Darryl Seiwell

Darryl L. Seiwell

1948 - 2024

Darryl L. Seiwell, 75, of Lake Hauto, entered into eternal rest Friday, June 21, 2024 in St. Luke’s Hospital, Miners Campus. He was the husband of Donna Marie (Smith) Seiwell.  They celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on November 30th, 2023.  He was the best dad in the world to Hallie and Heidi. 

Born in Palmerton, Darryl grew up in Lehighton as a son of the late Donald H. Seiwell and the late Faye (Snyder) Seiwell Carrigan and brother to Denny and Paula.  He was a graduate of Lehighton Area High School class of 1966 and Mansfield University class of 1970. He was a member of St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Nesquehoning where he was a cantor.

Darryl was a beloved teacher and mentor.  After beginning at Tunkhannock School District, he spent his career in education as a music and chorus teacher and band director for the Jim Thorpe School District for over 30 years until his retirement in 2004.  He was loved by his students and colleagues, and he loved them back.  He changed countless lives through his teaching with his intelligence, humor, kindness, knowledge, and passion.  He also inspired his wife and children to become educators. 

Darryl was an incredibly talented musician.  He could play just about anything but loved playing trumpet, saxophone, piano, and drums the most.  He also was a beautiful singer, and his family is lucky to have many recordings of him.  He played and sang in bands for most of his life.  People loved seeing and hearing Darryl in bands like Angie and the Strangers, The Chords, Thrill, and Becky and the Beasts.  With Becky and the Beasts, Darryl played an array of brass and woodwinds, making any song even better.  He also sang backup vocals and even helped on keyboard sometimes.  “Mustang Sally” and “With a Little Help From My Friends” were two of his signature songs as lead vocalist.

Darryl loved the Philadelphia Eagles, Sixers, and Phillies.  He watched Super Bowl 52 with his daughters and got to see the Eagles finally bring home the Lombardi Trophy.  He, Heidi, and Donna loved to cheer on the Sixers together.  Darryl was also a prodigious reader and especially loved reading novels from Harlan Coben, Lee Child, Tom Clancy, and John Grisham.  He loved watching Seinfeld, cooking shows, and almost anything on Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. 

He was known to his friends and students as Big Chief, Sei, and Doc.  He loved being at Lake Hauto with the beach crew and loved spending time at the Coffee Shop with his in-laws Guy and Julia Smith.  He was funny, kind, talented, and smart.  Everyone who knew him loved him.

Surviving along with his wife Donna are daughters Hallie Seiwell and Heidi Seiwell of Lake Hauto and their beloved pup Carly; sister Paula Blose, wife of Rodney, of Pittsburgh; brother Dennis “Denny” Seiwell, husband of Monique, of Woodland Hills, CA; sister-in-law Virginia Smith Steigerwalt and husband Edgar of Nesquehoning; the Beach Crew; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by many wonderful friends, family, and pets who have no doubt welcomed him with hugs, kisses, and cheesesteaks.

An office of Christian Burial will be held Friday, June 28, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. in St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, 141 W. High St. Nesquehoning, PA with Father Scott Boghossian officiating. Interment will be held in Parish Cemetery, Nesquehoning. Call Thursday night 6-8:00 P.M. and Friday morning 10-10:30 A.M. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted in his name to St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church or the Eagles Charitable Foundation www.eaglescharitablefoundation.org.                                                                                                              

The Joseph S. Blazosky Funeral Home has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. Online condolences at www.blazoskyfh.com.

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