Freeburg High School superintendent dies; board names interim leader

The death of the 46-year-old Freeburg High School District Superintendent Andrew Lehman on Monday shocked community members and metro-east school leaders.

Lehman, who was superintendent for 13 years, was at school when an ambulance was called for him, said Ben Howes, who previously served as principal for 10 years at the high school.

Howes had just played a round of golf with Lehman on Sunday.

“I shook his hand on the 18^th green and told him I would see him tomorrow. But it didn’t happen that way,” said Howes, who played about 20 rounds of golf a year with Lehman.

Howes said Lehman was very devoted to his wife and three children and that he was a good friend.

After Howes retired as principal three years ago, he started coaching the Freeburg girls softball team and Lehman served as his volunteer assistant coach.

“Our girls are just devastated. They loved him,” Howes said. “He loved the Freeburg High School community dearly.”

GUEST BOOK: Andrew Lehman

The Freeburg High School Board appointed Freeburg High School Principal Greg Frerking interim superintendent during an emergency meeting Monday night. The board also appointed Jill Jung, assistant principal at the high school, interim principal.

Frerking said Lehman was at work Monday and taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. A cause of death is not yet known, according to Frerking.

“He was a great family man who absolutely adored his kids,” Frerking said. “He was a great guy.”

“He was always a kid-first person,” Frerking said. “He always thought about what was best for the kids whenever it came to curriculum or money.”

The school board released a statement that said in part: “On behalf of the Freeburg High School community, this Board of Education expresses its condolences to the family of Mr. Lehman. Mr. Lehman served this district as assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. His legacy will be present in this district for years to come. The district will provide the community with information about how to honor Mr. Lehman. At this time, we ask that you respect the wishes of the Lehman family.”

Area school leaders were shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Lehman.

Sue Homes, superintendent of Smithton School District, said Lehman was “very welcoming” when she took over as superintendent of the neighboring district.

She said she and Lehman exchanged e-mails mid-morning Monday regarding a meeting they had scheduled for Tuesday.

“Our area has lost an advocate for kids and education,” Homes said. “It’s really unbelievable.”

Former Freeburg High baseball coach Fred Blumberg, who now coaches the Freeburg girls golf team, knew Lehman well.

“He had a really good understanding of balancing all the different parts of a school, whether it be academics, band or athletics,” said Blumberg, who coaches Lehman’s daughter, Ella, on the golf team. “He was always very focused on making it a quality school in all departments. It’s just very, very sad.

“In a smaller town, everybody knows everybody and it’s all people were talking about today.”

Lehman was Freeburg’s principal before becoming superintendent. He also was a pitcher on Marissa High School’s 1986 Class A state championship baseball team.

“I know Andy was a really good pitcher,” Blumberg said.

Belleville District 201 Superintendent Jeff Dosier was also saddened to hear the news of Lehman’s death.

“I always enjoyed working with Andy,” Dosier said Monday night. “He and I had a pretty good friendship.”

Dosier admired Lehman for always focusing on what’s best for students, especially his students in Freeburg.

“If everybody was student-centered like he was, education would be in a much better place,” Dosier said.

He recalled fond memories of 4 a.m. phone calls with Lehman on snowy days. “Neither of us had much to say,” Dosier said. “I have a lot of nice memories. I feel so sorry for Andy’s family and the Freeburg High School community.”

Red Bud Superintendent Jonathan Tallman said: “Andy was an intelligent, forward thinking educational leader, and he was always grounded in what was best for the students and community he served.”

Russ Hart, principal of Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo, said his first principal position was at St. Joseph School in Freeburg. He met with Lehman once a month with the other feeder school principals.

“He always made sure I was included, and always helpful in my first years,” Hart said. “Without question his most impressive quality to me was that he was always a gentleman, always professional, and it was clear how much he cared about his schools.”

Funeral arrangements are pending.

This story was originally published July 11, 2016 at 7:22 PM with the headline "Freeburg High School superintendent dies; board names interim leader."