[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17134]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO HELEN ARMSTRONG

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a gifted 
musician, successful entrepreneur, devoted wife and mother, 
constituent, and friend, Helen Armstrong, who passed away on April 28 
of this year. Helen was an international virtuoso violinist who 
dedicated her life to enriching the lives of others through music.
  Helen Armstrong was born on March 16, 1943, in Rockford, IL. Her 
career as a violinist began at the age of 3. Before long, she was 
enrolled at the Juilliard School where she quickly caught the eye of 
renowned instructors Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay. She was among the 
select few chosen to study under them in pursuit of a solo career. 
Other violinists in this group include Helen's childhood friend Yitzhak 
Perlman and Pinchas Zuckerman. In 1976 Helen made her Lincoln Center 
debut and went on to perform with various orchestras including the 
Boston Pops, the Indianapolis Symphony, and the New Polish 
Philharmonic. She has also toured North America, Europe, and Asia as a 
recitalist.
  But Helen Armstrong was not content to be a successful and highly 
accomplished musician. She was also an entrepreneur and philanthropist 
who brought music into the lives of others through performance and 
education. She founded Armstrong Chamber Concerts, Inc. and served as 
its artistic director for more than 22 years. What began one summer as 
a way to lure musicians out of New York City to perform in Helen's home 
in Washington, CT became a thriving enterprise encompassing performance 
series in Litchfield and Fairfield counties as well as Carnegie Hall 
recitals, corporate events, and educational programs in schools in 
Connecticut and New York City. At the heart of ACC is Helen's artistic 
vision to broaden public interest in chamber music through performance 
and education, and its primary focus has been to bring musical 
education to public and private schools through its unique Students' 
Music Enrichment Program. Over 100,000 students have benefited from 
this program thanks to Helen Armstrong's remarkable vision an 
dedication to this cause. One of the most noteworthy examples of 
Helen's benevolent spirit were her performances at a prison in Danbury. 
She counted those performances as some of her most rewarding outreach 
experiences, and said the music made the inmates feel that life was 
worth living. Helen dedicated her life to spreading her love of 
classical music, and she has touched the lives and hearts of countless 
citizens, including my own. I had the privilege of seeing Helen 
perform, and was truly captivated by her immense talent and passion. 
Her performance moved me to act as an honorary chairperson of the 
concert series she organized, and I am honored to have been associated 
with her organization.
  Helen Armstrong was a remarkable woman in several respects. Along 
with her accomplishments as a solo violinist and founder of a 
successful nonprofit chamber music organization, she was a devoted 
wife, mother, and grandmother. She was widowed by her first husband, 
Alan Cohen, in 1978. Despite this terrible loss, Helen continued to 
promote ACC's mission and to perform while raising her two children. 
After a long relationship, she married Ajit Hutheesing in 1996. In 
addition to him, she is survived by her children Debbie and David, her 
grandchildren Brenden, Tyler, and Cailey, her sister Nancy, and her 
brother Robert. I offer my deepest condolences to all of them. They 
have lost a beloved member of their family. Helen's great talent and 
generous spirit will be sorely missed by them and countless 
others.

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