Obituaries
Obituary for Daniel Jude Aspell
Daniel Jude Aspell, 56, of Peoria died at 5:23 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2016, at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home.
Daniel was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Aug. 6, 1959, the son of William T. and Albina (Molek) Aspell.
Dan was preceded in death by his grandparents and his father.
He is survived by his wife, Roxanne; sons, Conor and Colin; his mother; his brother and sister-in-law, William T. and Samneang Aspell; his sister and brother-in-law, Ann Aspell and Leigh Seddon; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Dan attended St. Philomena and Sacred Heart grade schools and was a graduate of Spalding Institute. He attended Illinois State University and was then accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, from which he graduated in 1981.
While in Los Angeles, Dan worked on commercials for television and radio and did voice overs, and, as a struggling actor, Dan waited tables in a number of restaurants. It was at the last of these, Café le Monde that he met Roxanne Elizabeth Guerrero, whom he married July 19, 1986, the one-year anniversary of their first date.
After numerous visits to Dan’s hometown during their early years together, he and Roxanne decided Peoria was the place to start and raise a family. Conor was born here July 12, 1992, and Colin followed soon after on Sept. 11, 1993.
During the 1990s, Dan worked at several area jewelry stores and became a registered jeweler with the American Gem Society. He wrote thousands of jewelry and gemstone appraisals, and was proud of helping to put engagement rings on many fingers.
After earning a B.A. in Communications from Bradley University in 1999, he was hired as the public relations director of the Alzheimer’s Association, Central Illinois Chapter. Dan’s interest in the arts then drew him to the Peoria Symphony, where he served as marketing director for ten years. This job enriched his family’s life through his interactions with some of the greatest classical musicians of this age, including Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Hilary Hahn.
Known for his varied contributions to Peoria’s cultural and civic life, in 2010, Dan became the marketing manager of the Peoria Civic Center, where he welcomed working with a more diverse program of artists and musicians. He was also a guest lecturer for Bradley University’s Music Business department, as well as for OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute).
Dan grew up in Children’s Theater, Peoria Players, and Corn Stock and continued his engagement with local theater when he returned to the city. He was a member of the Peoria Historical Society’s “Step Back in Time” Players and the Gridiron Players. (Dan particularly looked forward to their yearly satire of Peoria luminaries.) He was also an on-air auctioneer for WTVP fundraisers.
Always concerned about the environment, he became a co-founder of Lakeview Wilds, dedicated to preserving green spaces in the city. He was also a former president of the Glencrest Homeowners Association and served on the foundation board of Illinois CancerCare of Peoria.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2016, at St. Thomas Catholic Church. Msgr. Jason Gray will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 5, 2016, at Wright & Salmon Mortuary, with reception of the Rosary at 8 p.m. An additional visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass at the church. Cremation rites will be accorded following the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Peoria or The Actors Fund, www.actorsfund.org
Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com
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Daniel was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Aug. 6, 1959, the son of William T. and Albina (Molek) Aspell.
Dan was preceded in death by his grandparents and his father.
He is survived by his wife, Roxanne; sons, Conor and Colin; his mother; his brother and sister-in-law, William T. and Samneang Aspell; his sister and brother-in-law, Ann Aspell and Leigh Seddon; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Dan attended St. Philomena and Sacred Heart grade schools and was a graduate of Spalding Institute. He attended Illinois State University and was then accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, from which he graduated in 1981.
While in Los Angeles, Dan worked on commercials for television and radio and did voice overs, and, as a struggling actor, Dan waited tables in a number of restaurants. It was at the last of these, Café le Monde that he met Roxanne Elizabeth Guerrero, whom he married July 19, 1986, the one-year anniversary of their first date.
After numerous visits to Dan’s hometown during their early years together, he and Roxanne decided Peoria was the place to start and raise a family. Conor was born here July 12, 1992, and Colin followed soon after on Sept. 11, 1993.
During the 1990s, Dan worked at several area jewelry stores and became a registered jeweler with the American Gem Society. He wrote thousands of jewelry and gemstone appraisals, and was proud of helping to put engagement rings on many fingers.
After earning a B.A. in Communications from Bradley University in 1999, he was hired as the public relations director of the Alzheimer’s Association, Central Illinois Chapter. Dan’s interest in the arts then drew him to the Peoria Symphony, where he served as marketing director for ten years. This job enriched his family’s life through his interactions with some of the greatest classical musicians of this age, including Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Hilary Hahn.
Known for his varied contributions to Peoria’s cultural and civic life, in 2010, Dan became the marketing manager of the Peoria Civic Center, where he welcomed working with a more diverse program of artists and musicians. He was also a guest lecturer for Bradley University’s Music Business department, as well as for OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute).
Dan grew up in Children’s Theater, Peoria Players, and Corn Stock and continued his engagement with local theater when he returned to the city. He was a member of the Peoria Historical Society’s “Step Back in Time” Players and the Gridiron Players. (Dan particularly looked forward to their yearly satire of Peoria luminaries.) He was also an on-air auctioneer for WTVP fundraisers.
Always concerned about the environment, he became a co-founder of Lakeview Wilds, dedicated to preserving green spaces in the city. He was also a former president of the Glencrest Homeowners Association and served on the foundation board of Illinois CancerCare of Peoria.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2016, at St. Thomas Catholic Church. Msgr. Jason Gray will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 5, 2016, at Wright & Salmon Mortuary, with reception of the Rosary at 8 p.m. An additional visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass at the church. Cremation rites will be accorded following the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Peoria or The Actors Fund, www.actorsfund.org
Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com
Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
5
Jun
5:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
Wright & Salmon Mortuary
2416 N North St
Peoria, IL 61604
1 hour prior to mass on Monday at church
Funeral Mass
Monday
6
Jun
10:30 AM
- 11:30 AM
St. Thomas Catholic Church
904 E Lake Ave
Peoria Heights, IL 61616
Memorial Contribution
St. Jude Midwest Affiliate
The Actors Fund
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