Alfred Al Francis Seibert

SEIBERT ALFRED FRANCIS SEIBERT "Al" Passed away peacefully on February 9, 2012, while his wife, Rebecca, held his hand, at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. His death was a result of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure and he had suffered from Alzheimer's disease since 1996. He was 81 years old. Al was born on March 12, 1930 in Magnolia, NJ. His parents were the late Thelma A. (Major) and Alfred F. Seibert, Sr. In the mid-1930s, his family settled in the Northeast section of Washington, DC where Al grew up. He graduated from Eastern High School in 1948. He was a carpenter and later served in the Army from 1954 to 1956. He owned and operated Seibert Composition, a type-setting business for over 25 years. Al took clarinet lessons for seven years when he was a child, but fell in love with the sound of the saxophone when he was a young teen. From that time on, he played the tenor sax. Al was from the Lester Young-Al Cohn-Zoot Sims school of sax playing. In the 1950s, he played tenor sax with the Woody Herman Band, The United States Army Band and THE Orchestra. He worked with such luminaries as Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Shirley Horn, Charlie Byrd, Coleman Hawkins and Washington's own legendary pianist, composer, arranger Bill Potts. As one of his musician friends said of Al during this time, he had his own way of adding prettiness and warmth to his solos. All through the years, he continued to work as a jazz musician. In the Washington, DC area, Al worked with numerous well-known musicians including: Lennie Cuje', Ted Efantis, Brooks Tegler, John Jensen, John Previti, Robert Redd, and Chuck Redd. From the late 1980s through 2002, Al worked every Sunday at the Inn at Glen Echo. Over the years, Al recorded on a number of albums including "Jazz Under the Dome," "The NEW Jazz Quintet at Olivia Davis' Patio Lounge," "Gershwin & Kern: Revisited," Brooks Tegler's Hot Jazz album "And Not Only That," and Don Lerman's album "The Zoot Side of Life." As Al always said, "I just want to play my horn." Al loved his family! He was the person everyone could count on to help with any kind of problem or crisis. He will be dearly missed by family and friends. In addition to his loving wife, Rebecca, he is survived by his beloved son, Dean Seibert, daughter-in law, Cynthia Seibert, sister, Carol Genereux, brother-in-law, Lawrence Genereux, adored granddaughters Jessica Seibert and Caitlyn Seibert , and great-grandson, Timothy Flynn, Jr. He was preceded in death by his sons, Alfred Seibert, Jr., John Seibert, and Frank Seibert, and his grandchildren, Angelica Seibert and Anthony Seibert. A visitation will be held Wednesday February 15, 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. At National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway Falls Church, VA 22042. A Chapel Service will be held Thursday February 16, 11 a.m. at National Funeral Home with burial to follow at Mount Comfort Cemetery, 6600 S. Kings Highway, Alexandria, VA 22306. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation are much appreciated. The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, One Intrepid Square, West 46th Street & 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 1-800-259-4636; http://www.alzinfo.org/1-800-259-4636" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.alzinfo.org/1-800-259-4636" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.alzinfo.org/1-800-259-4636">www.alzinfo.org/1-800-259-4636; http://www.alzinfo.org/

Arrangements under the direction of National Funeral Home, Falls Church, VA.