Herbert Bernard Tillem was born in the Bronx in 1932, son of Carl and Ethel Tillem. He was the oldest of four children and oldest of nine first cousins. When he was a kid he played stickball and enjoyed body surfing at the beach.
He was the first member of his family to graduate from college and received a degree in social work in 1950 from the City College of New York. After graduating in 1954, he was drafted into the Army and served stateside during the Korean War. He completed his service in 1956 with an honorable discharge and used the GI Bill to attend Teachers College at Columbia University.
He started working as a teacher in the Bronx and later met his wife, Rena Silverman. Herb and Rena had two children, Ilene and Steven, born in 1960 and 1964. Over the course of Herb's career, he became a beloved principal at P.S. 215 in Far Rockaway, New York. He loved telling his kids original, funny, and creative stories.
He retired as a principal in 1987 and later moved to New Jersey to live closer to his "darling daughter." In retirement, he traveled extensively and hosted a weekly poker game with friends and neighbors. He was very active in his retirement community, including working for the community newspaper and serving as the Men's Club secretary.
In his free time, he loved exercising and eating healthy—five days per week he used his exercycle and would eat peanut butter and fruit sandwiches for lunch. He loved collecting fountain pens and sending emails to long-lost friends and acquaintances. In New Jersey, Herb also spent extensive time with his grandchildren Jared, Gavin, and Jane.
His family feels the best way to describe Herb's spirit is that he was extremely kind and funny. He was deeply positive and tried to find joy and happiness in the minutiae of everyday activities.
Herb leaves behind his wife, Rena; siblings, Jack and Susan; children, Ilene and Steven; in-laws, David and Angela; grandchildren, Jared, Gavin, and Jane; and great-grandchild Hayes.
He was the first member of his family to graduate from college and received a degree in social work in 1950 from the City College of New York. After graduating in 1954, he was drafted into the Army and served stateside during the Korean War. He completed his service in 1956 with an honorable discharge and used the GI Bill to attend Teachers College at Columbia University.
He started working as a teacher in the Bronx and later met his wife, Rena Silverman. Herb and Rena had two children, Ilene and Steven, born in 1960 and 1964. Over the course of Herb's career, he became a beloved principal at P.S. 215 in Far Rockaway, New York. He loved telling his kids original, funny, and creative stories.
He retired as a principal in 1987 and later moved to New Jersey to live closer to his "darling daughter." In retirement, he traveled extensively and hosted a weekly poker game with friends and neighbors. He was very active in his retirement community, including working for the community newspaper and serving as the Men's Club secretary.
In his free time, he loved exercising and eating healthy—five days per week he used his exercycle and would eat peanut butter and fruit sandwiches for lunch. He loved collecting fountain pens and sending emails to long-lost friends and acquaintances. In New Jersey, Herb also spent extensive time with his grandchildren Jared, Gavin, and Jane.
His family feels the best way to describe Herb's spirit is that he was extremely kind and funny. He was deeply positive and tried to find joy and happiness in the minutiae of everyday activities.
Herb leaves behind his wife, Rena; siblings, Jack and Susan; children, Ilene and Steven; in-laws, David and Angela; grandchildren, Jared, Gavin, and Jane; and great-grandchild Hayes.
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Herbert Tillem's Guestbook
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