Everett Jay Hilty, Sr., 96, died November 1 at his home in Manhattan, Kansas. Born in Queens, New York in 1910, he was the youngest of six children born to George Richard and Grace May Rhoda Lamb Hilty. When Hilty was nine his family moved to Palatka, Florida. On May 9, 1935 he married Rose Elizabeth Vann in Roanoke, Alabama.
His early career ranged from playing organ in various churches and radio stations in Miami and Denver to a six-year stint as organist with the Denver Symphony, assistant director of the Denver Festival Chorus, and organist for St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver. A founding member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, he served that group in many capacities.
He received his B.Mus. from the University of Michigan, and his M.Mus. from the University of Colorado, both in organ performance. He did graduate study in sacred music at Union Theological Seminary in New York, also serving there as visiting lecturer for a year.
Joining the University of Colorado faculty in 1940, he was named head of the Division of Organ and Church Music in 1951, a position he held until his retirement in 1978. During his tenure at CU, Everett formed the University Handbell Ensemble, a group he continued to direct for a number of years after becoming an Emeritus Professor. His published compositions include works for organ, handbells, and choir anthems.
In his extensive career as a concert organist and carillonneur he played hundreds of recitals throughout the U.S., and was the official carillonneur for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. The electronic carillon at CU is named in his honor.
In 1982 he was honored by CU as the Outstanding Alumnus in the field of music, and in 1995 he was awarded the University Medal for his many years of service to CU as official carillonneur. He served as organist and choirmaster for the First Congregational Church in Boulder for 25 years, and gave the pipe organ from his home for use in the new chapel in the Boulder church. The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers named Hilty an Honorary Life Member in 1982, and his own five-state Area in AGEHR selected him as a charter member of their Ring of Fame just this year.
Survivors include three sons, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, and his companion of four years, Joan Shull. A memorial service was held at the First Congregational Church in Boulder. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the First Congregational Church organ fund in Boulder.
