Former Covered Bridge Resident Dies at 94

Herbert R. Alba, 94, of Bella Terra in Jackson, died Monday, Dec. 2 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold. Herb was a true gentleman, interested in world affairs, known for his kindness and astounding memory. He had a knack for making everyone he met feel special.

Born June 2, 1919 in Oberhausen, Germany, he entered a concentration camp in 1938 and in 1939 was granted a Visa to Great Britain, where he joined the British Army and served as an intelligence officer in WWII. He later emigrated to the United States and lived in Queens, NY. Herb married Phyllis in 1955 and moved to Hazlet in 1967. He worked at Stoll Packing for over 30 years and retired in 1982, after moving to Covered Bridge in Manalapan. Herbert then worked for Najarian Assoc. for 15 years retiring in 2002.

He was predeceased by his wife, the former Phyllis Deborah Byron in 2010; parents Elise Wolffe Alba and Leo Alba; and sister Hilde Alba Miller. Surviving are daughter Faye Alba and her partner John Antonino of Belmar; son David Alba and his partner Geraldo Olie of Freehold; granddaughters Susan Vitale of Hoboken and Lisa Vitale and her husband Dan Geres of Hoboken; nieces Susan Miller of Saratoga, NY, Diane Rush of Manhattan; nephew Stuart Rush of Charleston, WV; and cousins Thomas, Ulla and Hannah Sychla of Cologne, Germany.

A cryptside funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, Dec. 4th, at Forest Green Park Cemetery, Marlboro. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to US Holocaust Museum or A.S.P.C.A. 

-Obituary provided by Forest Green Park Cemetery