BC Equipment Manager and Drag Racing Enthusiast

Albert (Al) Olster, of Fairfield, died Saturday December 17th at St. Joseph’s Hospital Wayne.

Albert was born in Passaic, and attended Passaic High School class of '61. He was part of the family business, Flexicote Processing until 1977. After his marriage to Donna (Kolba) he moved to Fairfield.

A lifelong drag racing enthusiast, Al was a member of the NHRA (National Hot Rod Assoc), North East Division(NED) participating in many national events. He was also a member of the inaugural NHRA Safety Safari Team. He raced a 1963 Plymouth and a 1969 Camera, both cars were called One Step Beyond and were prepared by Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins of Jenkins Competition in Malvern, Pa.

In 1968, Al held the SS/DA national Class record. In September of 1979, Al was picked as a Car Craft Magazine, High Riser of the year Al was inducted into the Northeast Division Legion of honor in York, Pa., in 2005 at the York Reunion. He still followed drag racing and enjoyed nothing more than getting together with the 'Old Gang' and 'Bench Race'… talking about the good old days of racing as well as the current. 

Al was a 25 year member of the Fairfield Volunteer Fire Depart., Exempt Status a Past President. He also owned Concord Chevrolet in Madison, from 1978-1983 as well as Fairfield Auto Repair 1985-1990.

Al played a very active roll in school sports. During his life he was a certified Umpire for Softball and Baseball. He also was the Head Coach for Fairfield Little League Baseball, Fairfield Little League Girls Softball, and The Fairfield Falcons Football.

He was West Essex Regional HS Athletic Equipment Manager, as well as, maintaining the West Essex Grounds. He was the Athletic Equipment Manager for; Bergen Catholic HS, Passaic HS and Caldwell-West Caldwell HS Volunteer Equipment Assistant. He was a volunteer equipment manager for the NJ North-South Football Classic and the Robeson Football Classic.

He was predeceased by his parents Ned and Irene Olster and his late brother Berrill. Al left behind his wife Donna, son Timothy, daughter Bethany and faithful friend Toby (his yellow Lab).