Albert "Burt" Hendricks

Albert George “Burt” Hendricks, 67, passed away peacefully in his sleep at Peace Hospice on Saturday, May 21, 2016. His wife was by his side holding his hand. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling services. He was born on September 20, 1948 in Philadelphia to William and Emma Hedricks and raised in New Jersey. When he was ten years old, he saw his mother killed. He had a rough childhood. His maternal grandfather, Albert George La Maite became his support and best friend. He graduated from Lenape Regional High School in Medford, NJ in 1966. Two of his best friends in high school, Michael and Harry Gatto, brought him home many times and their mother Emma, cooked up many good Italian meals and gave him much support and love. He served his country as an Army Medic in Vietnam during the TET offensive. He also served in Japan and at Walter Reed. After being discharged he attended the University of Iowa for a year with a history major. He transferred to SUNY in Brockport, NY and changed his major to health and physical education since he had to work fulltime during college. He got his bachelor of science and some work towards a Masters. He taught for a while after graduation and then devoted his life to his love of history. He researched and wrote a book on the life of Sam Houston. He was in the process of researching the life of General George Patton. His other great love was running. In high school he ran the mile in four minutes and eight seconds. When he was in basic training his drill instructor made him run the mile twice because he thought his stopwatch was broken. He ran outside every day for an hour no matter the weather until his arthritis caught up to him. He still used a treadmill and exercised every day. He also loved baseball (Phillies), football (Iowa Hawkeyes), and NASCAR (the Earnhardts). He married his wife and soulmate, Janine, on April 5, 1986 and we had a wonderful marriage (that ended too soon) for over 30. I will miss him and love him for all of my life. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. Burt is now out of pain and in the hands of his maker. May he have peace. Burt also loved to write “quotes”. One of his last ones written on December 12, 2015 way, “Life is but an adornment making then death the whole nine yards.”