[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 60-03, July - September, 2006 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

Andy Welsman

1939—2006

By Jim Doyle, Barrie Chapter member

I am sad to have to inform the Ontario District that the Barrie Chapter has lost a longtime member. Andy Welsman has been a member of the Barrie County Chordsmen since the early days of the original Barrie Chapter. He died suddenly on Saturday, July 29, 2006.

For many years now, Andy was our Young Men In Harmony (now Youth In Harmony) chair and was instrumental in the Barrie Chapter’s donation of bursaries to local music festivals, Kiwanis in Barrie and Orillia, Y’s men in Midland.

Andy was not a loud vocal contributor to either the performing chorus or the administrative crew, but he was solid in his dedication to the causes in which he believed. We could always count on him for performances or for volunteer work that needed to be done. Whether it was driving Singing Valentines Quartets in the snow or picking up a prospective new member who needed a ride, Andy never hesitated to say “Yes.”

He will be missed by all of us who got to know him in the County Chordsmen. Our condolences to Gay and their extended family.    k