Albert D. Schielke

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Albert D Schielke, age 79, of Wayne, NJ.

Albert passed away peacefully on Saturday August 12, 2023 while receiving the loving care of his family and after a long courageous battle with lung cancer.  He was born and raised in Paterson, NJ and was one of two sons to Alfred Crew and Florence Schielke.  While growing up in Paterson, Albert attended Central High School where he was member of the Rifle Team.  Because of his academic excellence, Albert was able to skip a full grade of high school and graduate a year early with the class of 1959.  

Following his graduation from Central High School, Albert attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick.  He was only there for a year then transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.  Albert graduated earning his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.  He accepted a position offered to him at Fairleigh Dickinson as a professor.  While working as a professor at the university, Albert went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Physics and later his PhD in Astronomy.   Albert remained at Fairleigh Dickinson University for more than forty five years.  During his career, he was appointed Assistant Dean of the Junior College at Fairleigh Dickinson and later College Dean of Fairleigh Dickinson University.  He was also Vice President of Academic Affairs and oversaw the International Student Program where he worked closely with Wroxton College in England, as well as the University of Tel Aviv, three other universities in Turkey, and a college in Barcelona, Spain.  Albert retired as College Dean of Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2013.  

Albert always had a love of horses and raised Arabian Horses throughout his life.  In 1968, while at a Dude Ranch in Milford, PA Albert met an attractive young lady by the name of Susan Locker.  Susan was a dancer and a working member of the New York City Rockettes.  Albert and Susan started dating and as fate would have it, they fell in love and on June 28, 1974, they became husband and wife at the Westmount Country Club in West Paterson, NJ.  The newlyweds honeymooned in Hawaii then settled in the town of Wayne where they have been ever since.  During their time residing in Wayne, they welcomed the birth of their “one and only” daughter Lara.  

His wife Susan’s family owned a dance school in the city of Passaic and later in 1987, Susan and Albert built their school in Garfield called Locker School of Dance.  Albert was a carpenter in his spare time and had a complete woodworking shop in his garage.  For many years Albert worked alongside his wife Susan at the dance school as a stage manager/prop designer, music taper and scenery builder. Susan even got him in the show every year dancing along side her and their daughter. 

Travel was one of the family’s favorite pastimes.  Albert, Susan, and Lara traveled the world together visiting a wide variety of exotic destinations.  After their daughter married, they welcomed their son-in-law with open arms as their own son and vacationed together constantly.  Deep sea fishing and playing Blackjack were another of Albert’s favorite pursuits.  Often times while vacationing or cruising, Albert would book shore excursions to go deep sea fishing and horseback riding. He also treasured his Beefeater Gin Martinis “straight-up with a twist” and “shaken, not stirred.” 

Aside from all of Albert’s hobbies, talents, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Albert than providing for, and spending time with his wife Susan, his daughter Lara and her husband Greg, his grandchildren Mackenzie, and Chelsea, and his precious dachshund “Martini.”  

Albert was a soft-spoken man with a wonderfully dry sense of humor.  He was the kind of man who could handle any situation and be able to talk you through it.  Being a well-educated and brilliant man, he had the ability to captivate an audience of any age with a story or lecture.  Albert will be forever remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father, and cherished grandfather.  He touched the lives of countless people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Albert is survived by his wife Susan (nee Locker) of Wayne, his daughter Lara Coyle and her husband Greg of Wayne, two granddaughters Mackenzie Coyle and Chelsea Coyle of Wayne, he was predeceased by his brother Alfred Crew Schielke, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Albert's name may be made to American Lung Association