Janice Westlund was a tireless servant to The Music Academy, as well as to our larger community, and a long time personal friend.

She served The Music Academy in Rockford as a board member in various capacities for more than 30 years. She also served the boards of Keith School, The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, New American Theater, YWCA, Crusader Clinic Health Foundation, the original Coronado Performing Arts Center Board, Women's History Month and UnCommon Lives: Extraordinary Women in the Arts at Rockford College/University. She was a voracious reader with a keen intellect and she was a dynamic member of her book club, Books by Chicks.

Janice was also a dedicated, determined and wise business partner of her husband, Steve, at Bob's Hardware. Once the store closed, Janice would hear nothing about moving from Rockford because of her dedication to the work of The Music Academy in Rockford.

Janice showed us the way. She gave us confidence. She suggested paths forward that brought out our talents and abilities. She held us to high standards and challenged us to be better, while scoffing at our self doubts. She did all this with a certain quiet humor, wit, grace and insightful, stalwart determination.

Her legacy of service will continue on in everything and everyone she touched. She had unique gifts and she was generous with them. We were very fortunate, for a very long time, to have her vested interest in The Music Academy in Rockford.

Janice passed on December 22, 2023.

A scholarship endowment has been established in Janice’s name,
The Janice Westlund Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Donations can be made by contacting Dr. Laura Eakman, Executive Director, 815-986-0037.