Philanthropist and humanitarian Virginia Toulmin was a longtime friend of the Artist Series of Sarasota. She served on its Board of Trustees and as chair of its Scholarship Program.
Until her passing in June 2010 she continued her involvement with the Artist Series as a founding member of its Emeritus Council and Honorary Chair of the Artist Series Scholarship Program.
In addition to her service and commitment to the Artist Series, Mrs. Toulmin was active in and provided financial support to many other non-profit organizations not only in Sarasota but in other parts of the United States, and in other countries of the world.
Locally, Virginia Toulmin was the president of the Board of Trustees of the Sarasota Orchestra, concluding her term in April 2010. She had also been active with the United Way, Asolo Theater, Sarasota Opera, and was inducted into the Community Archives Hall of Fame in 2006.
Nationally, Virginia Toulmin served on the Board of Georgetown University for 12 years, and internationally she served on the Board of the Fund for the Children of the Americas which raises money for children in Thailand.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri she attended schools there and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in nursing which she practiced for three years before giving in to her longing for travel and spirit for adventure. While working as a stewardess on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the 1950s Virginia met and married Harry A. Toulmin, a prominent patent attorney. The couple moved to Dayton, Ohio where Harry joined his father’s already established law firm. Harry’s father was solely responsible for obtaining the patent for the Wright Brothers’ airplane and subsequently successfully defended that patent against at least thirty different lawsuits.
After the passing of her husband in 1965, Virginia came into her own and proved her independence and business savvy as President of Central Pharmaceutical Company in Indiana, transforming it from a moderately small business into an efficiently operated and successful mid-sized pharmaceutical firm which she later sold to German buyers.
Free of the obligations of running a business Virginia Toulmin became a full time resident of Sarasota where she was a tireless supporter of a myriad of charitable causes.
Her leadership gifts along with those of others first established the Artist Series of Sarasota Scholarship Fund in 2002, and her ongoing gifts have helped to transform the Program into an annual statewide competition that assists career-potential young musicians in their education and in launching their careers in music.
The Artist Series of Sarasota, along with her family, friends and the many organizations she helped to support will miss this truly remarkable human being. A number of gifts in her memory have been received by the Artist Series since her passing and they will be added to the Virginia Toulmin Scholarship Award Fund in support of career-potential young musicians.
It is with joyful remembrance that we dedicate our 2010-2011 Fifteenth Anniversary season to our friend, ally, and supporter, Virginia Bernthal Toulmin.
