More than 45 years ago, my parents established a philanthropic fund at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland to support causes and organizations related to Judaism, Israel, and Cleveland.  After their passing, I became responsible for recommending grants from the fund they created.

Upon reflection, I felt it only fitting to recommend using a substantial portion of their fund to create a new Federation endowment fund in their memory that focused more closely on the performing arts and, in particular, their passion for music.

My father was a boy when he began taking violin lessons at the Cleveland Music School Settlement. When my parents married, my mother learned to share my father’s love of classical music, and their season tickets to the Cleveland Orchestra were a staple of their social life. Dad played violin with the Suburban Symphony Orchestra and continued taking violin lessons into his 80s.

The last concert my father was able to attend featured violinist Gil Shaham at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 2014, sponsored by the Cleveland Israel Arts Connection. He was thrilled, and I am sure that my parents would be delighted to know that this endowment fund bearing their names will continue to provide support for performances of this kind.

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Jane Busch
in memory of her parents, Honnie and Stanley Busch

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