Bertram S. Herbert, 75, Gettysburg, PA passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at his home after a lengthy struggle with illness.
He was born July 14, 1948, in White Plains, NY, the son of the late Stanley Herbert and Ruth Green Herbert. Bert is survived by his wife Janice Martenz Fahber.
Bert graduated from Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY where he served as an altar boy and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He earned an MA in anthropology at Fordham University under Margaret Meade. Bert began his career as an archaeologist for the Allegheny National Forest in 1978.
ARCHAEOLOGIST FINDS BURIED SHIP IN NEW YORK CITY, JANUARY 5, 1982
He worked for Soil Systems located in Georgia testing ground sites around the United States, New York City, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala. Soil Systems was contracted in 1982 by a builder in New York City to survey a building site. After a deep 20-foot shovel/backhoe test, Bert found the remains of a 300-year-old ship, called the “Princess Caroline.” With only three weeks to complete the ship’s removal, he supervised 46 archaeologists to get the delicate job done. The full history is in the book, “The Ship That Held Up Wall Street.”
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Bert joined the National Park System in 1988 as an archaeologist, moving to the Gettysburg National Military Park until his retirement in 2015.
Bert had charisma and everyone loved him.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four step-children; Leah Fahber of Bridgeton, NJ, William Fahber, Jr. and his wife Catherine of Paris, France, Bruce Fahber of Spanaway, Washington, Brenda Shefftall and her husband Adam of Vineland, NJ, and 8 step-grandchildren whom he loved dearly.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m from Monahan Funeral Home in Gettysburg, PA. There will be a viewing at the funeral home on Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be in Overlook Cemetery, Bridgeton, NJ on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Online obituary and condolences are available at monahanfuneralhome.com