Mrs. Vee Hansen Lohmann is a unique lady and a generous supporter of our Fraternity.

Photo: Mrs. Vee Hansen Lohmann

Every so often one has the opportunity to meet a truly amazing individual, and we have had the honor to do so recently. Our donor profile this month features Mrs. Vee Hansen Lohmann, who just established the Vee Hansen Lohmann Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust, naming the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, as the remainder beneficiary. We truly appreciate Mrs. Lohmann's generosity in supporting the RiteCare Program of the Southern Jurisdiction. Many children in the Rite's clinics, centers, and programs will be benefited by her generosity.

Born Vee Hansen in Iowa in 1904, Mrs. Lohmann's involvement with the Masons began in 1925, when she went to work at the Grand Lodge of Iowa. From 1925 to 1927, Vee worked as a Grand Lodge secretary and in the Grand Lodge Library. The Grand Lodge kept her employed part-time while she worked her way through Coe College, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from which she graduated in 1928. In 1929, she moved to New York to work at Macoy Masonic Publishing and Supply Company. Founded in 1849, Macoy is one of the oldest Masonic publishing companies in the United States. Mrs. Lohmann was hired to work for Mr. J. Hugo Tatsch, for whom she had worked at the Grand Lodge of Iowa. Mr. Tatsch served as Vice President of Macoy, and Mrs. Lohmann became his assistant. With the onset of the Great Depression, Mr. Tatsch left the company to join the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. But Mrs. Lohmann stayed on with the company, running its operations for the owner, a woman who had inherited the company from her husband.

Vee Hansen married Charles Stover Lohmann when she was 31. They met in New York City while playing bridge, one of her favorite pastimes. Mrs. Lohmann was also known as "Miss Hansen" throughout her business career. Mr. Lohmann, her husband, became a Master Mason in Lodge No. 402, Grand Lodge of New York, and also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter before losing his eyesight in 1951. He was born and raised in Virginia and was a captain of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues (second oldest military organization in the United States). He served on the Mexican border, as he told it, "chasing Pancho Villa." He volunteered in World War I, where he served as a captain in the field artillery in France in the primary battles until the end of the war in 1918.

After they married, Mr. Lohmann became President of Macoy, in keeping with the 100-year tradition of always having a Freemason at the head of the company. During this time, Mrs. Lohmann attended Brooklyn Law School of St. Lawrence University, New York, graduating in 1942. She never practiced law, although she no doubt benefited from this experience in managing her company. She found time to attend classes in advertising at Columbia University.

In 1945, when the owner of Macoy died, Mrs. Lohmann bought the business and became its fourth owner since its founding in 1849. She bought the business using her e-bond savings and a loan from Grace National Bank (later Grace Midland Bank). When interviewed by the bank board, one member asked what the bank would use for collateral from her for her loan. Mr. Dewey, President of the bank, replied "I recommend Ms. Hansen, herself." Mrs. Lohmann said this was the finest compliment she has ever received.

The company remained in New York City until 1967 when the Lohmanns decided to move to Richmond, Virginia. This meant the relocation of seven employee families. Mr. Lohmann died in 1969. They had no children, and Mrs. Lohmann appointed her nephew, Paul H. Scholte IV, as President of Macoy. Mr. Scholte became a Master Mason in Louisiana, while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War. He now holds dual membership in Virginia and is a Scottish Rite Mason, Valley of Richmond. He also is a member of ACCA Shrine and plays the bagpipes in the Highlander's band. After 58 years of "working for Freemasonry," as she puts it, Mrs. Lohmann gave the company to Mr. Scholte, but remained Chairman of the Board until the company was sold on January 2, 2002, to John C. Emory.

Mr. Emory, a C.P.A., came to work for Macoy in January 1988 as Treasurer and Managing Director. He is a Vietnam Veteran, having served in Europe. Mr. Emory is a Past Master of Woodland Heights Lodge No. 345 in Virginia and a 32° Mason, Valley of Richmond. Mrs. Lohmann and Mr. Scholte are pleased to have found Mr. Emory in their search for the right person to carry on the Macoy Company.

When asked why she chose the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, as the remainder beneficiary of her trust, Mrs. Lohmann says that, while working with Mr. Tatsch at the Grand Lodge of Iowa, she met many well-known Masonic authors and scholars, who made a great impression upon her. In fact, she formed her life philosophy through her Masonic associations and wanted to give something back to the organization that has had such a profound influence on her life. For this reason, she decided to establish the Vee Hansen Lohmann Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust, naming the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, as the remainder beneficiary.

After Mrs. Lohmann's initial call to the Development Office in September 2001, Ill. Earl E. Ihle, Jr., 33°, Director of Development, arranged to visit her in Richmond, Virginia. At their meeting, they discussed her desire to make a gift to the Scottish Rite and the types of gift vehicles which could be used to achieve that goal. Subsequently, Ill. Ihle and Barbara G. Golden, Director of Planned Giving for the Supreme Council, went to Richmond to discuss the specifics of Mrs. Lohmann's planned gift and to start the process of developing the gift documents. Mrs. Lohmann's gift was finalized on December 14, 2001, and Ill. William G. Sizemore, 33°, G.C., Grand Executive Director of the Supreme Council, and Ill. Ihle traveled to Richmond to sign the paperwork and to thank Mrs. Lohmann personally for her generous gift. Mrs. Lohmann is recognized as a Pillar of Charity, and her name appears in the Pillars of Charity Alcove in the House of the Temple and in the Gold Book of Recognition.

Barbara Golden is the Director of Planned Giving for the Development Office of the Supreme Council. Barbara is an attorney with experience in tax, corporate, and commercial real estate law. She managed a non-profit legal services organization for several years and has extensive experience in fundraising, grant writing, and program operations.

To learn more about the Scottish Rite Pooled Income Fund, click here. For a chart illustrating Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., USA, Charitable Gift Annuity Rates–Single Life, please click here.

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Ill. Thomas M. Boles, 33°, G.C. (left in photo) has worked extensively in fund-raising for children's programs throughout our Fraternity. For more information on planned giving, call Bro. Tom at 562–691–4227 (Fax 562–691–5327) or the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., at 202–232–3579, ext. 143. Ill. Earl E. Ihle, Jr., 33°, is our development team's Director of Major Gifts. He has been a member of the Fraternity for 25 years and served in 1978 as Master of Lafayette Lodge, No. 111, Baltimore, Maryland. He is also a member of Boumi Shrine Temple in Baltimore, the York Rite, and a dual member of the Scottish Rite Valleys of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. You can reach Bro. Ihle toll free at 1–800–486–3331, ext. 143.