Obituary of Albert Cestero

ALBERT J. CESTERO, 81, of FREEHOLD, died Thursday, Dec. 27 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. He was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold Township. Mr. Cestero retired from United Services Life and Citicorp, both Arlington, Va. Born and raised in New York City, he was a member of the first graduating class of Cardinal Hayes High School, which he attended on an academic scholarship, graduating in the Class of 1944, with honors. After high school, Albert enlisted in the Army Air Corps and attained the rank of Corporal where he learned about computers and hoped to pilot a P51 Mustang. The war ended and he was honorably discharged in 1946. He went to work in New York City as a tabulating machine specialist, and on June 8, 1947, met the love of his life at a dance at St. Brendan's Parish, Patricia Anne Hickey. They were married two years later on Sept. 3, 1949. Their marriage lasted 55 years until Dec. 5, 2004, separated them by her death. Wanting to continue his education, he enrolled at Seton Hall University in the pre-med program. He earned a BS degree with honors while working two full time jobs and commuting from New York City, the Class of 1952. One of his anatomy projects is still on display at Seton Hall and is used till this day as an example of what perfect work is. He became a father for the first time on March 3, 1951. After graduation, he was accepted to the University of Puerto Rico Medical School, which he attended for three years, a top student. When his second child was born on March 17, 1954, he needed to change direction. With two children and a wife he thought that it was important that he earn as much as possible, and decided to forgo his last year of med school, and get back in the computer world. It was at this time that he wrote some reference journals which are still being used today, and have earned him a "Google Scholar" status. After the move back to New York City, Albert and his family purchased their first house in Middletown in 1958. In 1959, an opportunity presented itself and he moved his family to Puerto Rico, where he and his two brothers opened the first Data Processing Service on the island. On Jan. 30, 1961, his third child was born, and he decided to sell the business and come back to the states and purchase a home in Englishtown. On Dec. 6, 1963, his fourth child was born and Albert became a co-founder and coach of the St. Rose of Lima boys basketball league, Freehold, and donated the first electric scoreboard for the brand new gym. In later years he coached in the Manalapan boys basketball league. He worked as a computer consultant, and became prominent in his field and was known as one who could solve mathematical and statistical problems that no one else could. He and his wife moved to the northern Virginia area in 1984 and remained there until Patricia's retirement, in 1997. That year brought them back to the Freehold area, to be closer to their children and grandchildren and also brought the diagnosis of Alzheimer's to him. His beloved wife, Patricia, cared for him until her untimely death. Then his son, Albert Jr. and his wife Jackie took loving care of him and ensured that he lived his remaining three years with dignity. Jackie truly exemplified what love is by selflessly giving of herself to the point of exhaustion all while working a full time job, and running her own household. While Albert was in their care he was never sick and attended the Allaire Senior Daycare Center, Wall, four days a week, played chess and still shot a mean game of pool. His hobbies included fishing, building balsa model airplanes, coaching and playing basketball, watching the NY Giants, solving crossword puzzles, playing chess, going on cruises with the love of his life, and dreaming. He is survived by his loving sister, Gisela of Puerto Rico; and his children, Christine, Albert Jr., Richard, and Michael Cestero, and their spouses, all of Freehold; his grandchildren, Sharon Colin, Krista Schreimreiff, Shea and Sarah Cestero, Zachary and Shannon Cestero; and his great-grandchildren, Lauren Chiavarini and Matthew Colin, all of Freehold. Also surviving are his dearest sister-in-law, Christina DiDonato and her husband Tony of Winston Salem, N.C., her son, Ralph Cestero of Herndon, Va.; and all his loving nieces and nephews. Visiting is from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township. Relatives and friends may gather on Monday at the funeral home for the Rite of Committal followed by his 10 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Interment will follow in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, Freehold. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Alzheimer's Charity of your choice, in Albert's memory. For directions, information, or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.