Andrew’s Obituary Andrew J. McMullan Jr. OBITUARY McMullan Jr., Andrew J.: Visionary, Maestro, and Businessman. As a young boy in his native Decatur, Mississippi, Andrew loved music. He was often found sitting on a railing outside of his home singing.
At a young age he studied piano, and by his teens, mastered all the brass instruments in his high school band. While at Louisiana State University Andy studied the French horn and in his spare time toured the local circuit playing in a small jazz band. In the fall of his senior year, an unexpected faculty vacancy prompted the Dean of Music to invite Andy to assume direction of all three prestigious LSU bands.
His success at LSU, along with innate talent, and uncanny organizational abilities, earned him a full scholarship to the Graduate School, at Eastman School of Music. By age 23, Andy became the Director of Bands at the University of Connecticut where he taught and conducted for eight years. It is here that Andy met Jean, his beloved wife.
Following a pattern of supporting each other’s interests, the McMullans moved to Maine where Jean became a leader in the organized children’s camping movement and Andy acquired a business which he grew from 12 to 150 employees. Through this period, music continued to be a major part of his life. For over two decades, he performed in the Portland Symphony Orchestra, and later became conductor of the Maine Opera Association for eight years.
Andy supported Jean’s dream and they acquired the venerable Alford Lake Camp, located in Hope, Maine. When Jean was elected to national presidency of the American Camp Association, Andy later served as chairman of the American Camping Foundation, an endowment to support the ACA. During his tenure, Andy provided sound direction to the ACF in its developing years.
Andy and Jean were recognized for their work on behalf of the camping movement with ACA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. Upon retiring to Vero Beach Florida, Andy perceived a need in the Treasure Coasts’ cultural milieu. He worked assiduously to create the Atlantic Classical Orchestra for the coastal towns of Vero Beach and Stuart, Florida.
Andy served as Music Director and Conductor of the ACO for fourteen years. Andy is survived by his loving family: wife of 68 years, Jean, daughter Kathy Kopani, sons, Mark and Keith McMullan, son–in-law Gvozden Kopani, daughter-in law Sue McMullan, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. We will celebrate Andy’s life on Friday, February 15th at 1:00 PM at the Community Church, Vero Beach, Florida and at Alford Lake Camp, Hope, Maine at 1:30 PM on Sunday, June 9th Donations can be made in Andrew McMullan’s name to the Atlantic Classical Orchestra.
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