Name: Visitation for John Herbert Dahm Jr.
Start: 2016-10-13T18:00:00.000Z
End: 2016-10-13T20:00:00.000Z
Location: Joseph W. Sorce Funeral Home Inc - West Nyack

John Herbert Dahm, Jr., lifelong resident of West Nyack, passed away on October 10, 2016 surrounded by family at the age of 78.

Born October 11, 1937 in Tappan, NY, the son of J. Herbert Dahm Sr. and Edna Schneider Dahm, he was raised in West Nyack with his younger sister Lois. A man of many facets, Bert's unparalleled work ethic and drive fueled a passion for his town and its history, a stewardship for economic resources, and a vision for innovative advancement with integrity.

Known as "Herb" through college and "Bert" later, Bert attended West Nyack Elementary School (now the West Nyack Free Library), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, graduating from Clarkson University and Harvard Business School. Having entered ROTC at RPI in his freshman year, he was forced to re-enlist when they realized he was only sixteen. He excelled in Naval officer training, served aboard the USS Radford, and ultimately rising to the rank of Captain.

From the two room elementary school in a class of twelve, Bert was among the first graduating class of the newly built Clarkstown HS North. Later, he served seven years on the Clarkstown School Board, four as President, laying the cornerstone of Clarkstown HS South.

Bert met his wife Arlene Lindstrom Dahm, an artist and teacher, while in college and they married in 1961. Together they traveled extensively, especially to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Each season they introduced their three daughters to the great outdoors among families of his boyhood camp friends. Among other sports, the family enjoys water and alpine skiing today because of his deep affiliations. Earning both FAA private and commercial pilot licenses, he extended his love of flight and sense of broader horizons with his wife and daughters. Bert has traveled around the world leaving many firsts in his wake, including placing the very first cell phone call from Antarctica. Always happy to return home, he'd say there was nothing more beautiful than the lower Hudson Valley.

His entrepreneurial drive carried Bert through a career in industrial real estate development & management, including innovation of his fiber optic network and telecommunications company, Opticom Corporation. Bert took pleasure as a visiting professor and lecturer in business and real estate subjects. In 1985, he received a Presidential Citation for Outstanding Personal Achievement in advancing private sector involvement in Federal employment programs.

During his career and throughout retirement, Bert was an active civic member. For instance: Heritage of West Nyack (President); Rockland County Fair Committee (Chairman); Private Industry Council of Rockland County (Founding Chairman); Greater Rockland Economic Development Corporation (Founding Chairman); Hudson Valley Economic Development District (Vice Chairman); Governors Job Training Partnership Council; Academy Selection Panel for Congressman Benjamin Gilman; Clarkson College Alumni Admissions Committee (Chairman), Clarkson College Alumni Association (President); Nyack Hospital Corporation; West Nyack Swim Club (V.P., Chairman of Buildings & Grounds, inspiring the underground "Bert Alert"; Judicial Advisory Committee to the Rockland County Bar Association; Cooperative Extension Association of Rockland County (President); Rockland County Association, Inc. (President); United Way of Rockland County (Campaign Chairman).

Bert was proud to be recalled for duty in 1991 for Operation Desert Storm, from which he fashioned a very successful second career in the Navy Reserves. Known as the "Father of SALTS" (Streamlined Alternative Logistics Transmission System) he conceived and directed the development of this computer-based batch mode data transmission system using the INMARSAT communications satellite to permit world-wide transmission and receipt of non-tactical logistics data by ships at sea and deployed Marine aviation units. Units were installed at seven key locations in the Arabian Gulf and a modified version was shared with the Australian and British forces. To this day, SALTS serves as the baseline method for communication of logistics information within the US Navy.

Bert will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his country and his community. He seldom made small talk, favoring in-depth conversations with doers of shared interests. He was well-versed in all things mechanical, ranging from tactile to the cerebral. Abundant time was made for his grandchildren with whom he shared real life adventures, railroad excursions and life advice for which they admire him immensely.

Bert is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Arlene; sister Lois Dahm (Boca Raton, FL); three daughters and sons-in-law: Carolyn and George Mulry (New Canaan, CT); Kristine and Peter Kenez (Mendham, NJ); Kathryn and Hank Girardin (Northampton, MA); and five grandchildren Brian, Alex, Gavin, Hollis and George. He also leaves cousin Gloria Huntington Harlow (Simsbury, CT); sister- in-law Corinne Holmberg and husband Richard (Boulder, CO) and a nephew and two nieces. He was predeceased by nephew Gregory.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 13 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at the Sorce Funeral Home, 728 West Nyack Road in West Nyack, NY. A celebration of Bert's life will be held on Friday, October 14 at 10am at Clarkstown Dutch Reformed Church, 107 Strawtown Road in West Nyack, NY. Interment will follow at the George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heritage of West Nyack, PO Box 46, West Nyack, NY 10994.

