It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Larry Richard Ter Molen, a distinguished and foundational figure in the world of fundraising, a kind and generous community booster, and most of all a beloved and loving family man. Larry left this world on Feb. 9, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of kind and supportive leadership, integrity, innovation, and unwavering dedication to his family and to the causes he championed.
Larry is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Edna Hollander Ter Molen, his three sons, Mark (Joannie) Ter Molen, Matthew (Jenna) Ter Molen, and David (Shirley) Ter Molen, and eight grandchildren, Andrew, Perry, Evan (Kelsey), Ryan, Meghan, Dylan, Anna and Sydney. Born on Aug. 10, 1937, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Elizabeth and Richard Ter Molen, Larry Ter Molen was a man of remarkable accomplishments. An only child and the first in his family to attend college, Larry graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where he captained the 1958 football team to its best-ever record, winning the conference championship. He was named the team’s most valuable player, named to the All-American team and made history as the first representative of Hope College to be included in a post-season bowl game, the Optimists’ All-American Bowl in Tucson, Arizona, on Jan. 3, 1959.
It was also at Hope where he met the love of his life, Edna Claire Hollander, whom he married in 1960. They supported each other through 63 years of loving marriage, and Edna was with Larry every step of the way as he battled Parkinson’s these past two-and-a-half years.
Larry’s academic journey led him to a B.A. from Hope College to obtaining a master’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan and post-graduate studies at American University. Larry served in the Central Intelligence Agency for several years and then returned to his alma mater, Hope College, to begin his career in the non-profit world, becoming Hope’s director of development for several years before relocating Edna and his growing family to Dallas, Texas, where he was the vice president in charge of fundraising and alumni relations for Southern Methodist University.
In Dallas, Larry used his fundraising skills as a volunteer to help found the Dallas Inter-tribal Center, which provided medical and other support services to native Americans, and engaged in his passions for sailing, ice cream – through opening a Swenson’s ice cream parlor franchise – and being a family man, taking the family on camping trips throughout the southwest and coaching his young sons in various sports.
Larry subsequently took the job of head of development at the Art Institute of Chicago and moved the family – now three boys – to Evanston, where he lived for the rest of his life. At the Art Institute, he served as vice president and executive vice president for development and public affairs for two decades. Under his leadership contributions exceeded $435 million and membership reached 159,000, making it the largest art museum membership in the United States. Larry also instituted the tradition of decorating the lions flanking the museum entrance with appropriate civic symbols, including holiday wreaths and Chicago Bears’ helmets.
Throughout his career, Larry received numerous awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 1988, recognizing his significant achievements and role-model status for fundraisers. In 1996, Advertising Age named Larry one of “The Marketing 100” in the United States. After retiring from the Art Institute in 1996, Larry founded the fundraising consulting firm of Ter Molen, Watkins, Brandt & Associates.
A proud Evanstonian, Larry founded the Evanston Community Foundation, which provides support to numerous community organizations, was active in the First United Methodist Church, was an an avid sailor and was a constant presence at innumerable local sporting events, cheering on first his sons and then eight grandchildren in a wide variety of activities. He will be missed.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, March 15, at the First United Methodist Church of Evanston, 516 Church St. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Evanston Community Foundation in memory of Larry Ter Molen. Memorial gifts can be made online at evanstonforever.org. Under “Tribute Information,” select “In Memory of Larry Ter Molen.”
I came to know all three of Larry’s boys. Matthew was a fundraising officer at the University of Chicago when my son Jonathan arrived at The College. We tried to make the Parents Fund A more substantial enterprise. Susan and I agreed to act as Chairs for the Fund and had a wonderful time meeting parents and working closely with Matthew. When my son Jonathan was chosen as Phi Beta Kappa, Matthew attended the dinner with my wife and I. This was a time we’ll never forget, and Matthew with that awesome smile.
When because of an odd circumstance, the son of a former employee of mine was found guilty of a crime he never committed. He was sentenced to life in prison, and he was nowhere near where the crime was committed. I had enjoyed a wonderful relationship with his mother, who was a former secretary, and kept up with her after she left for a better job..She asked me to help get her son out of prison. I knew absolutely nothing about how to even approach the problem, but I did know that Larry son Mark had worked very successfully on an innocence project when in school. I approached him in order to understand where I might start. MARK was very generous with his time and worked with me in the beginning to try to get together a plan and a solution. Some 23 years later, Tracey Ferguson walked out of prison. In the beginning, if it weren’t for Mark I would’ve been totally lost. Periodically I would check with Mark to share my progress
The young man in question lives in Madison Wisconsin now, has it terrific job, and has acquired property. It was well worth the effort.
I came to know David best When he took the responsibility of working with me regarding some family financial affairs. In this regard we had several meetings that went very well, and we never expected to revisit what we had done. However, in continuing to review my work, I found that I had made a mistake and had to re-open our files. Davd the mistake I had made, he was very easy to work with and not judgmental. When I showed the insurance company, my mistake and presented the letter signed by Davd for the family where he was pleased with my suggestion regarding the solution. The situation was resolved in a way that favors the TerMolen Family. The warmth of David’s handshake after resolution of the problem, talk to me again about the character of this family.
Some years before I had asked Davd for advice regarding a situation that I was in where I felt that I had been treated unfairly. I wanted David’s advice both as a lawyer, and as someone who knew me for years.
His advice was understandable on the human level and legally perfect.
My above comments just briefly touch on my relationships with these wonderful young men. They loved their daddy and couldn’t have been closer to him when he went on what more could old Dutchman ask for?
Larry was an honest, decent, fair minded man. I remember him as being uncommonly, gentle and sweet. He brought the Art Institute Of Chicago to a world of modern institutional affairs. In his work for the Art Institute, he was very competitive, you would say, tenacious in reaching for the biggest prizes, yet doing the work in a way that betrayed his love for his fellows. In a competitive circumstance, he was always kind to the folks on the other team. People everywhere really liked Larry TerMolen.
I had the chance to know his utterly exceptional sons and his great love Edna very well during my more than 50 years at The AIC. He was incredibly kind to me and cheered me for my triumphs as an AIC volunteer fundraiser. When I was Chair of The Development Committee for The School of the Art Institute he was always available to me, despite his busy days, he always found a way to help me accomplish my objectives.
And none of this mattered at all compared to his love of his boys and wife. His very happy moments being spent watching his boys play Football at Evanston Township High School, and beating New Trier High School on a crisp Saturday Afternoon.
In the recent past years, it became more difficult to work with Larry, so I worked with his son David handling some of the family matters.
I will never ever forget, Larry, as I think about him now I first remember that great smile, and as he put his arm around me, announcing himself as just “ an old Dutchman”.
You made life for me so much easier and better. I am forever. Blessed because of you, and will never ever forget you.