Herbert Dresher, longtime Riverhead resident, died at his home on Wednesday, August 5, 2015. He was 94 years old.
Born in Utica, New York on Nov. 29, 1920, he was the son of Benjamin and Lena (Slakter) Dresher.
He attended Syracuse University before going to work in his parents’ furniture business in Utica and then joining the U.S. Army during World War II.
Dresher’s military service brought him to Camp Upton on Long Island, where he would meet his future bride, Frances Oppenheimer, of Riverhead. Frances, then 17, reluctantly attended a USO function at Camp Upton at the insistence of her mother. At that event she met the young soldier from Utica, but was not as impressed with him as her mother was. Mrs. Oppenheimer invited Pvt. Dresher to dinner, but her daughter rebuffed his courtship overtures. It was not until five years later, when Dresher, back in civilian live, wrote to her parents, recalling the lovely meal and asking about their daughter, that the two would meet again.
In January 1947, Herb and Frances met under the Astor Clock in NYC for their first date. They were engaged that July and married on Oct. 12 — starting a life together that would span nearly 68 years.
At first they settled in Utica, but after a few years, the couple moved to Riverhead, where Herb went to work for his father-in-law at Ivan’s Shoes on Railroad Avenue, opposite the Riverhead railroad station. The Dreshers ran the shoe store until they retired in 2003.
“He had a lifelong thirst for knowledge,” his daughter, Deborah Weinberg said. “He took classes right into his early 90s.” Herb was a voracious reader and had an amazing aptitude for languages, she said. “He embraced technology and loved his computer.”
Herb lived a lifetime in service to his community. He was an active member of Rotary for nearly 54 years, having joined the Rotary Club of Riverhead on Sept. 6, 1961.
Though he was the oldest and one of the longest-serving members of the club, Herb remained active until his recent illness, Riverhead Rotary president Tom Lennon said. “Herb sold more tickets to our annual spaghetti dinner event than any other Rotarian,” Lennon said. “He was always smiling, always joking, a very positive person and a very positive influence not only in our club but in the entire community.”
Herb also served on the board of trustees of both Riverhead Savings Bank and Central Suffolk Hospital. He and his wife were active longtime members of Temple Israel. He was also a member of the Riverhead Masonic Lodge.
Herb was a ham radio operator, an avid photographer who developed his own film and an amateur magician. He enjoyed boating and traveling and, more than anything else, loved spending time with his family.
In addition to his wife Frances, he is survived by his daughter, Laurie Salvucci, of South Dennis (Cape Cod), Massachusetts; his daughter, Deborah Weinberg and her husband Glenn, of Phoenix, Arizona; his grandchildren, Jennifer Bent and her husband Keith, of Burlington, Massachusetts, Megan Klotsche and her husband Justin, of Wakefield, Massachusetts, Ben Weinberg, of Phoenix, Arizona and Sarah Weinberg, of Berlin, Germany. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Alexandra Bent and Jackson Klotsche; and by a sister, Ruth Cohen, of Utica, New York.
A funeral service will take place on Friday, August 7 at 12 noon at Temple Israel of Riverhead, 490 Northville Turnpike, Riverhead, Rabbi Michael Rascoe officiating. Interment will follow at Agudath Achim cemetery in East Setauket. Shiva at the family home beginning Saturday evening at 8:30 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Temple Israel of Riverhead, P.O. Box 1531, Riverhead NY 11901 or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of I.J. Morris Funeral Home in Dix Hills.
