Herbert George Herbst was born in Jersey City, NJ July 19, 1926 of Marie and August Herbst, and passed away on June 5th, 2017 age 90. Herbert left 6 months before his high school graduation to join the Army Air Corp during WWII along with his brothers Edward (a Sea Bee with the Navy) and Frederic (serving with the merchant marines). His mother picked up his high school diploma from Dickinson High School in Jersey City that summer while he was away serving the country. After his enlistment he started working as a draftsman and eventually became district manager at New York Telephone, and retired from Verizon after nearly 40 years in 1985. Herbert married Norma Elizabeth Koehne on June 6, 1953 in Jersey City, NJ. He then earned his bachelor's in Business from Seaton Hall in 1954. The family moved from Jersey City, NJ to Floral Park, NY in 1957. In Floral Park Herbert was a member and faithfully attended Christ Lutheran Evangelical Church. He was a loyal member of the Masonic Lodge. He was also a board member and president of both the Floral Park-Belrose Elementary and Sewanhaka Central High School Districts for 25 years. As a school board member Herbert introduced curriculum to teach the Latin language as well as promoted literacy in the Floral Park elementary schools. While Herbert was president, Floral Park-Belrose School District was rated best in New York State. In 1991 Herbert and Norma moved to Ocean Grove, NJ permanently, after previously spending summers with his family since 1963. Herbert's community service continued after moving to Ocean Grove. As a member of the Ocean Grove Fishing Club, Herb was instrumental in rebuilding the fishing pier after the Atlantic Ocean claimed the pier during a terrible Nor' Easter. For the past two decades Herbert served as an officer, President and then Secretary Treasurer for the Fishing Club. Herbert was the President of the Ocean Grove Home Owner's Association for eight years, and collaborated with Senator Bill Bradley and State Senator Joseph A. Palaia to work with the state of New Jersey to improve the quality of life in Ocean Grove. He also served proudly as a member of the Ocean Grove Citizen's Patrol. In 1995 Herbert continued his work with Senator Palaia when the two started an effort to save the old Neptune High School in Ocean Grove, which had been abandoned and was dilapidated. Herbert created the Ocean Grove Historic Preservation Society, Inc. and took title to the building in 1997. Along with a team of inspired community members and his closest friends which he got to know from his community service in Ocean Grove, he worked to restore the historic Victorian building. They labored together room by room and floor by floor to transform the old Neptune High School into the Jersey Shore Arts Center, a visual and performing arts center dedicated to promoting the arts and arts education in the Jersey Shore community. Over the past 20 years with Herbert, the commander and chief at the helm, the JSAC has grown a loving and exceptional family of local artists and performers who create inspired works in the classrooms-turned-studios and theaters of the old school. Herbert served his final years fully dedicated to fanning the spirit and success of the JSAC. Herbert was predeceased by his parents, Marie and August Herbst; his siblings Martha and August Zybas, and Edward and Frederic Herbst. Herbert is survived by his wife of 64 years, Norma; his daughters Melinda Kelley, and Janet Rothstein and her husband Stephen; his grandchildren Brendan Kelley and his wife Paige, Caitlin Kelley, Ian Kelley, and David Rothstein. He is also survived by the residents of the Jersey Shore Arts Center who served as important, loving, and supportive family members for Herbert and his family. A celebration of Herbie's life will take place on June 18th at 1:00pm in the Joseph A. Palaia Theater at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, 66 South Main Street, Ocean Grove, NJ. In lieu of flowers the family requests that large donations are made to the Jersey Shore Arts Center, as per Herbie.