Andrew Housholder, 78, remembered as a “truly extraordinary, yet ordinary man.”

By Sasha Abraham

BOWLING GREEN, OH — Andrew Edward Housholder, Huntington High School’s choral director from 1965 to 1988 whose passion for music helped shape the lives of generations of students, died Sept. 8 in Bowling Green, Ohio. He was 78.

“When I am asked about teachers that shaped my life; only a handful come to mind, but Andy is always at the top of the list,” wrote former Huntington student Hillary Hess in an online tribute on The Dunn Funeral Home website. “The epitome of teachers, a passionate musician, loving father and husband, mentor, good friend, a deeply spiritual and kind man.”

Housholder’s distinguished career as a music professional spanned several decades. He led more than 40 All-State Choirs in Ohio, New York and New Jersey. He conducted at Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall and Town Hall in New York. Housholder took 13 choirs on world concert tours from 1971-88, traveling as far away as China. In 1975 he was honored as Choral Conductor of the Year by the National Choral Council in New York City. His 1980 Huntington High School Choir earned “First Prize Cum Laude” at the International Festival in Neerpelt, Belgium. He successfully encouraged more than 70 of his students to attend BGSU.

Robert Freedman added, “I was a member of the Huntington Choral Society board that brought Andy to be our director. He extended our repertoire and led us to many evenings of beautiful music. I had many memorable arguments with him over the music.”