Albert was also an automobile aficionado always buying cars with all the bells & whistles. In 1964 he won a Ford Falcon which he promptly traded for a state of the art Corvair; a car that consumer advocate, Ralph Nader, said was unsafe but one that dad adored. He was very proud of his 6 Cadillacs which had Nite Al license plates. He tinkered around, built model airplanes, & fix things. We have had more than one trades person come to his old house & leave scratching their heads wondering how he did the jobs they were called upon to correct. 
Daddy loved road trips. We’d drive to “the shore”; ( Atlantic City, NJ) to fish & swim. He took us on day trips historic sites. Some of my earliest memories are of our mom packing a big round green thermos & sandwiches, going to libraries, museums & battlefields. The kid in daddy was crazy for parties with family & friends. 90% of the pictures we took over the years Involved eating.  Daddy closely resembled Ho Tai, “the happy Buddha”, & you just wanted to rub his belly for luck. 
The great love of his life was his Lotus Blossom. Set up on a blind date Lois really wowed Albert. They were  an adorable, crazy couple. Lo & Al got engaged after a few months &  married 3 months later. They were together almost 6 decades. Mommy was really a saint, dealing with Daddy’s long hours of work & play as well as the 8 moves in 40 years.
At least he was never late for dinner!  Friends and neighbors will remember her calling “AL-BERT” to get his attention just like a little kid. From their union came his precious children, Holly & me. My sister blessed daddy with grandchildren, Matt & Rachel. He loved them so much that upon retirement in 1992 from GE in Philly he packed up Mommy in to relocate to Oviedo, FL to be close to them. He enjoyed his great grandchildren Lori Sue, Jaxon & Hope upon their arrivals in 2016, 17 & 18 respectively. “Big Al” maintained a long distance relationship with my granddaughters, Sara (6) & Jemma (2) in Philly. 

Daddy  liked a vast array of things though. He  liked his work. Some of his assignments as an electrical/ aeronautical engineer kept him on the go; working for various companies and on projects as far ranging as military transport planes to stress analysis of washing machine parts, from space shuttles to Ocean buoys that provided nutrients for kelp farming as a source of alternative biofuels. 
Daddy worked long hours but played as hard as he worked, even playing Bridge at lunchtime through out his working career. In the early 1960s JFK had been a proponent of exercise and Daddy became a fanatic. After work & a long commute he played tennis, racquetball or just about any sport involving round objects. The Y was his second home for almost a quarter century so he never showered At home. As most Floridians know that is true water conservation. 
Albert took his health very seriously. He took more supplements, vitamins & minerals than any person I knew.  He donated 40+ units of blood to help others.  (He confided recently that he’d get a snack & out of work early by doing so).  Dad burned through toothbrushes maintaining all of his 32 “pearly whites”. He was obsessed. 
Albert was fanatical about saving too. Not just money either. About 40 years ago he built a computer & programmed lots of games. By the way - It’s still in the garage if you’d like to play some of the old floppy discs. 
He was not only a proponent of saving & exercise; he also was well educated & an avid reader. His favorite subject matter was model aeronautics, American Rifleman, and the comics. He hoarded the Funny sections of the newspaper. At mommy’s insistence, he would sit on a stool in the garage & re-read them all before discarding the papers.  He was a true recycler.

Many times we experienced the “Nite Al“ late night calls after checking his cell phone for messages. Being a true “night owl” Albert’s calls jolted us out of bed. Sometimes he’d leave messages apologizing “if we have already spoken you don’t need to bother calling me back”.  He did love a long chat on the phone. Often when the conversations were coming to a close he would get a second wind. A code was then adopted over the years when one of us was done speaking:  “1-2-3, Aloha, I love you”. I guess it was only goodbyes that he disliked now that I think about it.

