George Adolph von Hassel, 90, of Lavallette and Lakewood NJ, passed away peacefully on August 10th surrounded by his family. A graveside service with military honors will be held on Tuesday August 13th at 12:00 at Riverside Cemetery 1001 Route 166 Toms River NJ for immediate family. He is pre-deceased by his mother Bertha Anna von Hassel (Hartkopf), father Adolph August Herman von Hassel, and his Brother William August von Hassel.
George was born on July 11, 1929. His parents were German immigrants who came to the United States separately, married, and settled in Lincoln Park, NJ to raise George and his brother Bill. George attended Boonton High School, where he made several lifelong friends including Herman J. “Kip” Koehler, Dayton Geary, and Bob EnQuest. George proudly served in the U.S. Army at Walter Reed Medical Center from 1951 to 1953 and attended Columbia University on a GI bill, graduating with a BS in Math with a music minor. He went on to earn an MBA from Columbia University as well as completing his PhD Studies in Mathematics, ABD.
After college, George went into the insurance industry and had a long career in financial services culminating with a position as Chief Investment Officer at Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company, 111 Wall Street, New York. Additionally, he was proud of his work at Havens Relief Fund Society, where he served as volunteer Treasurer for over a decade and oversaw the anonymous dispersal of millions of dollars in much-needed funds to people across the Tri-State area. He personally read the requests for help submitted on behalf of needy families and has said this helped him to feel grounded and appreciative of his life. After retiring from Wall Street, George dabbled in the brew pub craze, with investments in Typhoon Brew in NYC and Alpenhoff Brewery in Maryland. He always enjoyed a good beer.
George was married to Judith L. Buehlmaier for 35 years and together they shared a deep love of sailing, classical music, skiing and travel. They both enjoyed catching a baseball game and were diehard fans of the NY Yankees. George often mentioned meeting Babe Ruth as a child. George enjoyed playing the marimba and xylophone with Judy, who is classically trained on piano. Together they held concerts in their home in Princeton and later Lakewood, NJ. In his later years, George was often found with a harmonica in his hand and classical music on the radio.
Family was important to George and he was close to his children Kirsten and Karena by his first wife Janice L. von Hassel, to whom he remained friends. He raised his family in Randolph and Lavallette NJ where he inherited a home built by his Great Uncle “Augie” August. It was here in Lavallette that he always felt most at home, tending to his boat at the Lavallette Yacht Club, sailing with Judy on Barnegat Bay, painting with watercolors, flipping through “Wooden Boat” magazine or reading about history and art.
George touched many lives over his 90 years and always had a kind word for everyone he met. He was a good listener and paid attention at a time when the world always seemed to be abbreviated. He cared about each person’s story and perspective, and one always felt they were important to him. He was a poet at heart and wrote haiku. George was famous for his crepes and blueberry pancakes, his legendary Easter egg hunts, and his berets. He was kind to animals and enjoyed his cats and dogs over the years, including his dog Natasha “Tashee” Lee, a husky mix who lived to be almost 20 years old. Perhaps best known for his sharp mind and dry wit, he had a great sense of humor and delight in the absurd. George was a “gentleman of the old guard” and a living reminder of a time when men held themselves to a higher standard of personal conduct and responsibility to family and community. He had a universal policy of inclusion and no one was immune. He believed in the inherent goodness of people and the power of the human spirit.
George is survived by his wife Judith L. von Hassel (nee Buelhmaier), daughters Kirsten Anne von Hassel (Ahmad Namini), Karena Louise von Hassel (Peter McEvoy),Debbie Barrett, Lauren Knox, Jodi Knox and son Christopher Derry (Adie Derry); grandchildren Troy Barrett, Sarah Namini (Mark McDonnell), Troy Namini, Nicholas Namini, Hannah Namini, Olivia McGinnis, Carol McEvoy, Katie McEvoy, Kelti McEvoy, Chris McEvoy, Harper Lynn Derry, Grace Helbok and Kaitlyn ”KK” Helbok; great-grandchildren Lilah Rose McEvoy, Finnley Paul McEvoy, Hailey Joon McDonnell; Nephews William von Hassel, Glen von Hassel; Sister-in-law Francis von Hassel; and childhood friend Dayton Geary among those whose lives he touched.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Haven’s Relief Fund Society in memory of George would be appreciated. (www.havensfund.org)
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