Mary Hauser is a native Wisconsinite but lived in both Michigan and California before returning “home” more than 20 years ago. Of course, her California friends couldn’t understand why she would want to go back to this cold climate. They forgot to consider that people do seemingly ridiculous things for love.

Mary taught at the early childhood and elementary levels for 17 years in Wisconsin and California, including one year in China which she considered a life-changing experience, living and working at two different universities in the mid-1980s (before Tiananmen Square and the emergence of the more capitalistic China). One outcome was discovering that she liked working with adults, so upon her return she embarked on a doctoral program in education at UC Santa Barbara. Academe requires publishing or perishing, which honed her writing skills, highlighted with the publishing of a biography of a progressive early childhood educator.

In 2005, Jerry Randall and Mary bought a cottage on North Bay Drive and it wasn’t long after that that they discovered Midsummer’s Music. So between renovating the cottage (built in 1898), they went to concerts, delighted to find an outlet for their love of chamber music. Soon they were hosting musicians at the cottage, which led to helping with hosting concert receptions. A couple of years ago, Mary was elected to the Midsummer’s Music Board and now serves on the Executive Committee.

 

“It has been my pleasure to support Midsummer’s Music and the Griffon for more than a decade. As a volunteer, I have had the opportunity to meet many of our talented musicians and host them during their stays in Door County as well as meeting other music-loving concertgoers at post performance receptions. There is an energy about this organization that is infectious! It enriches our community and everyone who participates in it. Join us!”