On Nov. 21, Alfred Seymour Bien peacefully after a brief decline at home with his daughter present and devoted caregiver, Tina. He believed strongly in the preservation of Jewish heritage and the study of history, Zionism and the Holocaust to prevent further antisemitism and atrocities. He was involved in the fight for civil rights with his friends and, later, wife, Irma, since the 1950s. He was a lifelong Democrat. He received his education at the Newark College of Engineering, the first college-educated member of his family. He worked at various jobs beginning at age 10 to help with family expenses and pay for his education. He enjoyed a 40+ year career as a chemical engineer and project manager, traveling and living nationwide. He married his wife, Irma Savin Bien, mother of his two children, Sandy Shoshana (Bien) Shamberg and Stephen, in 1951. Irma died suddenly in 1990 at 62 years old after 40 years of marriage. His son Stephen passed away tragically at 30 years old in 1986, leaving his wife, Bella, a young widow, with two daughters, 1 and 3 years old.
Contributions may be sent to cedarcrest youth scholarship fund, ORT or Jewish Services for the blind.
