In Sunday’s (4/22) Chicago Tribune, Graydon Megan writes, “John Geoffrey Fushi had a passion for violins, especially the oldest, rarest and most expensive, and spent his career selling fine instruments and making them available to promising young musicians. Mr. Fushi, who went by Geoff or Geoffrey, was one of the founders of Bein & Fushi Inc., the Chicago dealer in rare and modern violins and other stringed instruments. The firm sold violins by renowned makers including Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu all over the world. … He was also chairman of the Stradivari Society, which connects owners willing to lend their multimillion-dollar instruments to promising young musicians. … Mr. Fushi, 68, died of a heart attack Friday, April 13, in his Chicago home, according to his daughter. He had lived in Chicago for more than 25 years.” After working at the now-closed Chicago violin shop William Lewis & Son and opening a small gallery in Chicago Heights, Fushi co-founded Bein & Fushi in 1976 with partner Robert Bein. ‘I think Geoff went to three different countries to show Yo-Yo Ma the cello he eventually bought,’ Bein said. ‘When Geoff really believed in a special instrument for a great artist, he was almost always right.’ ”
Posted April 24, 2012
