Sidney Ewald

As a father, athlete, and community activist, Sidney was always bursting with energy. He knew how to "make good" out of just about everything, and loved nothing more than sharing his enthusiasm for life with everyone around him.

The early twentieth century was a time of great change in America. Technology, especially, were undergoing remarkable improvement. Assembly lines, automobiles, and telephones redefined the American way of life. It was during this transitional time that Sidney J. Ewald, Sr. and his wife Jessica (Clemmons) celebrated the birth of their first son, Sidney Ewald Jr. He was born November 10, 1909 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. It wasn’t long before he became older brother to two siblings, John and Raymond.

Growing up, Sidney’s father worked at ATT Long Lines, both in Indiana and Missouri. Sidney lived in Indianapolis until the age 15, when his family relocated to Webster Groves, Missouri. Sidney soon began dating a young woman named Dorothy Rollet Deacon and they became inseparable high school sweethearts. After graduation, they both enrolled in classes at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Though both Sidney and Dorothy were very focused on their studies, they longed to be married. They decided to marry in 1928, despite the fact that they were still in school. Married secretely in Greencastle in 1928, but Sidney continued to live at the Delta Tau Delta house and Dorothy at the Tri Delta House. When they learned that a child was expected, they told their families that they were married . In 1929, he and Dorothy gave birth to their first daughter, Dorothy Tuck. They welcomed a second daughter, Sydney Jeanne, in 1931. Sidney completed his degree in 1935, becoming one of the first married fathers to graduate from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

After six years in Champaign, Il and one year in Springfield, IL, he was transferred to the Chicago office and established a home for his family in Villa Park, IL. With a degree in electrical engineering, during the 40's, Sidney began teaching electrical communication classes to Army servicemen. Sidney marched with the platoon he had instructed every morning from their hotels to the ATT office.

In 1945-46, the Ewalds moved to Glen Ellyn, IL and he continued to work for ATT in downtown Chicago, commuting every day, by train.

In Glen Ellyn, Sidney began spending a lot of his free time playing tennis. He was an avid player, but he also loved badminton, table tennis, or just about any other sport with a racket. He liked to share his love for sports by teaching others how to play. Sidney taught his children and all their friends the ins and outs of his favorite racket-sports, always making the lessons fun by doing silly things like walking on his hands as he taught. He would lead all his tennis players – all of whom were dressed in white - in a small hometown parade every year. When one of his pupils went on to play table tennis in the Olympics, Sidney was beyond thrilled.

While his children were young, Sidney encouraged them to explore not just sports, but music and literature as well. Sidney took piano lessons with both his daughters. He made sure that they went to operas, plays, and ballets as well. Dorothy Tuck and Sydney Jean were always encouraged, but not pressured, to appreciate all forms of art and music, especially classical music. Their father delighted anytime he had the opportunity to see them perform in choir and dance. Sidney also shared his passion for reading with his girls by passing a book around the dinner table, encouraging everyone to take a turn at reading from the selected section of classic literature.

After six years in Glen Ellyn, ATT Long Lines transferred Sidney moved to Kansas City, MO. Kansas City fast became Sidney’s favorite place, which probably had something to do with the fact that he was able to convince his company to build a tennis court on top of the building. When it rained, Sidney ran ten blocks down the street to the YMCA, where he could pacify his tennis craving with a game of handball. Sidney was undoubtedly a great sportsman.

Whether in Indianapolis, Glen Ellyn, or Kansas City, Sidney was eager to be involved with his community. Sidney and Dorothy were both docents at the Nelson Art Gallery in Kansas City, leading discussions on the Indian Art housed at the museum. Sidney also led many different youth groups over the years and attended the symphony as often as he could. When Sidney and Dorothy did travel outside of their community, they often took trips with different groups of friends, sharing laughter and stories and always having a good time. Sidney loved every moment he spent with his beloved Dorothy, and they were blessed to spend 50 wonderful years together before her death in 1978.

Though Sidney had been very active throughout his life, recurrent hip problems finally made him slow down – a bit. He went to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital to have a hip replacement. Since he couldn’t play tennis anymore, Sidney decided he did even want to be around the game. Instead, a friend encouraged him to resume his teaching role, this time teaching handicapped people to swim. Sidney loved the idea. It wasn’t long before he was picking up handicapped people everyday and swimming with them. He even built ramps to help them get in and out of their homes with greater ease. After Dorothy's death, in 1978, Sidney continued to live in his home in Leawood, until poor health led him to a beautiful apartment at the Forum. Unfortunately, a series of seizures and falls caused Sidney to need more help than could be found in living at the Forum. It was decided by the family and by him that he should live near one of his daughters, thus in January, 2003, Sidney moved to Manor Care in Summer Trace, in Carmel, IN, only two minutes away from his daughter Jeanne's home.

In 2004, Sidney himself was granted a new lease on life. He underwent cataract surgery, which succeeded in giving him perfect vision. Instead of cloudiness, Sidney was finally able to watch the Olympics, see the symphony perform, and see all kinds of things with his family that he had missed for years. Two days before his passing on, he spent a beautiful Christmas day with his daughter, his grandchildren, living in Carmel and felt fulfilled and happy.

For 95 years, Sidney made the most of every moment. More importantly, he continually encouraged others to enjoy and appreciate the blessings in their own lives. Friends and family will always remember Sidney and the wonderful memories they created with him.

Sidney J. Ewald Jr. died December 27, 2004 at Manor Care at Summer Trace. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Rollet Deacon Ewald and his brother, John. Members of Sidney’s family include: his daughters, Dorothy “Tuck” Hejna of Ann Arbor, MI and Sydney Jeanne Book of Carmel, IN; one brother, Raymond M. Ewald of Seattle, WA; seven grandchildren, Mary Margaret Klunder, William H. Book, James Barton Book, Nancy Joanne Fletcher, Robert Hejna, James Hejna, and David Hejna; and seven great grandchildren, Jordan Sid Hejna Tallman, Mary Clara Hejna, Benjamin Klunder, Lauren and Hilary Book, Michael Hatfield, and Christy (Hatfield) Waldrip. .

A Life Story Service will be held on December 30, 2004 at 4 p.m. in the Leppert Life Story Funeral Home® - Carmel. Family and friends will gather one hour prior to service. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can share a personal memory, arrange for flowers, or make a memorial contribution to the Carmel Symphony or the donors favorite charity.