In Memory: Alice Hessert

Dear Laurentian community,

I write today with the sad news that Alice Hessert has died. Over her nearly 20 years on campus, Alice helped develop and operate the University’s music library. Her work included a long list of responsibilities, from maintaining musical equipment to coordinating and publicizing faculty and student performances. She also organized individual instruction for students who performed vocal and instrumental music.

Alice was also a teacher and shared what she called one of her best ideas. She said, “When a struggling student says, ‘I just don’t know what you want,’ I answer with, ‘I want what you can give me.’”

Alice grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where she met her future husband while singing and playing trumpet in a church choir. She went on to major in music at Indiana University, where she dated and eventually married Norman Hessert.

While raising four children, Alice earned her bachelor's degree in music performance from Indiana University and her master’s degree in performance from Illinois Wesleyan. She became a frequent performer in community and church music groups and even founded a non-profit arts education center in Moorhead, Minnesota.

After Norman and Alice moved to Canton in 1981, she studied scenic carpentry, sound, and lighting engineering. In addition to her work with students and in the music library, Alice taught a class in sound design. She also became an integral part of the Grasse River Players, and got involved in the local community theater group’s productions. Alice performed in multiple shows, including a memorable turn as “Grandpa” in You Can’t Take it With You.

Alice and Norman retired to Elkhart, Indiana, where she volunteered for the local historical museum, refinished furniture, gardened, and spent months decorating for Christmas. She did enjoy occasional quiet moments, in her porch chair, drinking English tea or warm beer and reading Agatha Christie.

She is survived by her husband Norman, their four children, Anne, Janet, Paul, and David, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

As we grieve the loss of our friend and colleague, we are grateful to Alice for all she has done for St. Lawrence and Canton. Those who knew her recall Alice’s inspired creativity, dedication to students and the arts, and the way she combined her talents in service to strengthening our community.

Please join us in celebrating Alice’s life by sharing your memories of her on the St. Lawrence University website. You can read the remembrances of others here.

Sincerely,

Kate Morris