knew just how much the people he worked with admired and respected him.
