Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Members of Michigan Technological University’s concert choir sing the spiritual “Hush, Hush, Somebody's Callin' My Name” from the audience at the end of a reminiscence from member Brad Baltensperger at a memorial for Milt Olsson Sunday.

HOUGHTON — Overseeing the creation of the Rozsa Center was just one of Milt Olsson’s accomplishments in 33 years at Michigan Technological University.

And even his work at Tech — conducting Tech’s choral ensembles and the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, becoming the first chair of what is now the Department of Visual and Performing Arts — was just one part of a well-rounded life.

Hundreds of former students, colleagues, family members and others in the community came to the Rozsa Sunday to pay tribute to the musician, the family man, the Mont Ripley Ski Team enthusiast, the Rotarian and more.

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts organized the memorial for Olsson, who died in 2021. It was delayed until the public could come together to honor him.

“We weren’t gathering, we weren’t to call out of all of our alumni and say ‘Come,’ so this year, we went ‘This is the year we have to do it,'” said Kiersten Birondo, marketing manager for the Rozsa Center. “This is the time and his family was ready for us to do it.”

Olsson came to Tech from Colorado in 1976, serving as director of choral and orchestral activities at Tech.

The classical and jazz choral ensembles and the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra became known locally and eventually globally.

Students remembered him as an inspiring figure who had high standards but also cared about them as people.

“We were 550,600 miles from home and he really made this a home for us,” said JoAnn Brinser, a 1985 graduate who was part of the varsity singers. “Milt had the gift of creating a culture that draws you in. He makes you feel like the puzzle wouldn’t be complete if you weren’t there.”

That was also true for Bill Fink, who knew him from the Houghton Rotary. When he came up with a little ditty, Olsson quickly turned around and asked “Why aren’t you singing in my choir?”

Fink, who Olsson pronounced “a perfect baritone,” would join the choir on trips to Russia, Eastern Europe and China.

No matter where they knew him from, there was always a connection to his family and his music.

Olsson supported his wife, Trudy, in her role in the Mont Ripley Ski Patrol, and in her later leadership national roles. He would also serve as coach and ran the United States Ski Association races at Ripley.

Speaker Jeff Olsen remembered Milt’s pride when Trudy was inducted into the National Ski Patrol Hall of Fame.

“I sat down next to Milt and he was fighting back tears on his cheek,” he said.

Olsen remembered writing a song for Mont Ripley’s ski patrol with Milt, both of them pitching in lyrics as Milt played the music on piano over and over.

The song’s lyrics, “We’re Mont Ripley’s famous ski patrol, ready to bring you down,” are still in the minds of the alumni, who stood up in the crowd and sang it Sunday.

It’s been performed annually for 41 years, Olson said. Each year, the candidate class adds new lyrics.

“Mont Ripley Ski Patrol alumni run into each other all over the country, and when they recognize where they’re from, all of a sudden they break into song,” he said.

When Olsson retired in 2010, orchestral and choir duties were split up among his replacements: Jared Anderson as director of choral activities, while Joel Neves directs the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra. They often joke that it took two of them to replace him.

Replacing a titan can be intimidating — especially when he’s still around, Anderson said.

“Milt had none of that,” he said. “He said to Joel and I, ‘This is the program now for you. Do what you want to do, take it where it needs to go. I’ll be there as a resource.’ He was at all the concerts — beaming, proud.”

Olsson’s son Steph Olsson remembered his handyman skills and the expert baseball knowledge that got him nicknamed “Sparky of the North.”

Of course, there was music. The family would sing for Little Brothers at Christmas. And the Olssons’ own Christmas Eve parties were memorable, with Milt fixed at the piano until morning.

“As the kids, we were trying to test Dad — OK, let’s try to do that Christmas song, with a Russian theme, in minor,'” Steph said. “He’d say, ‘I’ve got the chops for that.'”

But the role that meant most to him was “Opa,” or grandfather, Steph said.

Before the tribute, Olsson’s granddaughter Ana said the family chose the Rozsa because of his connection to the building — leading the way for it, then conducting and performing in it.

“If it wasn’t for him, this place wouldn’t even be here, and my uncle (PJ Olsson) wouldn’t be the famous singer he is today,” she said. “I’m very thankful I got to be with my Opa when he passed.”

Sunday’s crowd is another measure of his legacy.

“It means people cared about my Opa, because he cared about people so much, and he loved music,” she said.