NAME(S) ON TILE:                 RUSSELL G. WICHMANN

DONOR NAME(S):                   MINA BELLE PACKER WICHMANN

Russell G. Wichmann, a native of Appleton, Wisconsin, quickly adopted Pittsburgh as his home when he arrived in 1936 at the age of 24 to become the Organist and Director of Music at the Shadyside Presbyterian Church, a post he occupied for 51 years until his death in 1987.  A 50th anniversary tribute came to him from the United States Senator John Heinz who wrote, in part: At Shadyside Church, your music has been a companion in worship to thousands...and today what unites us is our love and esteem for you.  From 1938-1945 he was the first University Organist at the Heinz Chapel and music faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh.  Then as Warrant Officer/Band leader he served in the Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Europe from 1942-44.  Beginning in 1945, as Professor and Head of music at Chatham College, for 32 years he molded and shaped the musical and artistic awareness of young women through his choral directing and organ teaching.  And, from 1952-1966 he was Director of Pittsburgh’s Mendelssohn Choir.  Honored as a distinguished alumnus by Lawrence University, he also received the Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City.  Westminster College awarded him an honorary Doctor of Music degree (posthumously) in 1988.  As organist, choral conductor, and prolific composer, his persistent pursuit of musical excellence, and his zeal and dedication, gave to greater Pittsburgh and the nation a ministry of music infrequently matched and rarely excelled.