Doreen R. Hornburg

Doreen R. Hornburg (80) of 1501 Stardust Lane, Olean and 361 Country Meadows Blvd, Plant City FL, passed away Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 in the Lifepath Hospice Hospital in Temple Terrace, FL. Her health rapidly deteriorated starting in late December, and her final days were spent in peace with her loving and devoted husband of almost 60 years, Arthur Earnest Hornburg, supported by her family and many close friends. She passed on in peace and dignity, anchored in her abiding faith, deep-rooted spirituality, and love of family. She resided in Olean, New York, spending her winters in Plant City, Florida. Doreen was born in Olean on May 25, 1929, and was the daughter of Marion Montie Davis and Walter Clair Davis, both deceased. Growing up in an extended family and surrounded by many friends, her life was filled with love, music, and laughter. Early on, Doreen exhibited the talent, caring, and intellect that characterized her life's creative endeavors in music, poetry, and painting. Beginning classical piano lessons at age eight, she diligently developed her musical talent, winning first place on WHDL's Joseph M. Segall Talent Show at age 11. During her high school years, Doreen accompanied Olean High School's Choir, Glee Club, String Quartet, and Dance Band, as well as many vocal and instrumental soloists. In her senior year, she presented her own piano concert in the Community Room of the Exchange National Bank. Doreen received the Elmira College Key Award, given to high school juniors for demonstrated scholarship and outstanding school and community leadership. Upon graduating third in the Olean High School Class of 1947, she studied piano and cello at Fredonia State Teachers College (now SUNY Fredonia), where she presented an on-stage solo piano recital and accompanied various soloists and the choir. Returning home to Olean, Doreen taught piano for two years. Her performance on a WHDL radio show led to the Castle Restaurant hiring Doreen as a dinner pianist. On June 10, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart Arthur Hornburg at the First Methodist Church in Olean. Doreen returned to Ohio's Hiram College with Arthur for his senior year, where the couple served as house parents for 90 freshman boys. She continued her studies with Hiram's Music Department. While at Hiram, she played duo piano with her teacher for the school choir's presentation of Handel's Messiah, as well as presenting her second solo concert piano program in Hiram's Hayden Auditorium. Doreen followed her husband to Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York where, on July 7, 1952, she gave birth to her first son, David Arthur Hornburg. Three years later, Arthur graduated from Cornell, and the family returned to Olean, where Arthur commenced a long and highly regarded legal career, starting his practice with the Olean firm Hornburg, Andrews & Diggs. On August 3, 1957, Doreen gave birth to her second son, Steven Paul Hornburg. Doreen devoted the next two decades to raising her family and supporting her husband's career. Reflecting her deeply held faith, Doreen regularly attended the First Methodist Church, destroyed by fire in 1966, and subsequently renamed Christ United Methodist Church. She was active in the church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent, chairing the Worship and Music Committees, leading youth groups with Arthur, publicizing and competing in the Religious Arts Festival, and singing and playing piano at numerous services and special events. Active in the community, she served as an officer with the Jayncees. As the children grew older, Doreen's creative talent led her in new directions. She studied writing with Tom Krampf at the Olean Public Library, leading to an extended portfolio of poetry. Over time, Doreen's poetry was published in the Olean Times Herald's monthly supplement "Seniority", the Hornell Area Arts Council's annual calendar, and a book of poetry. Doreen often would be found gardening, another creative outlet where she crafted beautiful spaces alive with the brilliant splashes of sun and color she loved. At age 40, Doreen started her second career as an artist, initially studying oil painting with Marion Coughlin, a local artist and seminal leader in the current Olean art community. She also studied oils and pastels with Clara Nelson, a retired Alfred University professor of 40 years. She also studied with Robert Blair, a leading New York State watercolor painter and the Woodwind Artists Guild, as well as at St. Bonaventure University and Jamestown Community College. Over her career, Doreen was actively involved in the Olean area artist community. Her work has been showcased in local and regional venues in the Olean area ("Art in the Park" and "Art Slam" at the Pfeiffer Nature Center), Hornell, Ellicottville, and Wellsville, as well as displayed in area institutions such as the YMCA, St. Bonaventure, and the Olean Public Library. She also actively participated in the Cattaraugus County Arts Council (CCAC) and the Olean Art Association. In Plant City, Florida, her winter residence for the past decade, she was active in the East Hillsborough Art Guild, and her paintings were displayed in Plant City (Walden Lake Country Club) and Lakeland (Florida Southern University). After concentrating on still lifes and landscapes depicting the western New York she loved, Doreen spent five summers in the mid-1980s in Rockport, Massachusetts learning watercolors and oils with nationally known teachers and painting the town's wild Atlantic shores and rocky seascapes. There, she studied under the renowned artist Charles Movalli, embracing his principles of simplification and expression in her paintings. Her final body of work concentrated on central Florida's natural beauty and waterfowl that she so loved. As her talent evolved, Doreen became interested in showing and selling her often prize-winning works. She believed in the power of art as an antidote to what she felt to be an increasingly violent world. Doreen tried to keep her prices low, and often gave away many of her paintings to share the beauty she consistently found in her world. Her work continues to touch many people. Doreen is survived by her husband of almost 60 years, Arthur Earnest Hornburg of Olean, her two sons, David Arthur (Sharyn Garey) Hornburg of Olean and Steven Paul Hornburg of Arlington, Virginia, and her granddaughter Jillian Rose Hornburg of Arlington. She is also survived by sisters, Marion Elinor (Davis) Swartz of Tampa, Florida and Carolyn June (Davis) Patterson of Federal Way, Washington, her brother- and sister-in-law James Paul Hornburg and Lonave Annette (Mannion) Hornburg of Olean, a niece (Heather Shipherd of Tampa, Florida), and four nephews (James Anderson of Tallahassee, Mark Anderson of Tampa, Florida, Gene Patterson of Pullman, Washington, and Davis Patterson of Seattle, Washington). Friends and family may call from 2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm on Monday, March 15 at the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, 646 East State Street, Olean, New York. All are invited to attend a memorial service and luncheon on Tuesday, March 16, at 11am at Christ United Methodist Church, 633 Linwood Avenue, Olean, New York. The Rev. William A. Allen and the Rev. Kirsten A. R. Allen, Co-Pastors of Christ United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Mount View Cemetery in Olean, New York. The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation for the incredible outflow of love, caring, and support from all who knew Doreen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be sent to Christ United Methodist Church, 633 Linwood Avenue, Olean New York or the Olean General Hospital Foundation, 515 Main Street, Olean, NY 14760. Online condolences may be made by clicking on the above button.