SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music Officially Dedicates Rehearsal Room in Honor of Francis C. & Marilyn A. Horner, Following Major Gift to Support Students
SUNY Potsdam representatives recently met with Marilyn Horner and some of her family members during a visit to her residence in Bonney Lake, Wash. Marilyn Horner (second from left) posed for a photo during the visit, flanked by SUNY Potsdam President Suzanne Smith (center) and her husband, Brett Lloyd (far left), along with Horner’s daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Stan Hernacki (right).
A generous donor has made a historic gift to support scholarships and programs at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. Marilyn A. Horner recently made a gift of $2 million to the Potsdam College Foundation, demonstrating her deep commitment to supporting Crane students and music education.
In honor of the gift, the College recently dedicated a rehearsal room at The Crane School of Music in honor of Mrs. Horner and her late husband, Francis C. Horner. Located in the recently renovated Crane Complex, the Francis C. and Marilyn A. Horner Rehearsal Room serves as a vital creative space for large ensembles and performers. The dedication celebrates not only the Horners’ philanthropy, but also their lasting impact on current and future Crane students.
“We are profoundly grateful to Marilyn Horner for her extraordinary generosity and her unwavering belief in the transformative power of music education,” said SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Suzanne R. Smith. “As we honor her and her husband Francis through this rehearsal space, we are grateful for their investment in the creativity, preparation and success of Crane students for years to come.”
SUNY Potsdam recently dedicated the Francis C. and Marilyn A. Horner Rehearsal Room at The Crane School of Music. Francis (left) and Marilyn Horner (right) can be seen in this submitted family photo.
The space dedicated in the Horners’ honor is a large ensemble rehearsal room, Crane Room C107, which was constructed during major renovations to the Crane Complex in 2022 —creating a safer, more modernized environment equipped with advanced technology to better prepare students for careers in music performance and education.
Marilyn A. Horner’s lifelong love of music has been matched by an equally strong commitment to service. As a young woman, she played the trombone before pursuing a career in nursing, dedicating her life to caring for others. Her passion for music and education continues through her family—her daughter became an accomplished oboist and English horn player, and her grandson, Dr. Christopher Hernacki, now serves as an assistant professor of trombone at The Crane School of Music.
Horner’s daughter, Lisa Hernacki, visited the SUNY Potsdam campus to take part in Reunion 2026 and learned firsthand about the impact her mother’s gift would have.
Horner shared that she wishes she could have made the trip herself, but was glad that her daughter could visit Crane and represent her at the Reunion donor reception, humbly adding: “Blessings to you all, and I hope you are making some students happy with my contribution.”
Through her generous gift, Horner has created a lasting legacy for herself and her late husband, Francis, ensuring that future generations of Crane musicians and educators have the resources and creative spaces needed to pursue their passions.
To learn more about giving opportunities at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/giving.
About The Crane School of Music:
Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York’s only All-Steinway institution and was one of the first Yamaha Institutions of Excellence. For more information, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.