Andrew M. Corbett

On November 21, 2025, Andrew (Andy) Maclaren Corbett left this world to go to another gig. He was born on November 20, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois to Charles Root Corbett and Catherine Mary deBois Maclaren Corbett.

At an early age, Andy loved trains, particularly British trains, and music. As he grew up, he played penny whistles, recorder, harmonica and primarily the horn. Hearing the horn solo in Tchaikowsky's 5th Symphony inspired Andy to play the horn. In HS, he was in the marching band.

He was accepted to Ithaca College School of Music but was urged to select a more practical major. He graduated from Penn State with a degree in English and earned a Master's in Counseling Degree from the University of Delaware.

He proudly did a two year alternative service as a physical therapy aide during the Vietnam War at All Saints Hospital in PA. He worked as a security guard and later became an investigator (no, he didn't carry a gun) for the University of Delaware. He went back to school and became a licensed addiction and mental health counselor. For 30+ years he was dedicated to helping people and established his own private practice in Newark, DE.

After moving to Newark, DE, Andy met and married the love of his life Rosalie (Cataldi) and they had a 51 year enduring relationship. He was an awesome dad to Andrea. He doted on her and together they shared a love for reading (particularly The Hobbit), chocolate, Harry Potter, puzzles, photography, Action movies, murder mysteries, and especially a love for Scotland.

Andy, an intellectual, searched for answers and read books by Robert Graves The White Goddess, Sartre, Joseph Campbell, and many other books to gain more knowledge. He served as a junior warden at a local Episcopal Church.

When he retired, Andy took a variety of classes at Osher Lifelong Learning at the University of Delaware (OLLI). He went to coffee school in Portland, Oregon to become a barista and he co-owned a coffee shop in HDG, MD with family friend Jana.

After a 30-year hiatus from playing his French Horn, Andy took lessons from a UD music major and several teachers at the Music School of Delaware. He honed his musical skills and became a dedicated horn player in the First State Symphonic Band (FSSB), Wilmington Community Orchestra, the Q5 Group, Brandywine Pops Orchestra, and OLLI's Orchestra, Concert band, and Brass Quintet. He and his friend Jeanne formed the 'Second Wind' horn duo and they played at various venues. He even had a few paying gigs and had the honor of playing with the Philadelphia Orchestra at a "Play in" event held at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.

Andy also played alto recorder with OLLI's Recorder Ensemble. He took private lessons with a conductor at the Music School of Delaware and conductor classes at OLLI. He was elated and honored when he was asked to conduct a few pieces of music at OLLI's Orchestra and the Recorder Ensemble. He coined the phrases "from the top" and "one measure for nothing." Andy finally got to live out his life dream of becoming a conductor.

He was a photographer and had a darkroom in his basement. On his last three trips to Scotland, he took private photography lessons with the landscape photographer Tomasz Szatewicz and together they hiked around the highlands taking pictures of Scotland on mostly windy and rainy days.

Throughout his life, he made many trips to Scotland where he felt his soul was at home. He would let you know that he may have been born in America, but his heart was always in Scotland, particularly in Elie and Earlsferry. He happily wore his Maclaren tartan shirts, hats, socks and he even had tartan car seat covers. He always ordered annual Scotland calendars and was delighted when he could purchase haggis, black pudding, caramel wafers and baps online.

He enjoyed every opportunity to wear his Maclaren kilt and he was honored to be a presenter at the Robbie Burns night at Stoney's Pub in Wilmington, DE. Of course, when he conducted a Scottish song, he had to wear his kilt.

He enjoyed endless cups of coffee and chocolate. Who could forget Andy's quirky sense of humor and his moo jokes which he alone found amoozing.

Andy is at peace now with his brother John, his parents, and his college buddies Ben and Dale.

Here to remember Andy's generous and loving spirit and who will make sure that he is not forgotten are his wife Rosalie, daughter Andrea (Danny), brother Charles/Chaz (Alice), nephew Chip (Anna), nieces Alison and Aurora, great niece Elena, his cousins, extended family members, his lifelong friends and his music buddies.

A Celebration of Andy's life will be held on Saturday, January 17 from 2:00 - 5:00PM at Arsht Hall, 2700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware 19806.

In lieu of flowers, Andy wanted donations to go to:

(In the check's memo section, please make sure to put "In memory of Andrew Corbett"

First State Symphonic Band ATTN: Curt Fisher, 384 Misty Vale Drive, Middletown, DE 19709

Osher Lifelong Learning at the University of Delaware (OLLI) Music Program, 2700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19806

Ministry of Caring, Inc.,115 East 14th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801