Carl Hornberger

Jay Carl Hornberger
January 21, 1923 - October 9, 2014
Carl Hornberger, a physician, musician, and church elder died on Thursday, October 9, 2014. The son of Laura Belle Hornberger and Jay Wilbur Hornberger was born in Youngstown, Ohio and attended college at Harvard University. He graduated with a degree in Medicine from the University of Rochester, New York and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. He served as a USAF Captain stationed in Florida before moving to Modesto in 1955 and joined Gould Medical Group. He saw patients for 58 years until retiring in December 2013. Dr Hornberger thoroughly enjoyed caring for his patients and, as they matured, cared for second and third generations of families. He was the Medical Director of Evergreen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; had leadership positions in the Stanislaus Medical Society, California Medical Association, and the American Medical Association, and volunteered as a physician in a rural Honduran village.
When not caring for patients, he was an ardent musician. His mother, a professional organist, instilled in him and his sister, Helen Louise Hodgman, a love of music. Although medicine became his true "calling," he retained his early passion for music and continued a tradition of playing with the Harvard Marching Band. He played trumpet for the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, Modesto Band of Stanislaus County (Mo-Band), Hallelujah Brass and other ensembles, and the Modesto Community College Orchestra. He supported the arts locally and served as President of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra for six years, helping it transition from an exclusively amateur organization to the professional organization it is today. He was a member of Trinity United Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder.
Carl is survived by his wife Polly, his sister Helen Louise, and a large extended and loving family. His children include: Richard Hornberger (Cheryl), Laura Hornberger, John Hornberger (Mary Anne), Paul Hornberger (Beverly), his grandchildren: Brandon Hornberger (Jessica), Lindsey McCord (Sean), Peter Hornberger (Kendra), Bryan Hornberger, Matthew Hornberger, Emily Hornberger, and stepchildren include: Art Gardner (Jane), Jody Wright, Laura Harrington (Dana), his step grandchildren: Ruth Soderlund (Josh), Chad Harrington, Kelly Ehrich (Ben), Bryan Gardner, Brooke Gardner, Chris Harrington, and seven great grandchildren.
Franklin & Downs is honored to be serving the Hornberger family. A visitation will be at Franklin & Downs Funeral Home located at 1050 McHenry Avenue, Modesto on Thursday October 16, 2014 from 3 pm to 6 pm. The memorial service will be at the Trinity United Presbyterian Church located at 1600 Carver Road, Modesto, on Friday October 17, 2014 at 2 pm.
Donations can be made to Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Modesto Symphony Orchestra, or the Gallo Center for the Arts.
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