Herman Breitkopf

The Honorable Herman L. Breitkopf, 89, beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home in Highland Park early Saturday morning, December 21, 2013, following a brief period of declining health. Judge Breitkopf was born August 8, 1924, in New Brunswick to Emanuel and Adolphine (Gorta) Breitkopf. A 1942 graduate of Highland Park High School, he attended Rutgers University for two years before joining the Army. In World War II, Judge Breitkopf served in an anti-aircraft battalion which participated in the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge, as they fought easterly across Europe to Germany. In the course of the war, he was wounded and awarded a Purple Heart.

On December 2, 1945, one week after returning home from the war, Judge Breitkopf married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Gopin. Herman and "Bobbie" were married for 61 years until her passing in 2007. In 1946, Judge Breitkopf enrolled in Cornell Law School. After graduation in 1949, he returned to Highland Park and practiced law in New Brunswick. In 1957, he was appointed to the Bench. Judge Breitkopf served Middlesex County as a judge for the next 37 years until his mandatory retirement at 70 in 1994. For several years after retirement, Judge Breitkopf was of counsel at Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas, LLP in New Brunswick.

Judge Breitkopf was a member of the Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple In New Brunswick, where he had served as president for 3 terms. He is survived by his sister, Gertrude Galkin, of Cranston, Rhode Island; his daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Peter Webb of Brookline, NH; three grandchildren and spouses: Grant and Sarah Webb of Pound Ridge, NY, Brenner and Mary Frances Webb of Bedford, NH, and Hannah Webb of Malden, Ma; and three great-grandchildren: Taylor, Brady and Hadley.

A graveside service is being held at 11 AM on Sunday, December 22, at the Elmwood Cemetery in New Brunswick. Guests are welcome after the service at Judge Breitkopf's home in Highland Park until Shiva is held at 4:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Judge Breitkopf's memory can be made to the Stein Hospice or to the ASPCA. Arrangements are under the direction of the Jaqui-Kuhn Funeral Home, Highland Park.

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