Akshara Molleti • Co-Editor in Chief • October 18th, 2020

Mr. Pasquerella. Band director. Husband. Father. These are just a few of the many words that represent Mr. Pasquerella, who was a beloved person at Eastview High School.

Mr. Pasquerella was always a beacon of light, someone you would look forward to seeing and always be ready to hear what he had to say. My freshmen year, I remember Mr. Pasquerella smiled at me in the hallway and said a quick “Hi.” This small interaction brightened up my day, and since then I would always look forward to seeing him. That is the type of person Mr. P was. His kindness was apparent in small actions that may often go unnoticed, but, when recognized, were always appreciated.

Senior Thor Reimann has so many memories of Mr. Pasquerella, from band and being part of the Pit Orchestra. One memory from Reimann’s sophomore year was when Mr. Pasquerella got angry at the band and walked out while they were practicing in the PAC. He came back after a little while and, as they began to play again, told them “Don’t walk on eggshells with me.” He instructed them to remember that even if he is mad, his emotions should not impact their playing and that they should never feel apologetic for making music with their instruments. 

Another memory he treasures is after playing in the All-State Orchestra, which Mr. Pasquerella attended the concert for, and how the next day Mr. Pasquerella seemed to beam at him. He had told Reimann that the trombone section “owned the Orchestra.” The genuineness of Mr. P’s words and actions stay in your heart for a very long time.

Something Reimann will miss the most after Mr. P’s passing away is the dinners the Pit Orchestra would have after the last show. They would all go to a restaurant, eat good food, and Mr. P would just talk about life.

Music was Mr. Pasquerella’s passion, but he also was extremely connected to his students. He cared about us as people and wanted us to succeed in and out of the band room. Every time I walked into his lesson room, the first thing I noticed was the many pictures of him and his students or daughters. He put them first over anything else.

Known for his life lessons, Mr. Pasquerella took time to not only explain a concept to his students, but also see why this matters in the world. I spent countless days in band where we would play for a little while, but then also talk about other band and non-band related issues. He was someone who you could always count on to be rooting for you, with his door always open to you and any of your concerns.

Senior Akansha Kamineni describes how Mr. Pasquerella was the person who motivated her to stay in band. After auditions, she has so many memories of Mr. P just sitting with her and talking about life. He would always bring everything back to life and its lessons, whether it be cheese, taxes, or even mushrooms.

Junior Rhea Rajavansh explains how “on the last day of freshman year, Mr. Pasquerella told us lots of throwback stories from his childhood. That day was so fun, because he connected with us and all the freshmen shared a genuine moment with him.”

One of my favorite memories with Mr. Pasquerella occurred in January of this year. Just a few months before, I had been seriously considering quitting band. Despite my internal struggles, I worked hard and was accepted into the University of Minnesota Honor Band. At the Honor Band Concert, I felt extremely proud to represent our school, especially when Mr. P congratulated and complimented me on the performance. After seeing the pride on his face as he looked at me and the other students, I was sure that I had made the correct decision to continue to play my trombone and stick with band.

Mr. Pasquerella was and still is an inspiration to all, as he serves as a constant reminder for why we keep working when the going gets tough. While he may not be physically walking the halls of Eastview, he stays alive in all of our hearts, and all of our special memories with him.

We love you Mr. P.

To view the Memorial Service for, videos of, and pictures of Mr. Pasquerella, please visit https://www.eastviewbands.com/marching-festival.