Alsdorf "Al" Smith

Smith, Alsdorf (Al) died on January 10, 2021 at RWJ University Hospital Somerset. Born in Nyack, NY he was the son of the late Frank and Letha Smith. He is also predeceased by a great nephew and his sister, Lenore Smith Muller. Upon his sister’s death he became guardian of her children and took them into his home. They survive him and are Ruth Muller Parisi of Kansas, Mark Muller of Arizona, Julie Muller Shamy of NJ, John Muller of FL, and Paul Muller of PA. He is also survived by a son Bradford and a daughter Dawn Smith Fortuna both of Arizona. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, great nieces and great nephews.  He is survived by two great grandsons. Lastly, he is survived by his best friend, Mary Ellen Walther of Hillsborough.

He grew up in Old Tappan, NJ and graduated from Dumont HS. He received a BS degree from Rutgers in 1961 and an MBA also from Rutgers. While at Rutgers he wrote for the Targum and rowed on the lightweight crew.

A twice born Christian, Al was a member of New Horizon AG Church in Hillsborough. He was a former member of the Highland Park and Franklin Jaycees. He was past president of the Highland Park Exchange Club. He coached several sports for the Highland Park Recreation Department. Al was a poet member of the New Jersey Poetry Society.

He was one of only four people in the latter half of the twentieth century to be elected to both the Highland Park Board of Education and the Boro’s governing body. Upon being denied a second term on council by the Democratic party he used the occasion of his last meeting to announce a switch to the Republicans. Under that banner he ran for the state assembly and for Mayor of Highland Park. In 2001 he moved to Raritan where he resumed his interest in Republican politics. In 2002 he was elected and in 2005 and 2008 reelected the Raritan member of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School Board. Al was elected President of the Board in 2007 and Vice-President in 2009. He was appointed Bridgewater-Raritan’s delegate to the Somerset County Educational Services Commission. In 2004 and again in 2007 Al was elected President of the Commission. During his public service, he served the various public bodies as chief negotiator of over 25 labor agreements and was a bargaining team member for a number of other agreements. In 2006 he ran for Mayor of Raritan in the Republican primary. He served briefly on the Raritan Library Board of Trustees. In 2012 he moved to Somerville.

He was retired from a career in computer applications and had worked seasonally for H&R Block.

At his wishes there will be no formal funeral. For those wishing to make donations the family suggests the Rutgers University crews, the Salvation Army, or the American Diabetes Assoc.

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