Herbert William Morreall

1915 - 2013
Herbert William Morreall, Jr., of West Caldwell, NJ, died Saturday (February 9, 2013) at Crane's Mill Retirement Community, West Caldwell, NJ, where he had lived for thirteen years. He was 97.

He was born in Utica, NY, son of Herbert W. and Minnie H. Morreall. He graduated from high school in Mount Carmel, PA, and from Bucknell University in 1937 with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering. He belonged to Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. During W.W. II he was assigned to work on the development of military intelligence film at Ansco, a photographic film and camera manufacturer in Binghamton, NY. He continued his employment at Ansco, later known as General Aniline & Film Corporation, for 31 years. During early U.S. space flights he worked with astronauts Cooper, Schirra, Slayton and Stafford to develop technology for photography from outer space.

From 1968 to 1971 he was Vice President of Operations, Electronic Video Recording Division, for CBS in Manhattan. He worked with renowned engineer Peter C. Goldmark, National Medal of Science winner, to bring to market the first video playback device for TVs, the Electronic Video Recorder (EVR). From 1972 to 1982 he was employed at Englehard Industries, Newark, NJ, as Director of Operations, in charge of the construction and operation of the first facility to manufacture automotive catalytic converters for pollution control.

An active Rotarian for 54 years, he was the President of the Rotary Club of Newark, NJ, in 1991-92. For more than 57 years he was also a member of the Vestal-Otseningo, NY, Lodge of the Masonic Order. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Quality Control. While living in Binghamton, NY, he served on the board of the Family Service Association and was an elder at West Presbyterian Church. He designed and built a small cottage on a lake in upstate NY and was president of the Geneganslet Lake Association three times. Sailing his small boat in Sunday afternoon races was a great joy in his life. He enjoyed bowling on a Rotary league well into his 90's and loved playing bridge in later life.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 59 years, Betty. He is survived by two daughers, Gail Crider and Joan Henricks and her husband, Alan Henricks; three grandchildren, Scott Crider and his wife Krista Crider, Jessica Henricks and Taylor Henricks and his wife Lisa Henricks; and four great-grandchildren, Samuel Crider, Kara Crider, Brady Henricks and Reese Henricks. His elder sister, Helen Morreall Ruths, predeceased him.

A memorial service will be held on February 16 at 2 p.m. at Crane's Mill in West Caldwell, NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter, 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834, or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, or to the charity of your choice.