Windsor Locks Community Mourning Beloved Teacher and Coach

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — The Windsor Locks High School community is mourning the unexpected loss of teacher and coach Stephen Wandzy, who died unexpectedly Thursday while vacationing on Cape Cod with his family. He was 49.

Wandzy was a math teacher and curriculum coordinator at his alma mater, Windsor Locks, from where he had graduated as valedictorian in 1989 and was the school's CIAC male scholar-athlete of the year. He also coached the Raider tennis team to several appearances in the state tournament in recent years.

In a letter sent to students and families of the high school, Superintendent of Schools Shawn Parkhurst said Wandzy was "a master teacher and coach who had a profound impact on all of his students in the classroom and on the courts."

"Steve's passing has been a tragic blow to his family and ours," athletic director Jim O'Brien said. "As an educator, he was a Master Teacher, engaging kids in thoughtful and challenging lessons, whether it was kids starting out in Algebra or AP Calculus. As a coach, he was a role model, coaching with passion and competitive fire, but also balancing the sportsmanship and integrity in the game of tennis. As a person and friend, he was 'my guy', he was everybody's 'guy'. When you had a problem, he would listen, give thoughtful advice, and instantly be part of the solution, willing to lend a hand whenever you needed."

Girls tennis coach Jon LeBlanc said via email, "Great teacher. Great coach. Great guy. Dedicated husband and father. A great role model for students, student-athletes, fellow teachers and coaches. I respected him immensely. A pleasure working together as WLHS tennis coaches over the past 10 years. Even navigating a season without courts."

Wandzy was also a longtime member of The Suffield Players, acting in many productions over the past 20 years. He received the 2013 Massachusetts Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Actor for his role as Clifford Anderson in Ira Levin's Deathtrap.

Mary Fernandez-Sierra of the Suffield Players said, "Steve Wandzy has given some incredible performances at the Suffield Players over the years. His first play at Mapleton Hall was in a musical in 2003: Sweeney Todd, where he wowed audiences with his beautiful voice, followed by another musical, Pal Joey, in 2006, in which he met his future wife Brianna Stronk. As comfortable acting in comedies as in musicals, he performed in 2007's The Real Inspector Hound, and in Fortinbras, also in 2007. Steve continued to show his versatility by performing in several dramas at The Players: Deathtrap in 2013, and The Mousetrap in 2015. His most unusual performance was in 2016's The 39 Steps, in which he played a number of different characters, shifting brilliantly from one to the next in the space of minutes. The Players will miss this great actor's presence on their boards, and his company and friendship even more. He was, quite simply, a star."

He is survived by his wife Brianna, his daughter Iris, his mother Betty and numerous other relatives and friends.

The family will gather Sunday, Aug. 30 from 2-5 p.m. outside of Windsor Locks High School, 58 South Elm St., for a drive-by wake. Please enter only through the South Elm St. entrance. Everyone is asked to remain in their vehicles and wear masks on the grounds of the school.

A GoFundMe account has been established to assist his family.

His complete obituary from Windsor Locks Funeral Home may be viewed here.

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