Geoffrey Fushi, who co-founded Chicago dealership Bein & Fushi with Robert Bein, has died at the age of 68. Fushi and Bein started their business in 1976. It grew to become one of the biggest names in the violin trade.

Fushi also launched the Stradivari Society in 1985 with Mary Galvin, following a request from the Juilliard School violin pedagogue Dorothy DeLay. The Society has helped patrons and investors loan fine violins to talented young players at the outset of their careers. Over the years the scheme has assisted such artists as Midori, Gil Shaham, Matt Haimowitz, Leila Josefowicz, Sarah Chang and Leonidas Kavakos.

Robert Bein died in 2007. His son Joseph and Geoffrey Fushi's son Alec continue the family business.

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