LAKEVIEW — Carlos Mendoza is a Stormtrooper, drummer, teacher and father, balancing life with a set of twins while prepping for an overseas tour.
Mendoza, 44, of Lakeview, has loved music for decades. His band, The Luck of Eden Hall, has found success abroad — he's a bit of a hit in the United Kingdom, where he'll tour this summer — and he's found time to pursue other hobbies, like making sci-fi-inspired props.
But Mendoza has also tried to find ways to give back: He became a teacher (he's at Lake View High School) so he could share his musical experiences with students, and he uses a Stormtrooper costume to raise money for kids in need.
Lake View High School teacher Carlos Mendoza is the father of twins Zen and Solstice, 9. Zen's battle with cancer at age 4 was one of the inspirations for Carlos' charity work as a Stormtrooper. [Carlos Mendoza]
Stormtrooper
Mendoza is the father of 9-year-old twins: son Zen and daughter Solstice. At age 4, Zen was diagnosed with cancer. His left kidney was removed and he went through a year of chemotherapy.
Zen's experience inspired Mendoza to find a way to cheer up other kids with health problems — one that involved his love of "Star Wars."
A few years after Zen's surgery, Mendoza built a "Star Wars" gun. Naturally, that led him to want to make a full Stormtrooper costume. He got in contact with members of the 501st Legion, an organization that brings together those who craft and dress in "Star Wars" costumes, and sought their advice.
When Mendoza finished, he decided to put the costume to good use: He joined the legion and started dressing up as one of the "bad guys from 'Star Wars'" to entertain and raise money for kids.
Mendoza said he realized, "Wow, I can give back to the people who helped us when we needed it the most and I sort of get to fulfill this hobby that I wanted to do.
"Because of [Zen's illness] I have a strong connection with the hospital and with cancer charities and things, and that sort of turned me on to the group, too," he said.
The costume cost about $1,300 and — between the kids, school and his work as a musician — it took Mendoza a year to assemble, sometimes working just five minutes a night on the Stormtrooper ensemble.
Mendoza's love for "Star Wars" came as a surprise to many, he said, since he'd never made known his interest in sci-fi.
"It looked like I went off the deep end," he said.
Walter Brzeski, who befriended Mendoza while subbing at Lake View, said he admires Mendoza's commitment to a variety of roles — and he thinks Mendoza's work as a Stormtrooper is "funny."
"Here's a guy who has a lot of stuff going on and he still can have time to do that, too," Brzeski said. "That's kind of his relief."
Mendoza has about 25 costumed events under his belt, he said. All the money he earns for his costumed work is donated to charities.
Carlos Mendoza is the drummer for band The Luck of Eden Hall, which has found success in the United Kingdom. [Carlos Mendoza]
Drummer
When he's not raising money for kids, Mendoza is a rock star in the United Kingdom.
Mendoza is the drummer of The Luck of Eden Hall, a Chicago-based band that has a limited audience at home but "burgeoning" popularity in the U.K., he said. The band has a psychedelic pop sound that harkens back to the height of popularity for bands like the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, but it mixes in '90s alternative sounds, Mendoza said.
The Luck of Eden Hall used Kickstarter to raise nearly $9,500 for a U.K. tour in 2013, and this spring it raised $13,500 for a summer tour that will take the band between England, Scotland and Wales. In the United Kingdom, people sang along the band's songs, "attendance was through the roof" and fans recognized Mendoza on the street, he said. The band has also found popularity in Australia, Holland and Greece, among other countries — despite not performing there.
"All of those places have really embraced us," Mendoza said. "This band is inherently a Chicago band and an American band ... but we just can't really develop a fan base here."
Famed English writer Neil Gaiman, known for "The Sandman" and "American Gods," has taken notice of The Luck of Eden Hall. Gaiman produced a drawing for the band to use as art, and Mendoza said the work will be the cover for a limited-edition vinyl.
Teacher
Mendoza's work with Eden Hall is an extension of his love for making music and teaching at places like Lake View High School.
"Why am I doing all this if it's not to share it with people eventually?" he said, noting that teaching was his "prime directive."
Mendoza has taught at Lake View for six years, with the past three years focused on general music so he can connect with people who are more familiar with listening to music than making it.
Brzeski said Mendoza is the type of teacher who will give up his lunch period and free time to help students make up tests and explain lessons.
"He's one of those teachers who CPS is lucky to have because he's all in for the kids," Brzeski said. "He's not one of these guys ... who will run out the door when the bell rings. When he's there he's on the clock every second of every minute of every hour."
Brzeski said he doesn't think it's easy for Mendoza to balance his passions, but he think it helps that his friend loves his music, family and work as a teacher. Mendoza said he's not sure how he balances everything.
"I think that my professional life and the fact I stay really busy ... really brings sort of a real world aspect to the kids that they don't necessarily get all the time from other teachers or other schools," Mendoza said. "I've somehow managed to squeeze in a professional life, music, family and hobbies.
"No idea how I do it."
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