Apr 13, 2000

IN MEMORIAM MARY ELIZABETH ANDERSEN HULINGS (1915–2000) NEW YORK CITY — The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS (AGO) is very sad to announce the death of an exceptional friend and benefactor, MARY ELIZABETH ("BETTY") ANDERSEN HULINGS. She passed away at home in Minnesota on Saturday, March 11. Mrs. Hulings was 85. Mrs. Hulings, a philanthropist and a director of the Andersen Corp., the window-manufacturing business founded in 1903 by her grandfather, was responsible for providing the primary financial support that sustained the AGO's Pipe Organ Encounters program (POEs) for the past twelve years. Philip Brunelle, who introduced Mrs. Hulings to the AGO, wrote: "For those of you who never knew her, let me say that Betty was an extraordinary woman with a great love for people, for music, and a positive commitment to what she believed in. She also, in her own way, was a wonderful dreamer with an adventurous spirit." Mrs. Hulings and her late husband, Albert D. ("Bill") Hulings, were founders of the MAHADH Foundation, now known as the MAHADH Fund of the HRK Foundation. Since 1988, this fund has provided more than $250,000 in grants to the AGO. The substantial majority of that funding was donated to support our Pipe Organ Encounters programs for the education and training of young organists. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this extraordinary generosity is that it encompassed a steady stream of gifts for more than a decade. Without the generosity of Betty Hulings, the POEs would never have attained their storied success as the Guild's leading outreach program for young organists. Hundreds of young organ students benefitted from the generosity of the Hulingses, and thousands of individuals have enjoyed hearing music performed by POE students as they have matured into professional musicians. In 1997, the AGO was added to the American Society of Association Executive's "Associations Advance America" Honor Roll for the Pipe Organ Encounter program, "which has resulted in significant benefit to Society, reflecting real credit on associations and their members." None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the generosity of Betty Hulings who lived by the philosophy, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of them much will be required" (Luke 12:48). At the 1992 AGO National Convention in Atlanta, Betty and Bill Hulings were presented with the AGO President's Award "in grateful recognition of their lifelong dedication to excellence and integrity in the fine arts and their supportive encouragement of the work and education of the young organist and the furtherance of Guild activities." The AGO will forever be grateful for the philanthropic legacy of this exceptional woman. The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, the AGO seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. The mission of the AGO is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members. The Guild currently serves more than 20,000 members in 343 local chapters throughout the United States and abroad. This information is submitted by F. Anthony Thurman, Director of Development and Communications at the National Headquarters of the American Guild of Organists and the American Organist Magazine. For further information, please contact Dr. Thurman by TEL (212) 870-2310, FAX (212) 870-2163 or E-MAIL <fathurman@agohq.org.>