Band Director Matthew Jensen Found Deceased After Lake Okeechobee Search
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Band Director Matthew Jensen Found Deceased After Lake Okeechobee Search
- Matthew Jensen, a beloved middle school band director from Wellington, Florida, was found dead on November 19, 2014, after a multi-day search on Lake Okeechobee.
- Jensen, who had taught music for nearly 40 years, was associated with Emerald Cove Middle School since it opened in 2007.
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Matthew Jensen, a dedicated band director at Emerald Cove Middle School in Wellington, Florida, was discovered deceased on Wednesday, November 19, 2014, following an extensive search operation on Lake Okeechobee. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed his body was located near Pahokee, close to where his unoccupied boat was found drifting on Sunday, November 16, 2014.
Jensen, born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1952, earned a degree in Music Education in 1975 from Trevecca Nazarene College. He dedicated nearly four decades to teaching music, impacting thousands of students across Olympic Heights High School, Santaluces High School, Woodlands Middle School, and Emerald Cove Middle School, where he had been since 2007. He was remembered not only for his musical instruction but also for instilling values of hard work and perseverance.
An avid outdoorsman with a passion for fishing, Jensen had frequented Lake Okeechobee for over 30 years. Grief counselors were made available at Emerald Cove Middle School to support students and staff affected by his passing. A visitation was scheduled for December 5, 2014, followed by a memorial service on December 6, 2014.