Mark Addison Cleghorn

Surrounded by loving family, Mark Addison Cleghorn, age 85, died peacefully at Eagle Crest South in La Crosse, Wisconsin on January 18, 2023. Predeceased by his beloved wife, Susanne Pedretti, who died on February 21, 2022, his brother, Richard Cleghorn, and his sister-in-law, Patt Hansen, Mark is survived by his devoted daughters -- Cassandra Cleghorn (Jeffrey Levine), of Pownal, Vermont, Angela Bolan (Michael Bolan) and Alicia Henson (Todd Henson), both of Cincinnati, Ohio -- and his grandchildren, Oliver, Ripley, Eve, Jasper, and Merrill, as well as by the Pedretti siblings David (Brenda), Mary Lou Lee, Fred (Linda), Tim (Jessie), Roy (Rayanne), Char (Paul), Nick (Ann) and their families, who enfolded Mark and Susanne in love and support. Mark's sister, Marcia Kretis, lives in Florida. The staff of Eagle Crest South High Acuity and Memory Care units, and the Hospice of Mayo Clinic, cared for Mark with extraordinary kindness and generosity, for which Mark's family is endlessly thankful. The quality of this care eased Mark's passing.

Mark was born in Glens Falls, NY on March 14, 1937, the second child of Marquis Richard and Ruth Phelps Cleghorn. From an early age, Mark displayed musical gifts. As a teenager, he was an accomplished violinist, serving as concertmaster of the Glens Falls High School Orchestra. He went on to major in violin at Ithaca College and earned his master’s degree at University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana and the Juilliard School. In 1963, he joined the Cincinnati Symphony, first, briefly, as violinist, then as violist -- "the best job in the world." For the next fifty years, he made his life with the Symphony, touring Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the U.S. Mark delighted in teaching young musicians, as well as conducting members of the symphony at local public schools. He played an important role as negotiator for the musicians' union, and wowed fans and teammates at summer softball games of the Cincinnati Symphony Fantastiques. A lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan -- and, later in life, a Packers fan -- Mark also founded and conducted "Wolfgang! Cincinnati's Fantasy Chamber Orchestra," and organized the Taft Museum Chamber Music Series. Although he was devoted to classical music -- especially to Mozart and opera -- Mark loved music of all kinds. His favorite composers included Schubert, Puccini, Takemitsu, the Platters, and John Denver. One of his favorite songs was Jim Croce's "I've Got a Name." He believed, with Duke Ellington, "If it sounds good, then it's good music."

A dreamer of dreams (as he loved to say), Mark gave of himself with boundless generosity. He was a highly-valued volunteer for many years at Prospect House in Cincinnati, exploring the role of music as a therapeutic tool for men recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Leading the Christmas carols at countless annual holiday parties, he and a friend formed the "Mark Cleghorn Big Band" -- just the two of them.

After retiring from the Symphony, Mark moved with Susanne to La Crosse, Wisconsin in 2013. Mark soon became known around town as "The Music Man," riding public busses to his next gig at a local hospital or nursing home. He played fiddle in an Irish band, and was a founding member of the Coulee Region Giving Hearts Choir, which joins those who are experiencing memory loss with their caregivers and volunteers to foster joy, well-being, purpose and community understanding through song.

Mark's passion for music, his boundless sense of humor, his compassion for strangers as well as friends, his love of family, nature, photography and travel, brought joy to all who were blessed by his company. In the last few days of his life, he shared this piece of wisdom: "It's the best world, isn't it? The best world in the whole world!"

A service of celebration of his life will be held in the spring.  Interment will be at St. Charles cemetery in Genoa, WI.