1934
Alfred
2014
Alfred Strohlein
March 21, 1934 — March 8, 2014
Alfred Cramer Strohlein was born in Riverton, NJ to Adolf Strohlein and Ethel Cramer Strohlein on March 21, 1934. He passed away at home in Pacific Beach, CA on March 8, 2014, just shy of his 80th birthday. Al grew up in New Jersey with sister, Florann and brother, Joe, spending many summers at the shore in Wildwood, NJ. He enjoyed working at Groff's restaurant, his "best job ever," where he learned to recognized integrity, honesty, hard work and a marvelous sense of humor.
After graduating from Camden Catholic High School, Al attended Drexel Institute of Technology for one year, where he joined the ROTC marching band. From there he attended La Salle College in Philadelphia. It was at LaSalle where he met Francis Sterling, who would introduce Al to his future wife, Catherine. Al fulfilled his military obligation by joining the Navy after college in 1956. He attended Officer's Candidate School at the Navy Academy in Newport Rhode Island, then was assigned to the Pentagon for intelligence training. From there he was stationed in Coronado, CA, which cemented his love for San Diego. His naval service took him on a trans-Pacific cruise to the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong and Hawaii.
After he was discharged from the Navy in 1959, Al attended Johns Hopkins University, where he obtained a Mater of Arts degree from the Department of Art as Applied to Medicine. He was recruited by the University of Melbourne which was establishing the first illustration unit in Australia. He traveled there by ship in October 1961, and spent nine months at the University. He met many good life-long friends in Australia. Al and Catherine married on October 27, 1962 in Philadelphia. Al worked at the Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum, while Catherine worked across the street at the Post Office. This allowed them to commute together and "do lunch." Daughter Katherine was born in 1963, followed by Margaret exactly one year later.
The family moved to San Diego in 1967, where daughter Maria was born. Al worked at UC San Diego in the Office of Learning Resources in the Biomedical Library. Al was a "plastic embedding specialist." He embedded specimens, such as brain slices, into resin, which were used by medical students. While at UCSD, Al was charged with creating a mold of a moon rock provided by NASA. He also classified slide images produced by his department.
The family moved to Atlanta and then Los Angeles, but ultimately returned to Pacific Beach in 1979. The home on Jewell Street in Crown Point is where Al would reside until his death. Al lost Catherine in 2010, and struggled to carry on without her. Babe the cat, Al's recent pride and joy, helped Al with his depression and brought him a great amount of pleasure.
Al was also a published author and wrote several books: Surviving Death: Don't Die in San Diego; The Valley of Tears; Angel of Amsterdam; The Programmer; and It's a Bungle Out There! Al wrote his own autobiography which is nearly completed. Writing was a constant passion in his life.
Al will be remembered for his raucous and infectious laugh and wicked sense of humor. He was an accomplished pianist and painted beautifully. He fought for what he believed in, and was known for his prolific letters to the editor and speeches to the City Council. He and Catherine were very active in local politics and were instrumental in slowing growth in Pacific Beach. He was an accomplished author, musician, artist, chef and perfectionist.
Al and Catherine were members of St. Brigid Catholic Church for over 40 years, and were active in the choir. Al often played the pipe organ at masses throughout the year. Al is survived by his three daughters, Katherine, Margaret and Maria (Jay Manning), and six grandchildren, Sebastien, Trevor, Isabella, Julian, Peter and Josephine. He is also survived by his sister, Florann, brother Joe, and Babe the cat.
A Funeral Service for Al will be held on Friday, March 21, at 10:00 AM at The Donohue Funeral Home, 8401 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082 (610) 449-0300. Interment SS Peter & Paul Cemetery.
Donations in Al's name may be made to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation or Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
The Donohue Funeral Home
3300 West Chester Pike Newtown Square 19073, United States
The Donohue Funeral Home
3300 West Chester Pike Newtown Square 19073, United States
After graduating from Camden Catholic High School, Al attended Drexel Institute of Technology for one year, where he joined the ROTC marching band. From there he attended La Salle College in Philadelphia. It was at LaSalle where he met Francis Sterling, who would introduce Al to his future wife, Catherine. Al fulfilled his military obligation by joining the Navy after college in 1956. He attended Officer's Candidate School at the Navy Academy in Newport Rhode Island, then was assigned to the Pentagon for intelligence training. From there he was stationed in Coronado, CA, which cemented his love for San Diego. His naval service took him on a trans-Pacific cruise to the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong and Hawaii.
After he was discharged from the Navy in 1959, Al attended Johns Hopkins University, where he obtained a Mater of Arts degree from the Department of Art as Applied to Medicine. He was recruited by the University of Melbourne which was establishing the first illustration unit in Australia. He traveled there by ship in October 1961, and spent nine months at the University. He met many good life-long friends in Australia. Al and Catherine married on October 27, 1962 in Philadelphia. Al worked at the Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum, while Catherine worked across the street at the Post Office. This allowed them to commute together and "do lunch." Daughter Katherine was born in 1963, followed by Margaret exactly one year later.
The family moved to San Diego in 1967, where daughter Maria was born. Al worked at UC San Diego in the Office of Learning Resources in the Biomedical Library. Al was a "plastic embedding specialist." He embedded specimens, such as brain slices, into resin, which were used by medical students. While at UCSD, Al was charged with creating a mold of a moon rock provided by NASA. He also classified slide images produced by his department.
The family moved to Atlanta and then Los Angeles, but ultimately returned to Pacific Beach in 1979. The home on Jewell Street in Crown Point is where Al would reside until his death. Al lost Catherine in 2010, and struggled to carry on without her. Babe the cat, Al's recent pride and joy, helped Al with his depression and brought him a great amount of pleasure.
Al was also a published author and wrote several books: Surviving Death: Don't Die in San Diego; The Valley of Tears; Angel of Amsterdam; The Programmer; and It's a Bungle Out There! Al wrote his own autobiography which is nearly completed. Writing was a constant passion in his life.
Al will be remembered for his raucous and infectious laugh and wicked sense of humor. He was an accomplished pianist and painted beautifully. He fought for what he believed in, and was known for his prolific letters to the editor and speeches to the City Council. He and Catherine were very active in local politics and were instrumental in slowing growth in Pacific Beach. He was an accomplished author, musician, artist, chef and perfectionist.
Al and Catherine were members of St. Brigid Catholic Church for over 40 years, and were active in the choir. Al often played the pipe organ at masses throughout the year. Al is survived by his three daughters, Katherine, Margaret and Maria (Jay Manning), and six grandchildren, Sebastien, Trevor, Isabella, Julian, Peter and Josephine. He is also survived by his sister, Florann, brother Joe, and Babe the cat.
A Funeral Service for Al will be held on Friday, March 21, at 10:00 AM at The Donohue Funeral Home, 8401 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082 (610) 449-0300. Interment SS Peter & Paul Cemetery.
Donations in Al's name may be made to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation or Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
Visitation
Friday, March 21, 2014 9:00 AM - 10:00 AMThe Donohue Funeral Home
3300 West Chester Pike Newtown Square 19073, United States
Funeral Service
Friday, March 21, 2014 10:00 AMThe Donohue Funeral Home
3300 West Chester Pike Newtown Square 19073, United States
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