I am grateful for your good wishes celebrateing a lifetime of memories of Daddy, the Nite Al”. We laugh with each other, live for each other & joyfully remember Big Al for the little kid he remained for 91 years.
Some consider the fragility of glass as a symbol of human frailty. The breaking of the glass is one of the most beloved traditions of a Jewish wedding ceremony to remind us of sadness even during the most joyous of occasions. The broken glass cannot be mended. Our brilliant and fragile “Albie” has gone to his rest. I remember with joy his happy-go-lucky zest for living rather than the sadness we share at his passing.
Daddy lived in the home of his aunt & uncle with his first cousins,Rose & Alfred,  for time as a kid. At 90 he referred to it as the best time of his life. I think,however, that he really lived his whole life as that happy child.
Nobody liked a good laugh more than Albert & these stories are filled with love.
He always said he was deaf in one ear & couldn’t hear out of the other. In his 30s he had experimental surgery to restore his hearing. Following the procedure he could hear a pin drop. A short time later he developed an allergy to penicillin & the experiment failed. I will swear to you that he could still hear me sneaking into the house as a teenager. As of late, he heard me as I tiptoed around while he slept & would wake yelling “what was that!”  
Over the years he wore a hearing aid, took off the hearing aid to talk on the phone, to watch TV, or to hear better in crowds. Just like a kid he lost the hearing aid -twice. It may have been a way to get a replacement with the newest technology. Dad loved gadgets. Especially TV controllers & misplaced his TV remote often. I spoke to him on the phone daily to give him a rundown of his favorite shows or a good movie to watch on TV so this became a real challenge. He’d try to use the phone to phone to change channels while we were talking which made us both laugh. 

I don’t have a specific memory to share. However, I know that Al was a loving and caring husband.  He missed Lois, a lot.  He was also a proud dad and granddad.   He was a wonderful neighbor and friend;  a true mensch.  He will be missed.  My deepest condolences. 

It’s been a pleasure to be a part of your extended family over the past few years. Al was so full of character and was often the entertainer in the group. May he Rest In Peace and May the memories feel your heart with happiness. Thank you Holly and Robyn for sharing your dad with us. 
Sincerely, Jeanne Wharton, HWD

Robin,  I am soo very sorry about your dad's passing. I only met him and your mom a few times, they were quite the characters. I know that you were truly devoted to him, the way you were always running to Florida to visit and take care of him.  He was blessed to have had you as a daughter.  I love you honey.  Take care my sweet Robin (and of course Steven)

Debbi


Albert was my older brother and when I think of him I feel love, mine for him and his for me.  That is a certainly a wonderful gift to have in ones life.  He was proud of his family and loved them.  He was proud of his achievements in his aeronautical career, especially his contributions to the US Space Program. He was a person who found happiness in his life which is perhaps an individual's greatest triumph. 
In these last years, my brother struggled with many health issues, yet he could summon up jokes about the difficulties that he  faced which takes  strength and character.   
Albert will be missed, certainly by me, and I cherish the memories of this kind, uneffected, man that I am proud to call my brother.  He has found his peace.   


One of my favorite pictures of Albert and younger brother Herb together!! Will miss you greatly.

Stephen

Even though this past month has been very trying, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Was so glad to have spent the last moments of dad’s life with him as well as taking him out into the sunshine once he got to his facility.   I will treasure that moment and others forever   His legacy lives on through his grandchildren, Matt and Rachel and his great grandchildren. Lori, Jax, and Hope.   He was thrilled when his great grands visited him at his assisted living facility and lit  up the entire place   One of my strongest memories of my dad was the year we traveled  together driving to downton via I 95 in Philly and his super aggressive driving.  I read so many books and tried not to look up.  Our favorite soon was “raindrops keep falling on my head”.  We sang along with it almost everyday for a year!  I was truly daddy’s girl. Love ❤️ 

OBITUARY

Albert Stein

29 July, 1927 – 25 August, 2018

Baldwin-Fairchild Goldenrod/Winter Park Funeral Home

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