March 25, 1949 – July 16, 2022
Loving husband, father, grandfather, and Band Director, Peter G. Horton, passed away on July 16.
A lifelong resident of Greenwich, Peter is survived by his loving wife, Donna (Curcio) Horton, of 50 years; children, Judy (Horton) Weaver (Brian) of Trumbull, CT, and Gary Horton (Carolyn) of Franklin, MA. He forever loved his five grandchildren, Peter and Lianna Weaver of Trumbull; Madison, Sophia, and Chloe Horton of Franklin. He was predeceased by his parents, Lillian (Kron) Horton and Elwyn “Pete” Horton of Greenwich.
A graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Greenwich, Peter played varsity baseball, receiving the MVP award in 1967. After graduating from the University of Dayton, Peter went on to receive his master’s degree in music education at the University of Bridgeport. His love of music took him to teaching in NY, NJ and CT for a span of 50 years. He taught in Yonkers, Harrison, Port Chester, and Rye, NY. He also taught at Morris Knolls High School in Denville, NJ, where he led the marching band to the Eastern Marching Band Association Championship in 1983. Afterwards, Peter went on to become the Director of the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band, where he taught for 32 years. While at Trumbull High School, the marching band participated in two Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades, several Citrus Bowl Parades, performances in Walt Disney World, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, two Presidential Inaugural Parades for George W. Bush and Barack Obama representing the State of CT, and won the US Bands National Championship in 2016. The band also traveled to Canada, the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, the Fiesta Bowl in AZ, and WGI Winter Guard and Percussion Competitions in Dayton, OH. The band also participated in numerous local town parades, including the Stamford Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 2019, Peter was inducted into the Musical Arts Conference Hall of Fame.
Outside of school, Peter was a baseball coach for the Bambino League for the Town of Greenwich and also served as Playground Director and Kamp Kairphree Co-Director for the Town of Greenwich Recreation Department for many years. He enjoyed playing in the town softball league, as well as golf and fishing. Peter was also a member and Exalted Ruler of the Mamaroneck Elks Lodge #1457 of Mamaroneck, NY. In his younger years, he participated in the Stateliners Jr. Drum and Bugle Corps and the American Legion Drum Corps of Greenwich. He also served as the brass instructor for the Westchester Brassmen Drum and Bugle Corps of Harrison, NY. Peter was also the Choir Director of Sacred Heart Church in Byram, CT and the Glee Club at St. Mary’s High School.
He loved watching his grandchildren play baseball, soccer, softball, basketball, and marching band, often coaching from the sidelines and cheering from the stands.
After retirement, Peter enjoyed weekends out with his wife and friends, having dinner and listening to live music. The band room at Trumbull High School will be named in his honor and dedicated at a future date. His mantras of “Pride-Attitude-Concentration” and “From the Heart!” will always be remembered by the thousands of students he taught throughout the years. He will remain a legend at Trumbull High School.
A celebration of Peter’s life was held in the Trumbull High School Auditorium on Sunday, November 13.
A music scholarship has been established in Peter’s name. Donations to the scholarship fund can be made payable to Trumbull Public Schools, check memo: Peter Horton Scholarship, and mailed to Trumbull Public Schools, Attn: Alicia DiLorenzo, 6254 Main St., Trumbull, CT 06611. Peter is missed by many and loved by all.
