Family Of 'Uncle Al," Who Died At 97 In NJ Fire, Raises Funds, Seeks Missing Cat

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A 97-year-old man was rescued from a fire in a downtown Jersey City apartment Thursday, but he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, prosecutors said.

Now, his family is raising funds for the great-nephew of victim Albert Von Chorba, who lived with his "Uncle Al" and took care of him since he was in his 20s.

"Uncle Al lived in that house for 46 years," writes the mom who started the GoFundMe page. "My son wasn’t home at the time, but Uncle Al was rescued and taken to a hospital in Livingston, NJ, where he fought bravely for several days. Sadly, on May 18, 2025, Uncle Al passed away at the age of 97.

"Just a week before, on May 8, we had celebrated his birthday in the neighborhood at his favorite local tavern—something that had become an
annual tradition. He was surrounded by love ... Uncle Al was more than family—he was a central figure in our lives and someone my son cared for with deep love and dedication for over a decade ... helping preserve Uncle Al’s quality of life and independence in their family home.

"The fire not only took the physical home—it disrupted the entire foundation of my son’s life. His artwork, bikes, clothing, and countless irreplaceable memories were damaged or lost. The house is currently uninhabitable. The family cat, Yin, is still missing. And now, we are grieving the loss of someone who meant the world to us."

They said they're awaiting insurance assessments and next steps, but are looking for interim support to replace lost clothing and belongings, lost wages, temporary housing, and funeral and memorial costs.

The page had raised $5,200 of a $6,000 goal by Wednesday.

Firefighters found Albert Von Chorba injured shortly after 1:30 p.m. last Thursday when they headed to his basement apartment at 318 York St. to put out a fire, said the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

Von Chorba had serious injuries and was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, and later to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, prosecutors said. He was pronounced dead shortly after noon on Sunday.

The Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force and the Jersey City Fire Department investigated the fire, prosecutors said. Foul play is not suspected and the cause appears to be electrical in nature, they said.