Legendary Music Teacher Andy Housholder Passes Away
One of the most beloved teachers in Huntington High School's long history passed away last Thursday morning following a pair of strokes. Legendary chorus director Andrew Housholder, who set an unsurpassed standard of perfection over parts of three decades as a faculty member, is still remembered fondly by the legions of students he taught to sing. He was 78.
"I never hear a choir, sing in a choir or direct a choir without thinking of him and how he created incredible music with our very ordinary voices," said 1972 Huntington alum Julia Chilton in an online tribute. "It was a privilege and an honor to sing under him."
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 1 at First Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, Ohio at 10 a.m. A graveside service at Oak Grove Cemetery will follow with full military honors. A reception will be held at Bowling Green Country Club the same day, celebrating the life of an "extraordinary, ordinary man." Guests will be invited to share their memories and love.
"He was an amazing teacher, person and friend with a wonderful sense of humor," said Edie Pulizzotto, a 1981 Huntington grad who is now the PTA Council's vice-president. "His influence on the students of Huntington High School during our time in school was amazing and it has lasted for many of us into adulthood. He will be missed greatly."
Mr. Housholder brought Huntington High School choirs on countless tours, throughout the United States and even to Europe. At one time or another he led the school choir, chamber choir, girls' choir, boys' choir and select boys' and girls' choirs.
"We were all blessed to have Mr. Housholder in our lives," said 1972 Huntington grad Deborah Miller Burke last weekend. "I was one of his choir students from Huntington High School, where he taught us about music, to be sure, but also about so much more! He seemed to know how to touch each and every student with a personal spark, giving to them, guiding them and making each and every one of us remember him as 'the best teacher I ever had.' When his intense blue eyes sparkled with joy, we knew we had pleased him and that's what we all strove to do. He made us care about "being your best,' a hard lesson to teach many teenagers, but he did it with class and kindness. He will never be forgotten. What a wonderful life you had Mr. H. and what a gift it was for us to know you."
Andrew Edward Housholder was born in Bowling Green, Ohio on September 28, 1932. He attended grade school and earned his high school and college diplomas right in his home town. He later studied at the Vienna Academy of Music in Austria. As a 1st Lt. in the US Army from 1955-57, Mr. Housholder led the Post Chapel Choir at the Guided Missile School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
It has been said that Mr. Housholder "taught generations of students how to sing." He earned a bachelor's degree in music education at Bowling Green State University in 1955 and obtained a master's degree from SUNY College at Potsdam in 1965. He taught high school choral and orchestral classes for more than three decades and also served as a choral director at Ithaca College, New York University, Nassau Community College and Dowling College. He was a visiting professor at both Nassau Community College and Ithaca College.
"I hope you realize the important influence you have had on my life, and so many others," Mike Connell, a 1979 Huntington grade told Mr. Housholder last year. "When I am asked about high school your name is always the first thing I mention. The joy and love for music that you brought to all of your students is immeasurable. In life there are very few people that have an impact on one's life like you have for me; subtle lessons that have lasted a lifetime. I can safely say that your mentoring in my youth has made my life better. Thank you for being the best teacher and mentor I will ever have."
Mr. Connell participated in a 1977 Huntington sports choir tour arranged by Mr. Housholder, who began his teaching career in 1957 as director of music at Saquoit Valley Central School in Ithaca. He came to Long Island in 1963 to work in the Northport-East Northport School District as choir director before being lured away by Huntington in 1965.
"A guilty pleasure of mine is politely refusing the sheet music when it is handed out at Christmas Eve services when we sing 'Hallelujah Chorus,'" said 1984 Huntington alum Christine Fogarty Geiger, during a tribute to Mr. Housholder in March 2010. "Mr. Housholder taught us to sing each of the other parts' intros so they would have more punch. I know all four parts and it makes me smile and think of him when after the service someone in front of me comments to me that I did a great job. Thanks Mr. H! I hope to continue to do you proud."
Over the course of his sterling career, Mr. Housholder conducted more than 40 All-State choirs in three different states. He even conducted at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center as a regular at the Collegiate Chorale's annual sing-in of Handel's "Messiah," as well as at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall in Manhattan.
Mr. Housholder, who led 13 choirs on world concert tours (including one to China) between 1971 and 1988, served as choral director at Old First Presbyterian Church across from the former Huntington High School and current Huntington Town Hall, as well as at the USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the Huntington Men's Chorus, Huntington Choral Society and the Nassau Symphony.
Seven years after he retired from his teaching position in Huntington in 1988, Mr. Housholder and his wife, Terry moved back to Bowling Green, Ohio where he became immersed in the community, including the university. He was involved in the college's music department and its alumni affairs. Mr. Housholder was named Alumni of the Year in 2006 and honored as one of Bowling Green's 100 Most Distinguished Alumni last year. In honor of his loving grandmother, Mr. Housholder established the Lenore B. Coriell Memorial Piano Award at Bowling Green State University in 2006.
Retired Huntington High School music teacher and marching band director Linda Shoemaker called Mr. Housholder a "wonderful man" and said "no one ever did it better than Andy!" The colleagues worked closely together during their respective teaching careers.
"His choirs were unsurpassed; truly a gifted musician and teacher and a wonderful human being," Ms. Shoemaker said. "Those of us who worked side by side with him know what we had and so did his thousands of students. I am just grief stricken."
Six years ago, Mr. Housholder established the "Andy Open" golf tournament for young people at the Bowling Green Country Club. The event benefits parks and recreation programs and has grown to include more than 100 participants annually.
"I have been blessed and appreciated many times for my ability to lead singing at church and other events," Peter Hartman, a 1984 Huntington alum, said last year during a tribute to his former teacher. "I received those tools from Andrew Housholder."
Several months ago Mr. Housholder suffered a stroke that paralyzed his left side, Ms. Shoemaker said. He then had a massive stroke on August 27 that paralyzed his right side and robbed him of his speech. "He was in hospice care from that point on," Ms. Shoemaker said.
The National Choral Council named Mr. Housholder the Choral Conductor of the Year in 1975. His 1980 Huntington High School choir won First Prize cum laude at an international festival in Belgium.
"Think of all of the teachers you have had in your life from grade school to post grad and then think of Andy Housholder, he tops them all," said 1984 Huntington grad Jon Webel during the 2010 tribute to Mr. Housholder. "How fortunate were we to learn the lessons he had to offer while we were so young and impressionable. He built our confidence, character, and sense of teamwork all while instilling in us a love of making music that has now been passed to a new generation. The trip to England also was a 'Top 10' lifetime event! I have many fond memories of all of the musical groups. However, men's glee stands out as my favorite! I remember looking forward to practice and being sad when it was over, it was usually the highlight of the week, truly a special time."
An excellent golfer his entire life, Mr. Housholder had a one handicap as a high school student. He also loved to cook and won numerous awards for his dishes.
Mr. Housholder loved his college alma mater and to his dying day thought it was a great place to study and grow. Remarkably, more than 70 of his former high school students went on to Bowling Green State University, most of which graduated there with honors. He also strongly supported the school's ROTC and athletic programs.
Mr. Housholder leaves behind his wife, Terry, daughter Ellen Housholder Rife, a member of Huntington High School's Class of 1985 and adored grandchildren Ryan and Emily.
"He was a teacher that made a difference in many lives," Mr. Connell said.