Earl C. Van Horn, Jr., aged 86, of Acton, MA passed away peacefully at Tufts Medical Center on January 15th, 2026, with his step-children, Mark and Lia Spitzer by his side.
Earl was born on January 24th, 1939 in Cincinnati, OH, to Earl Sr. and Agnes Van Horn. He grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from Walnut Hills High School where he participated in theater. He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was involved in the Sigma Chi fraternity and Dramashop on campus. He went on to earn the S.B., S.M., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering, writing his thesis in the computer science field back when computers were first being developed. His publication list includes two whose significance has been recognized by republication: “Software Must Evolve” and “Programming Semantics for Multiprogrammed Computations.” Earl recently celebrated his 50th reunion at MIT and was honored to earn his MIT Red Coat in recognition.
After a long career with Digital Equipment Services and Hewlett-Packard, Earl ran his own IT services business for more than 25 years, working right up until the end, a satisfying endeavor that allowed him to continue to learn and grow along with the IT industry. His own IT firm provided invaluable computing technical support to members of his community, a service he was always happy to provide with great pride and a big smile. Not only was Earl great at solving IT conundrums, he also pursued continuing studies in business law and social psychology to satisfy his ever-curious mind.
Earl was the most devoted, caring and patient husband. He loved and cared for his first wife Sandy through her battle with MS, and after that, he loved and cared for his current wife Micki who he supported through her continuing fight with Alzheimer’s Disease. Although he never had children of his own, multiple fur-babies were lucky to call him “Dad” over the years, as were his 2 stepchildren.
Spiritual, sociable and community-driven, Earl was an active member and volunteer for his church, the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Concord. There, he and his wife Micki sang in the choir, a shared activity that they both cherished. He was also a member of several close-knit social groups that gathered regularly to discuss and debate science, politics, and life. Earl believed strongly in democratic ideals and education, and he volunteered for and donated generously to a long list of charities that upheld these values.
Earl’s love of music was central to his being, and his musical tastes were wide, ranging from classical to folk to jazz to opera to Broadway musicals to the Grateful Dead. Not only was Earl an avid music consumer, he also banged the drums in multiple jazz bands over the years, most recently with the Squirrel Hill Band. He loved to perform and entertain, whether drumming, acting, or singing. He also loved to travel, often visiting Florida, Chicago, NYC, LA, London, South Carolina, and Ohio to spend time with friends and family. A favorite international adventure was a volunteering trip to South Africa with his church.
Earl will be remembered for his boundless curiosity, intellectual generosity, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment to learning, service, and community. Whether mentoring others through his work, making music with friends, or caring devotedly to those he loved, he lived a life defined by kindness, integrity, and joy. He leaves behind a lasting legacy in the many lives he touched, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Earl is survived by his wife Harriet “Micki”, his step-children Mark and Lia, his son-in-law Francois, and his cousins Pat, Jane and Julia. He was pre-deceased by his first wife Sandy, his parents, and his cousins Jim and William.
Please join us for a memorial service to celebrate Earl’s life on what would have been his 87th birthday: Saturday, January 24th at 11:00 AM at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord, MA. Arrangements are under the care of Concord Funeral Home. Light lunch reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Earl’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-earls-legacy-and-final-wishes
