Alvin Frederick Nehrenz

Alvin was born in Baltimore on October 31, 1922. His parents were Walther Frederick Nehrenz Sr. and Alvina Schrader Nehrenz. Halloween was an appropriate birthday for him as he enjoyed a good prank and loved performing “magic” for his niece, nephew and their friends. He was an avid collector of music of the 40’s and 50’s and was a great fan of Frank Sinatra.

He was educated in Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic from the A course. He was accepted into Johns Hopkins University where he majored in engineering. He graduated in just three years with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. World War II was in full tilt and he joined the Merchant Marine and later attended the Merchant Marine Academy for a year to qualify him to be a ship’s engineer responsible for keeping the ship running. During this time, he had the opportunity to travel in the Orient and developed a great respect for the people and their culture. He sent home many interesting things that can still be seen in the homes of family members to this day.

After mustering out of the Merchant Marines, he found a good reason for not returning to sea…Catherine Marie Henderson. They were married in 1948 and were able to celebrate 71 years together this past May. In July of 1949, they welcomed their daughter, Nancy Marie Nehrenz. In the early years of their marriage, Alvin continued to take courses at Johns Hopkins and eventually earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and was a licensed professional engineer.

Alvin was employed by several engineering firms during his career, such as Martins in Middle River, Bowles Engineering in Rockville, Maryland Drydock in Baltimore and Bethlehem Steel in Sparrows Point where he was employed in the ship building division. He retired from Bethlehem Steel.

He was an avid reader of engineering and financial journals and loved to critique them with his engineering friends. Not on the computer…in writing. He was a letter writer, not a computer man.

He was a loving son, devoted husband, adoring father and wonderful uncle. He passed away on August 22, 2019 at the Masonic Home in Cockeysville where he was recuperating after a serious fall at his home. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Henderson Nehrenz, daughter, Nancy Marie Nehrenz, niece Patricia and her husband Charles Legters, nephew Walther F. Nehrenz III and wife, Donna.

The family will receive friends at Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, Inc., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Rd.) Timonium, MD 21093 on Tuesday, August 27 from 11 to 12pm at which time a funeral service will be celebrated at 12pm.

Interment Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed in Mr. Nehrenz’s memory in the honor of his daughter Nancy to Gallagher Services, 2520 Pot Spring Road, Attn: Donations, Timonium, MD 21093.