Herbert A. Pohl, age 83 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at his residence. He was a man who epitomized the virtues of hard work, dedication, honesty, integrity, love and devotion to family and friends.

He was born July 28, 1932 in Bremen-Blumenthal, Germany to Herman Pohl and Anna Pohl, nee Scholz. He was the youngest of six siblings, two sisters and three brothers. His childhood involved growing up during WWII in which he lost his closest brother and other family members and barely escaped the bombings of his entire neighborhood.

In 1953 Herbert came to the USA as an exchange student at the University of Illinois in Champagne-Urbana, Il. While attending school there he took a trip to Chicago where he met his future wife, Ursula Koschik.  Herbert returned to Germany and married Ursula on March 5, 1955. They would remain married as an unbreakable team until his death, sixty-one years later.

On January 21, 1956 Herbert and Ursula gave birth to their first child and son, Knut. Shortly following his birth they emigrated to the USA and Herbert started his career with the Western Electric Company at the Hawthorne Works in Chicago, Il. In early 1957, they had to return to Germany and while they were there they gave birth to their second child, a daughter, Marion, on March 19, 1957.

In December of 1959, Herbert and Ursula bought their first home in Romeoville, Il. Back then it was a sleepy little borough 12 miles north of Joliet. While living there and commuting 27 miles to the Hawthorne Works, Herbert attended the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) at night in order to earn and receive a Bachelor Degree in Engineering. During this time they also met their good friends Ed and Bruni Kafka and through this relationship learned to snow ski. Snow skiing became a passion for the Pohl family and provided the “quality time” that close families require. In addition to skiing, Herbert shared his passion for travel and insured that the family would travel and visit new and unique places every year.

Shortly after receiving his degree Herbert was offered a position at the Western Electric Engineering Research Center, ERC, just outside of Hopewell, NJ. Herbert accepted the position of Member of Research and the family moved to Raritan Township, NJ into their 2nd new home in August of 1971. This location provided yet further access to more numerous and closer skiing areas than in Illinois. It also provided the land for their life long passion of plants and flowers.

While at ERC, Herbert was involved in the research and development of soldering technologies and automating production systems. Through his efforts Herbert was issued four United State Patents for his inventions. He was well liked and respected by his peers and colleagues and his times at ERC would be the happiest of his working career.

Later in the 1980s the Western Electric Manufacturing and Development Center, MDC, opened its doors down the road from the ERC. Herbert transferred there as a department chief overseeing the design team. Herbert retired from Western Electric and the MDC after 31 years in 1987 at the early age of 55. Up until his retirement, Herbert enjoyed his membership in the ERC Bowling League where he spent countless Thursday evenings with friends and colleagues knocking down the pins.

Following his retirement from the Bell System, Herbert took up the position of CEO at the Rame’-Hart Company in Mountain Lakes, NJ. In addition to providing precision crafted parts for machinery, Rame’-Hart was the leading producer of Industrial Goiniometers and Egg Inoculation machines to produce vaccines. Herbert retired for the second and last time after eight years in 1995 at the age of 63.

After his retirement, he shared Ursula’s passion for Mycology and from that time on he was seriously involved in both the NJ Mycological (NJMA) and North American Mycological (NAMA) Associations. He served as president of NJMA and after his term expired he was the literature chairperson until fall of 2015. He was elected Treasurer of NAMA in 2011 and held that position until his death. Through his world-wide mycological travels, which included Australia, New-Zealand, Tasmania, Thailand, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Spain and all over North America, Herbert and his wife formed many life-long relationships.

Shortly before his death when the physicians provided little hope of continued survival Herbert declared that he had had a good life and that he was ready to go. Herbert succumbed to his year long struggle with Mesothelioma late Sunday morning May 1, 2016. Herbert got his wish and died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family.

Herbert was predeceased by his mother, father, brothers Willy, Waldy and Otto and sisters Edet and Gertrude.

He is survived by his loving wife Ursula, his loving children Knut and Marion and his loving grandchildren Heather, Phillip and Steven.

Herbert will lie in repose on Thursday, May 5, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. Funeral services and interment will be private.

Please visit Herbert’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to send a public or private message of condolence and to share stories and photographs of his life.

Donations can be made in his name to the North American Mycological Endowment Fund, 5 Oak Grove Road, Flemington, NJ 08822 or to the Salvation Army, 4 East Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822.