A veteran law enforcement professional, Larry Elliott Hornstein passed away on Sunday, Apr. 19.
The Frederick resident and Beth Tfiloh congregant was 71.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Hornstein started his law enforcement career in 1976 as a supervisor with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
He later worked as a Baltimore City Police officer for nearly four years and as a special agent/criminal investigator at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
In 1985, he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration, where he worked for 32 years.
“Larry was immensely proud of his career in law enforcement,” his family posted on the website of Sol Levinson & Bros. “The driving force behind Larry’s decision to become a law enforcement officer was pure … ‘to make communities safe and better places to live and raise families.’ It is without a doubt that Larry made his community a safer and better place.
“What being a law enforcement officer gave back to Larry was something more profound than a career and a paycheck — it gave him a second family and lifelong friends that he appreciated and cherished throughout his life.”
Hornstein was also a committed and faithful Jew, wrote his family.
“Larry was proud of his Jewish faith, which was a lodestar that helped guide him throughout his life as evidenced by his regular weekend routine — on Saturdays, he could be found at Beth Tfiloh for Shabbat services. On Sundays, he would make the hour-long trip into Baltimore and go to the JCC to lift weights and ride the bike. And no Sunday trip to Baltimore would be complete without stopping at Seven Mile Market to pick up kosher groceries for the week ahead.”
In his spare time, Hornstein enjoyed going to Orioles games and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
“Above all, Larry was a gentle giant known for his kindness, big heart and for the deep love he had for his family. His passing leaves a hole in the hearts of those who knew him, and he will be sorely missed.”
Hornstein is survived by his wife, Marianne Hornstein (née Brennan); his children, Matt (Melissa) Hornstein, David (Michelle) Hornstein, and Anna Hornstein; and his grandchildren, Brennan, Henry, Avery, Easton, and Harrison Hornstein.
He was predeceased by his parents, Beatrice and Earl Hornstein.
Services will be held on Wednesday, Apr. 22, at 1 pm. at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville. Interment will follow at Bnai Israel Cemetery, 3701 Southern Avenue.
Contributions in Larry Hornstein’s memory may be made to Beth Tfiloh Congregation, 3300 Old Court Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21208; the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington D.C. 20024-2126; the Sandra R. Berman Pavilion at GBMC, 6701 N. Charles Street, Towson, Maryland 21204; or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, Texas 75284-0692.
The family will be in mourning at Beth Tfiloh Congregation after interment from 3-8 pm on Wednesday, and Thursday from 5- 8 pm.
“So very sad that we won’t be seeing Larry at BT every Shabbos,” wrote Steve Bond. “I met Larry when he started coming to Beth Jacob with his father Earl, another really nice guy. He was always there smiling and saying hi to everyone and just being sweet. May his memory be a blessing to all that knew him.”
