About Eliazer Izaäk Horneman

Eliazer Isaäc Horneman (also called Leo) was a son of Abraham Horneman and Saartje Kaufman. Leo Horneman was a musician, although he was registered in 1941 as a store clerk. From 1930 he played as a pianist in larger and smaller bands throughout the country. He also arranged music and gave piano lessons at his home in Bilderdijkstraat 2 in Utrecht, where he lived with his parents. In 1934 Leo founded his own band, called "Bob Bee and his Boys". Commercial success did not occur, despite the good reviews in the specialist journals. The band did exist one year. After "Bob Bee" he had jobs as a pianist and accordionist in many groups and orchestras. For these orchestras he wrote a total of 400 orchestrations. He also has made approximately 150 teaching and solo arrangements for piano and accordion.

Leo was bold, 'Yiddish' and he had flair. He was a perfectionist, was very industrious and had an indestructible temper - unless something really went wrong. Leo had a different kind of humour. When asked "Bad weather today huh?" he gave as an answer "Well I don’t think it is beautiful." Or the question: "Does it taste?" the anwer was: "Yes, can you hear it?"

On 22 April 1943 Leo was transported to Vught concentration camp. As a musician he has been part of the camp orchestra. He also has worked as a nurse in the camp hospital. Six months after his arrival in Vught, he was deported to Westerbork. A day later he was deported to Auschwitz. The exact place of death of Leo is not known. He died in 1944 somewhere in Central Europe.

More information about the life of Leo Horneman can be found in the book written by Joop Cornelissen Leo Horneman 1911-1944 (w.p. 2005). This book is published privately. A copy can be seen in the library of the Jewish Historical Museum.
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