Loveland, Ohio – On July 14, 2023 as the sun was about to set a mom and dad taxi stand, a granite, laser-engraved bench was dedicated at the lower entrance to the Loveland High School outdoor athletic complex. The family of Josh Carrington wanted to honor his all-too-brief life and thank the School District for the myriad ways he was nurtured while he attended Loveland High School.
Family brainstorming led to the vision of a commemorative bench that would give athletes a place to sit in the shade while waiting for a ride home after practice or competition.
In this LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video, you can watch the dedication ceremony and listen to fond memories of Josh from family members. A former Tiger classmate, a teammate of Josh is interviewed. Amy Van Strien, a former District psychologist talked about how involved Josh was in helping her with her programming. There was rock painting, the release of paper balloons, and many hugs.
The painted rocks will be placed beneath the tree next to the Angles by the Trail mural in downtown Loveland.
Josh graduated from Loveland High School with the class of 2010. Over those four years, Josh participated in football, track (pole vaulting), and wrestling. He was nicknamed “Josh the Spladle” for his wrestling moves.
Josh was also on the Homecoming Court his Senior Year. Josh passed in 2015.
Loveland, Ohio – Watch this LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV VIDEO that was shot in the Spring of 2014 in the waning hours of Bruce Maegly’s teaching career. Maegly and the Middle School Stage Band entertained the young students at the Loveland Early Childhood Center just before his retirement. Maegly was one of the most all-time beloved Loveland school teachers who retired that week after 35 years.
He was the founder of the Loveland Middle School Stage Band.
Bruce Maegly
The Stage Band started the first year Maegly taught in Loveland when he was approached by then, principal, Jack Wood about playing for a basketball tournament they were hosting at the old middle school. “So, I put up a sign on the bulletin board inviting people to come in,” Maegly said. They started by learning three pieces of music for the tournament and played three pieces over and over all day long. “The night of our performance someone came up and said, ‘Hey. What’s this group called.” Maegly’s answer was, “Uh… I don’t know…. Uh… The Stage Band.” He explained it was because that is where they were playing, “On a stage.” And, that’s how it started forty-one years ago and it’s still going on. Later, former Loveland High School principal, Tom Hausterman invited Maegly to start what would become the Jazz Band. Two years later there were two jazz bands at the high school.
In 2012, Maegly was honored by the Hamilton County Education Foundation as a Teacher of the Year. At the time of the award, Loveland Middle School Principal, Chris Burke said, “Very few teachers have the ability to impact as many lives as Bruce Maegly does on a regular basis. Bruce leads hundreds of students on a daily basis to grow and achieve success. Teaching multiple periods of large group bands, in two different buildings, Mr. Maegly has the ability to reach more students on a daily basis than just about anyone in our district. When you add the fact that he expertly and skillfully engages these groups every day it not only makes him deserving of this reward but invaluable to Loveland.”