Obituary

Med A. Hornecker, 39, assistant director of DAA

Med Allen Hornecker, 39, died at home on Oct. 22 after a long battle with brain cancer. Mr. Hornecker was born on May 19, 1968 in Kansas City, Missouri. He spent his childhood exploring the fields and fishing holes of Storm Lake, Iowa. From an early age he loved working with his hands - a passion that lead him to learn carpentry, wood turning and sculpture under the guidance of his father, Mac Hornecker, a nationally acclaimed sculptor. In 1986, he graduated from Storm Lake High School poised to study aeronautical engineering at Iowa State University. However, his love for the stagecraft won out and he went behind-the-scenes to earn a BA in technical theatre design.

Over the next few years, he worked as the technical director for the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City before becoming the technical director of the Des Moines Metro Opera in 1991. There, he fell in love with aspiring opera singer, Beth MacLeod. Together they moved to New Hampshire, where he became the technical director for the acclaimed Peterborough Players. Married on Sept. 26, 1993, the couple moved to Pittsburgh where he served as the technical director for Point Park College and their complex of four theaters. During this time he also had the opportunity to work with Pink Floyd during their celebrated U.S. Tour.

In 1996 they moved to Hamburg, Germany where Ms. MacLeod became a cast member for the German production of Andrew Lloyd Weber's Phantom of the Opera. Mr. Hornecker taught English to German executives and worked back stage for the show. After three years living in Germany and traveling throughout Europe and Greece, the couple returned to her hometown of Duxbury. Mr. Hornecker became the assistant director of the Duxbury Art Association until his diagnosis in 2000. On Oct. 12, 2003, their son Noah was born. Mr. Hornecker spent the next few years working as a carpenter, undergoing chemotherapy treatments and being a stay-at-home dad. He lived long enough to help Noah celebrate his fourth birthday surrounded by family and friends.

Mr. Hornecker leaves his son Noah Grey and wife, Beth MacLeod of Duxbury. He also leaves his parents, Marie and Mac Hornecker of Arkadelphia, Arkansas and two sisters, Melissa Baldwin of West Lafayette, Indiana and Marcy Hornecker of Cincinnati, Ohio. He also leaves his mother-in-law, Mary Ann MacLeod of Plymouth; father-in-law, Paul MacLeod of Bridgewater and brothers-in-law Paul MacLeod of Maui, Hawaii; Sean MacLeod of Duxbury and niece, Kayla MacLeod.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., on Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Ellison Center for the Arts in Duxbury. A memorial fund has been established at Rockland Trust to benefit the educational enrichment of Noah Hornecker. Donations may be made by sending checks made out to the Med Hornecker Fund c/o Attorney Aylene Calnan, P.O. Box 158, Accord, MA 02018.