Donald Hugh Olson, 83, a guiding light at the Andover Organ Company for 53 years and company president for 15, ended his battle with Parkinsons Disease on July 30, 2023, at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough. He was the son of Harold and Alice Olson of Osceola, Wisconsin.
Don excelled at music of all types in school and was a church organist by age twelve. After earning a B.Mus. from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota (where he studied piano, organ, and bassoon), Don moved to the Northeast to join the Andover Organ Company. The Army required Don's service for thee years, and he returned to the organ company in 1966.
Don held various titles at Andover including Director of the Old Organ Department, Executive Vice President, and General Manager. For over four decades starting in 1968, his elegant case designs were the hallmark of Andover’s new instruments. After serving as President from 1997 to 2012, he semi-retired, working on publicity and sales before fully retiring in June 2015, ending 53 years with Andover.
As an organist, Don served at St. George’s Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Church in Methuen and at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, and played several recitals at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall. He also served as Dean of the Merrimac Valley AGO Chapter 1970–1972.
A charter member of the American Institute of Organbuilders, Don served as secretary of the AIO’s first Board of Directors and chaired the AIO Boston conventions in 1979 and 2001. He also served for a time as secretary of APOBA.
For over 30 years Don supported the Merrimack Vally Philharmonic Orchestra (Massachusetts) as bassoon player, manager, and president. At the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, Maine, Don combined his passions for landscaping and rescue care for animals and volunteered on weekends for many years, building turtle ponds and maintaining flower beds. He also adopted a series of canine pets from local ASPCA shelters.
Don is survived by brothers Steven (Dana), of Appleton, Wisconsin, Eugene (Ginger),of Royal Oak, Mischian, sisters Mary, of Monmouth, Oregon and Martha (Jeff Keane), of Park City, Utah and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his partner of 43 years, David Dunham.
There are no plans for a memorial service. His memorials are the many elegant Andover organ cases, which uplift and inspire the congregations that are fortunate to possess them. Donations could be made to the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra or the Maine Wildlife Park. To offer condolences and share memories with the family, go to www.athutchins.com.
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