"Uncle Al", born on August 14,1928 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Towson, Maryland, age 96, six weeks before his 97th birthday. He was married for 40 years to his beloved and devoted wife, Kathleen, "Aunt Kathy", who passed away on February 25, 2020. He was also preceded in death by six siblings; Joseph, John, Julius, Goldie, Margie and Olga. While Al and Kathy were not blessed with children, they devoted much time and energy, through the years, to sharing the lives and accomplishments of numerous nephews and nieces, as well as their children.

Al was a child of the Depression, raised along with his older siblings by his immigrant Hungarian mother Flora Varga (nee Bodogan), his father Joseph Varga having died tragically in a train accident shortly after Al's birth. Al's older siblings were a close-knit group, sharing their resources and support with their mother Flora in raising young Albert during the 1930s.

Al was a bright student in his formative years and graduated from Passaic High School in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1946. He furthered his education and graduated in 1950 from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of ROTC while in college and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1955. During his service, he participated as a Liaison Officer in the design and construction of the first two prototypes of the C-130 Hercules cargo airplane under the supervision of the Lockheed Corporation. He received an honorable discharge as a First Lieutenant.

Al was employed for 22 years by the Carrier Corporation, specializing in the design, fabrication and installation of air conditioning systems retrofitted in commercial buildings in major cities along the East Coast.

He found his employment both challenging and rewarding and he spent numerous years primarily in Florida, Syracuse, New York and Baltimore, Maryland. He retired from this successful business career at the age of 50 and shortly thereafter met and fell in love with his beloved Kathy. After they settled in Towson, Maryland, Al returned to employment with the U.S. Department of the Army as a mechanical engineer with the Chemical and Biological Defense Command – Operations Directorate at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, until his final retirement in March 1994.

In his younger years and early in his marriage with Kathy, Al was an avid certified scuba diver at many dive spots in the Caribbean, along the East Coast and elsewhere. He was also a tennis buff, who enjoyed a spirited game with friends and loved to follow the accomplishments of Jimmy Connors.

In their later years, Al and Kathy traveled extensively in Europe, including the British Isles, Italy, France, Austria and Hungary. Their favorite travel locations were Paris and Venice, which they visited often. They also traveled to all of the major national parks in the western United States and vacationed in Hawaii as well.

Throughout his adult life, Al was both disciplined and inquisitive, always seeking to maintain his vitality and intellectual curiosity. Al continued his daily "Air Force" exercises after his military discharge through many decades of his life, even into his early 90s. Al was also a voracious reader of periodicals, literary magazines, biographies of historical figures, histories of civilizations and mysteries of all types.

A private memorial service, celebrating the long life of Al and his beloved Kathy, will be held at Parkwood Cemetery. To honor Al and Kathy, please consider a gift of donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, PO Box 91891, Washington, DC 20090-1891.

Please share condolences with the extended family of Al and Kathy by signing and offering a remembrance in his guestbook at www.peacefulalternatives.com