Joseph W. Sorce FH Inc.

728 West Nyack Rd.

West Nyack, NY 10994

(845) 358-4433

www.sorcefuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Journal News from Oct. 12 to Oct. 13, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for John Dahm

Sponsored by Joseph W. Sorce Funeral Home Inc - West Nyack.

8 Entries

Jack Nelson

November 28, 2016

So sad to read in the USS Radford Newsletter of the passing of a valued shipmate. Herb, -- as we knew you then -- you were always part of my fond memories of our U. S. Navy days. I feel blessed that we could reconnect last year at a Radford reunion. Rest in peace, my friend.

Tom Irwin

October 16, 2016

I will always treasure my time with Bert at Camp Winape both as a camper and then as a counselor. Daily camp activities, hiking in the White Mountains and canoeing on the Rangley Lakes established a lasting friendship even though our lives moved us in different directions. Camp continued to provide us a common place where our families could meet and reestablish the events of our lives.

You will be missed.

George Wagner

October 15, 2016

Farewell Shipmate,

I knew you as Herb in our days together on RADFORD out in Pearl Harbor, and those were indeed great days back when we were young. We shared meals in the Wardroom and liberty together in wonderful places like Hong Kong, Sasebo, Yokosuka, Taiwan and other places in the western Pacific that most had not seen back then in the early 60s. You were a favorite with the entire crew too; you kept the spare parts coming for repairs to our old WW II destroyer, you kept all of us well fed in the three messes your cooks served, but, mostly, because you were called PAY, the guy who paid us our measly stipends in those days. You were a great shipmate to all of us, Herb. Beyond that, though, you and Arlene were Sarah and my next door neighbors for two years in the Navy's finest officer housing area, a string of small townhouses in Radford Terrace, right under the Honolulu Airport take-off corridor. We still have fond memories of sitting together on our adjacent back lanais in the evenings when home sipping wonderful hand crafted Mai Tais. Sarah and I also cherish your and Arlene's continuing friendship over the half century since we moved on from our first ship. You were a great l shipmate and we will sorely miss you.

With best of memories,
George Wagner
RADM, USN (Ret)
and Sarah Wagner too

Sue and Frank Antonelli

October 14, 2016

To Arlene and Family,
Bert was one of the original creators and designers of our lovely community known as Winape Hills in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Not only did his experience and foresight help to make this a lovely place to live but he continued to contribute to our success. Over the years, Bert has not been able to spend a great deal of time in the NEK, but he continued to support the effort to make this a wonderful community. Just last fall, Bert and Arlene came to the kingdom and repaired our dock when it was in storage. He replaced over 200 screws/nails to make the dock a stronger one when it was returned to the lake in the spring. Early in August when Bert clearly was suffering from his cancer treatments, he attended our meeting and was his usual gregarious self. Learning that our mailboxes had to be reconstructed to meet the postal regulations, without hesitation, Bert got a team to work with him, and in a short time had the required mailbox stand built. We will all miss Bert and we will be forever grateful to his contributions in creating and maintaining our lovely community, Winape Hill.
With our deepest sympathy,

October 13, 2016

To the Family of John Herbert Dahm Jr.,

The entire West Nyack Post Office Staff would like to extend there deepest Condolences . Fondly know to everyone here as 'Bert' , he often stopped by to say hello to the staff and update us on the history of West Nyack. He was always in a pleasant mood and full of joy. I often conversed with Bert , when he would make suggestions on the exterior of the West Nyack Post Office and his dedication to the yearly upkeep of the beautiful foliage . John Herbert Dahm Jr. , you were truly one of a kind and will truly be missed. Thank You for your years of commitment to us here at the Post office and, the Village of West Nyack.

Sincerely ,

Tina E. Freeman
Postmaster
720 West Nyack Rd.
West Nyack N.Y. 10994

Tom Hanley

October 12, 2016

Thanks to Eric Kolar for posting on the Winape Facebook site. I remember admiring Bert as a young camper. What a distinguished guy. Please accept my sympathies.

Barbara (Fuss) Steinhoff

October 11, 2016

Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. I always considered Bert a dear friend and we had some great times together during our high school years. I'm sorry we lost touch over the years. Our prayers are with you all. Bert will always be remembered as a kind, generous, reliable person, who always did his very best, especially for those he loved and respected.
Sincerely, Barbara (Fuss) Steinhoff

Richard Halvorsen

October 11, 2016

So sad Bert was a great guy. We were friends all through the last graduating class from Congers High School, 1954.

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