Very Sad News from the NJ HiRailers

Marty was a great guy. I am so happy to have had the chance to get to know him. My condolences to Ruth, Mat and Randy....and also, to the NJHirailers who were very much his adopted family. RIP Marty.

Marty's troubles and trials are over.  Family, extended family, and friends should take solace in that.  Although I never met the man I know as a principal of NJHR he must have been a great guy, and I'm sorry for your loss.

Pete

I have just visited the Forum this morning and saw Ben's post.

Words cannot express the sorrow felt upon hearing this news. Marty was a very nice person and will be missed very much. 

Our deepest sympathy to the Horning Family in this sad time.

Marty will be in our prayers. 

Walter and Susie Matuch

I just read about Marty's passing. Pancreatic cancer is a a terrible scourge. It took a very good man from us.  My condolences to Matt and his family.

Ed Boyle

I did not know Marty personally, but my condolences to both his family and his extended family at the NJ Highrailers.

-Dave

I recently saw Marty and his son on the RFD channel - Hi-Rail layouts, he really seemed like a nice man. I am sorry to hear of this.

Ben, sorry to hear of your loss. Good friends are better then gold. My mother always told me you never can have to many friends. Ben, though your friend is gone, your good memories of him will last you a lifetime.

Hello Everyone

Just got back from Marty's funeral service  His family thanks you for your prayers and well wishes.  One thing that stuck in my mind that the Rabbi said and then translated to English.  He had a "Good Heart" which is exactly what Marty was all about.

Also a thing that I thought was weird but fitting was when a non-train person forgot to turn his cell phone ringer off.   Just at a moment of silence in the ceremony his cell phone goes off.  His ringer was a steam whistle.  It couldn't have been planned that way

Nice post Ben.  Did not have the pleasure of meeting Marty, but it sounds as if the "steam whistle" cell phone ringer during the moment of silence although unexpected was very fitting indeed!  Sorry for your and the NJ Highrailers' loss.  Sounds like he was a great fellow and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.  Bo 

Although I never met Marty, the comments about his personality reveal that he was a good man, well liked and a dedicated railroad buff.  I am sorry to hear about his passing.  Condolences to the family and friends.  

Hi Ben, what a nice touch for Marty's service. It's nice to think that haven was saluting the arrival of it's latest child.

Thank you everyone for your kind words both my brother, mother and myself were all humbled to see how many lives he touched in this hobby. He was a one of a kind guy that was not only dad  to me but my best friend in the world. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and was always happy to help anyone in need. His hobby was never trains, in fact he really couldn't have cared less about them his hobby was actually photography, but when I was three years old and showed one ounce of interest in it he jumped in with both feet and never looked back. 11 years ago he and my uncle Bernie had purchased the new building in Paterson and had an extra room and I had heard that the Northwest Jersey Hi-Railers had lost their storage space. I've always had a big mouth and unbeknownst to my father at 11 years old I had offered them the space to store their modular layout. When he found out that I had offered the space he kept the word that I had promised and allowed them to store the modular sections in that room and at that point the NJ Hi-Railers was born. Last December when he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer he didn't let it phase him, in fact three days after he received the news he had heard that one of his friends kids were in town with their children and he of course said "lets all go down and see the train layout I know the kids will love it". That's the kind of guy he was, he never let bad news get him down and even until the end he never stopped fighting and refused to give up. I'll miss him terribly every day but knowing that he's up there watching all of us and snapping pictures away gives me some comfort.

P.S: Whenever there was a topic about a train show at the club or TrainStock he always nudged me to post something to keep it up at the top. I think he's reading this with that big smile on his face knowing that its been at the top of the list for the last two days.

Thank you again for all your kind words,

Mat, Randy, and Ruth

Mat,

Your dad did have a great big smile.  It's only one of the many things I will remember about him.

Sorry for your loss.

Stu

Eleven years old and your daddy honored your word, what a lesson to learn at a young age.

You know Matt, I think your fathers real hobby in life was people and you and the rest of his family where his vocation.

In short, I wish I could of known him better and I pray that my son will have the same warm memories of our relationship. Your words are a far better tribute to your father then anything we can add.

Last week, I had a long conversation with Mat Horning.  I met his father five years ago and he became a friend.  A great man.  In conversation with Mat, I told him I had a few pictures with his father that came out good and he asked me to send them to him.  After viewing the pictures, Mat asked me if I would post them on the OGR Forum for him.  Here they are. 

The first photo is of Marty Horning with Mike Wolf and his wife.  The second photo is Marty Horning and myself.  The bottom photo is myself with Marty Horning and Bernie Callen.

Nice touch Marty. A small kindness can mean alot to people, you are one of the good guys.

Thanks Marty!!

Marty,

Thank you very much for posting the pictures they really are priceless.

See you all at York,

Mat