Dear Friends,
It is with great sadness that I inform you that Robert Bein, our dear friend and partner for over thirty years, passed away at home surrounded by his beloved family on February 24th. Robert touched so many lives. He was devoted to his family, dedicated to his religion, the most loyal of friends, and a steadfast and wise partner.
Robert had a brilliant mind. That brilliance combined with his meticulous research took him to the very top level of scholarship and accomplishment in our field. He contributed vastly to the knowledge of the violin maker's art. His expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence set a new standard in this country and around the world. Robert certified instruments and bows of unquestioned authenticity to the greatest artists of our time. Robert was sought after and relied upon both for his wisdom and his wit.
I fondly recall that in 1974 when Robert and I got together and discussed setting up a new shop, we established that our goal was to follow in the tradition of the great shops of the past like W. E. Hill & Sons, Rembert Wurlitzer, William Lewis & Son, and J. B. Vuillaume. We had a lofty goal! That guiding principle carried us forward for thirty years. The fact that we achieved so much in such a short time was something that we talked about on our twenty-fifth anniversary. Robert and I realized that we actually had exceeded what we originally thought when we set our plan in motion. We also agreed that we had another even higher level to strive toward. We were a bit surprised by our success and really proud of the company we built together.
Robert leaves a great legacy that will continue to educate and enlighten future generations of stringed instrument enthusiasts. He wanted everyone to know the great confidence he had in our firm and our staff—that it is the absolute best on the planet. And he wanted to convey his great confidence that the firm will continue to grow and thrive. Bein & Fushi will honor Robert's legacy by continuing with the same company name and outstanding customer service, sales and repair staff, dedication, and policies that our customers have relied on for over thirty years.
Honoring the Past ... Building the Future
Both Robert and I ran our own small shops before we began our partnership. When we founded Bein & Fushi, I specialized in major acquisitions and sales. I have continued to be active in those areas along with overseeing The Stradivari Society® and our many public events and special projects. When Robert was on a five-year sabbatical (1985-1990), I ran the company, including the areas of expertise and finance.
With Robert's passing, I am now the sole owner of the firm. I am very pleased to announce that two exceptional Bein & Fushi staff members will be taking on important new responsibilities. My first and only choice, and also Robert's choice, to now handle the expertise for the company: John Becker. John assisted Robert in this area for twenty-five years and is today one of the most knowledgable experts on the authenticity of great instruments in the U.S. John is renowned and sought after worldwide as the foremost restorer and adjuster of the finest rare, antique instruments. Through his restorations John has been able to study the great Italian masterworks in every detail since he started at Bein & Fushi in 1979. During Robert's sabbatical, John was completely responsible for the appraisals. He will be continuing his very important restoration work.
For acquisitions and bow expertise, I once again found the ideal person within our company: Gabriel Ben-Dashan. Gabriel is an accomplished violinist and an extraordinary salesman, a leader in the field, with an uncanny ability to match artist and instrument. He worked closely with Robert on instrument acquisitions and bow expertise for thirteen years. It is an honor to have John and Gabriel on board with their new responsibilities (profiles of John and Gabriel are featured in the Staff section of this website).
In the areas of finance and management I will be assisted by my wife, Jean, who has done outstanding work overseeing these areas since the founding of our firm.
Robert asked me to express what a great honor and pleasure it was for him to work with all of you over the years. He carried away so many fond memories and was very grateful for your friendship and support. He is deeply missed.
Musically yours,
Shop Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm