Herman Zuckerman

Herman Zuckerman

Herman was born to Russian immigrants Louis and Yetta (nee Blum) Zuckerman, on December 12, 1920 , the youngest of four children. His older siblings were Rachel, Morris, and Phillip (all deceased).

In 1935 he became a part of the New Deal working at the CCC. Left the CCC in 1936 and joined the Marine Corps.
He served in the Corps and was scheduled to be transferred from the USS Helena to the USS Louisville I sometime in early December 1941. He was awaiting the arrival of his new ship and was assigned duty
landing cargo to the battleships in Pearl Harbor. On that fateful morning, he was preparing to enjoy the
Sunday routine when the attack occurred. During the initial bombing run by the Japanese, he retrieved
from one of the trucks on the pier a .50 Caliber anti-aircraft machine gun. Opening the crate with his bare hands, he opened the breach, scooped out the packing grease and loaded an ammo belt and began to fire at the attacking planes. The force of the ammo being pushed through the barrel and breach sprayed the grease all over him and the other Marine that came to assist. He held the machine gun as steady as possible on top of the flipped crate while lying on the ground. He didn't know if he had
managed to shoot any of the attackers down. After the raid he assisted with helping his fellow Marines and Sailors. He stayed on the USS Helena for the duration of the war serving in the South Pacific Theater in the Solomon Islands. In July of 1945, his division was alerted that they would be receiving amphibian training to be the first wave for the invasion of Japan.

He was discharged from the Marines in 1945 and attended Radioman's school to become a technician.
After graduation he was unable to find a job in the field and took a test to become a police officer in the
City of Newark. He was appointed to the Police Department in 1947. He got married in 1947 to Mona (nee Donnerstag) together they had three children Michael, Rosella and Alan. Herman raised as  his own son Mona's infant brother Henry in 1949. His career in the police department was progressed from a walking post to being in a radio car. He was made a detective in 1969 and served in that capacity for twelve years. During that time, he obtained his GED for high school and entered into Rutgers University
to continue his education. He finished with honors, receiving a degree in Criminal Justice in six years at night and a scholarship to John Jay to pursue his Masters degree. He was forced into retirement from the police at the age of 72.

Herman was a member of Loyalty lodge #33 Free and Accepted Masons in Union, Scottish Rite of Northern NJ, Salaam Shrine in Fairfield. He was a three time Past Commander of Newark Police Post 1439 VFW. He continued his membership with the Fraternal Order of Police as a retiree. He was active with the West Hudson detachment of the Marine Corps League and had made extensive appearances as a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors group to help commemorate the Day that will live in infamy.

For recreation, Herman and his brother Phillip, were members of several gun clubs based in Lincoln Park and had won many competitions. Later in life he became fascinated with Astronomy and joined Amateur Astronomers Inc. at Union County College in Cranford. He got certified as an observer and was placed on
a team to operate one of the two telescopes (10" and 24") for the public. He was a fixture at the observatory attending every Friday Night to assist in presenting to the public and the other teams on
duty. One of his other passions was crossword puzzles. After reading the Star Ledger, NY Post and Daily
News every day you could find him at The Cozy Corner doing the puzzles.

Surviving him are his children Michael, Henry, Rosella, Alan, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be in the Galante Funeral home 2800 Morris Ave. Union, NJ on Thursday at 11 AM. Entombment will follow in Hollywood Memorial Park Union, NJ. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4-8 pm.

A Masonic Funeral  Service will be conferred by Loyalty Lodge # 33 Union, NJ on Wednesday evening December 7, 2016 at 7:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers that you make memorials to Amateur Astronomers Inc. PO Box 111 Garwood, NJ 07027,

or to

The Associated Humane Societies 124 Evergreen Avenue Newark, NJ 07114 in his memory.