Peter Horn Memorial

Peter Horn, master luthier, nature lover, and member of the Skyline Music family for 30 years, passed away after a brief battle with cancer in the early hours of August 14, 2020.  He will be missed and remembered fondly by hundreds of customers who entrusted their precious instruments to his craftsmanship over his almost 70 year career as a violin repairman. He will be equally celebrated for his geniality and compassion and his many stories of the Alps, his training in Mittenwald, Germany and early years as a violinmaker here in America.
     In addition to working at his shop in downtown Cleveland and later at his home in Brecksville, Peter was at the bench at Skyline Music every other Saturday morning since the start of the 1990s. 
     I sat across the bench from Peter all of that time, and as I've told everyone, I never talked to Pete without learning something. Maybe it was a story about being bombed out in Munich during WWII and taking refuge in the Alps with his mother; maybe it was about violin repair, or the history of the Roth company where he worked for many years. Maybe it was just about life. But there was always something to learn. 
     Through those visits, I came to know Peter Horn as a man of humility, generosity, and love for the world and the people in it. Whether he was talking about his family, his craft, or his beloved Alps, his devotion was always front and center.
     He will be missed at Skyline Music and by all his customers in the community, of course. But we have started this GoFundMe for the benefit of his children, who are tasked with taking care of the medical and funeral expenses and any other remaining debt Peter might have had. While Peter had instruments and other assets of his business that can eventually be liquidated, it is our hope that support from our community can afford Peter's family the time to do so without having to sell far below market to get funds quickly.
     All proceeds will go to Peter's family to assist with taking care of any obligations, with any excess available to support the needs of his household moving forward.
     A memorial event is being planned by the family members. We will have information at the store when the time comes, and cards or other remembrances for Peter's family can be dropped off at the store and will be forwarded to the family.
     Peter's children truly appreciate your support, and as they plan his memorial, please feel free to pass along in some fashion any memories of your time with Peter.