HERMAN, ALVIN C.

HERMAN, ALVIN C., 77, of Cape May Court House, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 28, with his family at his side. Born on July 31, 1935, Al spent his early years in Newark, NJ. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. Following his military service, Al attended Newark College of Engineering and completed both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Civil Engineering in 1959 and 1964, respectively. After graduation, Al moved south to Cape May with his bride Ruth and began working at the U.S. Coast Guard base as an engineer. In 1966 Al and his family moved to Somers Point. During this time he worked for Charles Middleton and as an adjunct instructor at Atlantic Community College. As a licensed professional engineer and land surveyor, Al decided to strike out on his own in business, and in 1970 founded his own firm, Alvin C. Herman Associates. His business quickly outgrew the home office he utilized, and he moved his base of operations from Somers Point to Cape May Court House. Initially leasing space, the business continued to grow and within a few years Al purchased his own building on Mechanic Street in 1977 to house his firm. 7 Mechanic Street became the home of his highly successful engineering firm. Through the years Al was appointed municipal engineer in many municipalities, among them Middle Township, Upper Township, Lower Township, Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Dennis Township, Cape May City, and Upper Deerfield Township. He also served as a representative to the Cape May County Health Committee, and as engineer for Middle Township Water Districts #1 and #2. His reputation as a fair and honest businessman and a solid engineer made him a well respected figure in Cape May County, and a fixture on Mechanic Street. In 1988, Al sold his business to Killam Associates, and worked as a consulting engineer. Also in 1988 Al and Ruth made one final move from Somers Point to Cape May Court House where they purchased six acres of vacant, wooded land and began transforming it into magnificent gardens. Al and Ruth built their dream home, and spent 25 years living and gardening together there. After retiring from the engineering business, Al used his talents to continue to expand his gardens, designing and building new structures and adding a wide variety of plants. Their home and gardens were always open to family and friends. Al will be remembered for his generous spirit, his good humor, his integrity, his gardens, and his love of family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 50 years Ruth, daughter and son-in-law Susan and Peter Castellano, daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Brian Robinson, and granddaughters, Beth Anne and Christine Castellano, who were the light of his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Als memory be made to Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497, www.foxchase.org/giving. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Radzieta Funeral Home, 9 Hand Avenue, Cape May Court House, where viewing will begin at 9:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery. Condolences at www.radzieta.com