Frederick Hunking Horne Jr., 59, Loved Long Island Sound

Information courtesy of Magner Funeral Home
Frederick Hunking Horne Jr., known as Fred, or Ted or Ted/Fred to his family and friends, died on January 2, 2014 at Norwalk Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was 59 years old. 

Fred was bigger than life, always ready with a smile, a helping hand, and, of course, a story.  He thrived on interacting with people. His contact list was extensive and bigger than most, yet he regularly kept in touch with his vast network of friends, family and business colleagues. He was the consummate salesman, spending most of his career in lighting for TV and motion pictures.  

Fred was that rare kind of salesman, who actually listened to and respected his clients, got them what they wanted and fought for what they didn’t get.  His actions were similar with family and friends – always there to listen, to offer advice or share a contact that might be able to help if he could not.  His big smile, famous wink and gregarious laugh will be remembered by all he touched and helped through the years. 

Fred was born to Frederick Hunking Horne Sr. and Janice Byam Horne in Lake Forest, Illinois on June 17, 1954 and grew up in Lake Bluff, IL. The family spent summers in the Rye Beach, NH area, eventually moving east permanently to a house right on the ocean at Wallis Sands in Rye Beach in the late 1960s.  

Fred loved the water, learning to sail on Lake Michigan as child and enjoying the ocean life in New Hampshire as a teen and young adult. He graduated from Appleton Academy in NH in 1970 and held many jobs following his formal education.  

He started bartending in the early 70s, a natural fit for him, always offering a sympathetic ear yet telling his stories and offering advice to all who sat at his bar.  Through a catering job, he connected with Giraldi Productions, which got him his first production job in NYC.  He never looked back.  After Giraldi, he worked in a series of capacities at Sandbank Productions and Radical Media, eventually embracing his salesman calling, holding positions at Barbizon, PRG and then ARRI, becoming one of the most respected lighting sales executives in the industry.  

He moved to Litepanels three years ago, promoting LED lighting at a time when the technology was just taking off.  He was also co-owner of World View Cameras. 

Fred met Tina, his wife of over 32 years, in Portsmouth, NH where she was finishing grad school and he was bartending.  Fred proposed to Tina at the Dolphin Striker in Portsmouth after knowing each other just three months and they were wed a year later. 

Following a three year commuter marriage, they moved to Norwalk in 1987. Melissa, their eldest daughter was born in 1989 and Megan followed in 1993.  

Fred and his family loved Long Island Sound, first joining the Ascension Club in East Norwalk and then The Shore and Country Club, which became Fred’s second home. Fred loved exploring the sound on his 22-foot Catalina or cruising on one of his many friends’ boats.  They hosted countless barbeques at Twin Peaks with friends and family.  

This past November, Fred was named to the S&CC Bridge as Rear Commodore.   

He is survived by his wife Tina Lindegren Horne, daughters Melissa Lindsey Horne and Megan Kelly Horne, and sister Lucia Stumreiter.  His mother Janice Byam Horne Nold, his father Frederick Hunking Horne, and his sister Rayanne Horne predecease him.  

He is also survived by sisters-in-law Terry Wettergreen and Mary Lou Lindegren Perkins, brother-in-law Bradley Perkins, nieces Sonja Wettergreen, Emily and Abby Perkins and Robin Stumreiter, nephew Matthew Stumreiter and mother-in-law Ruth Lindegren. 

There will be a celebration of Fred’s life at the United Church of Rowayton (210 Rowayton Ave, Rowayton, CT 06853) on Saturday, January 11 at 12:00 pm.  

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Fred’s name to the Whittingham Cancer Center, which meant so much to Fred and his family: Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital, 34 Maple Street, Norwalk, CT 06854 (203) 852-2216, Online Donations: bit.ly/1iAcOrC.

For information or to leave online condolence, please go to: Magnerfuneralhome.com