Eugene Maurice "Gene" Kornblum

Kornblum, Eugene "Gene" Maurice

was born July 21,1935 and passed away in St. Louis on September 17, 2024.

He was the adored father of Nancy (Michael Schreiner) Kornblum and Edward "Ted" Kornblum, beloved grandfather of Sophia and Andrew Schreiner and dear brother of Carole (the late Robert) Simon and uncle to Michael, David and Jon Simon. During his retirement, he became a close friend of Anne Hetlage.

The son of Bernard and Myrtle Kornblum, he was born and raised in St. Louis and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. After returning to St. Louis, he enlisted in the Missouri Air National Guard and was called to active duty in France in 1961 during the Berlin crisis. Over the next 50 years, he built St. Louis Music Inc., the family business founded in 1922, into one of the premiere companies in the musical instrument industry. The company grew from 40 to over 350 employees working in both St. Louis, MO and Yellville, AR. St. Louis Music designed, manufactured and distributed such popular brands as Crate and Ampeg amplifiers, Alvarez guitars and Knilling string instruments. He served as a board member of National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and was president of the Guitar and Accessory Marketing Association (GAMA).

Upon his retirement in 2005, he served on various boards of trustees including the St. Louis Symphony, Opera Theater of St. Louis, the St. Louis Art Museum, and the Foundation for Barnes Jewish Hospital. Gene was also active at Washington University, auditing classes every semester and heading up a fund-raising initiative for the School of Law that honored his friend, Professor David Becker. In 2013 the School of Law awarded him the Dean's Medal.

Services: A memorial service will be held at Temple Emanuel, 12166 Conway Rd., St. Louis, MO 63141, on September 22 at 12:30 PM. The family requests contributions be made to Siteman Cancer Center, MSC 1082-414-2555, 7425 Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105. Please indicate the gift is to the Siteman Annual Fund in memory of Gene Kornblum by writing a memo on your check. You can also give online at siteman.wustl.edu/tribute.