Obituary: Michael J. Herbert, 73

Michael J. Herbert, 73, of Titusville (Hopewell Township) passed away Monday, Sept. 12, surrounded by his loving family at his home.

Born in Jersey City, he moved to Trenton in 1965 and to Titusville in 1976.

Mr. Herbert was a senior partner in the Lawrence Township law firm of Herbert, Van Ness, Cayci and Goodell.

He received his B.A. with honors from Jersey City State College, was an Eagleton Fellow from Rutgers University, from which he received his M.A., and received his law degree from Seton Hall University in 1970. While attending law school at night, Mr. Herbert served as secretary to Gov. Richard J. Hughes, executive assistant to the Chancellor of Higher Education, and on the staff of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.

Mr. Herbert was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1970 and became a Certified Civil Trial Lawyer in 1982. He was widely respected and often lectured on legal topics.

In the municipal area, Mr. Herbert served, among many others, as municipal attorney for Princeton Borough, West Windsor Township and Plainsboro Township. He was associate counsel for the NJ League of Municipalities and served on the Governor’s Transition Committee on Personnel (2001).

Mr. Herbert served as counsel to the Diocese of Trenton; the Standard Bred Breeders and Owners Association; the Mercer County Vo-Tech and Special Services Schools and to one of his true loves, the NJSIAA (NJ State Interscholastic Athletic Association, which governs sports for public and parochial schools).

He also served on the board of trustees and as president of Catholic Charities. He was involved with “Guardian Angel” Dinner Dance for 20 years. Since 1983 he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey City University Foundation, Inc.

Mr. Herbert served in the US Army.

Son of the late William J. and Margaret F. Garrahy Herbert, brother of the late Mary McDonald, William and John Herbert, he survived by his wife, Mary Jo (Auer) Herbert; four sons and daughters-in-law, Michael W. and Kimberly Herbert of Hamilton, Christopher J. and Kathleen Herbert of Pine Bush, N.Y., Brian C. and Rose Herbert of Ewing and Mark P. and Danielle Herbert of Lake Worth, Fla.; one daughter and son-in-law, Susanne and Oliver Giller of Titusville; seven grandchildren, Amy and her husband, Bryan Gauvin, Melissa A. Herbert, Margaret G. Herbert, Emily Herbert, Meghan Herbert, Alexander Giller and Julia Giller; two great grandchildren, Rebecca and Phoenix Gauvin; one sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and John McDonald of Manalapan; two brothers and one sister-in-law, James Herbert of Princeton and Senator Frank and Eleanor Herbert of Sparta; also, many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and again on Friday from 10 until 10:45 a.m. at St. James Roman Catholic Church, 115 E. Delaware Ave., Pennington, N.J. 08534. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 11 a.m. at the church.

Burial will follow in Harbourton Cemetery, Harbourton.
Arrangements are under the direction of the M. William Murphy Funeral Home, 935 Parkway Ave., Ewing.

In keeping with Mr. Herbert’s commitment to the poor, contributions in his name may be made to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, 383 W. State St. Trenton, N.J. 08618 ATTN: Jane Hargraves. www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org.