60-Year Short Hills Resident 'Doc' Passes Away

Albert M. Slaght Jr. known to friends and family as 'Doc', passed away peacefully at his home in Normandy Beach on Thursday, Oct. 24 surrounded by family. 

Doc was predeceased by his first wife Ruth Smith Slaght, and his two half-sisters Grace Slaght Quick Varrick and Pearl Krenrich Slaght Aberli Vincent. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Marie Lewis Slaght, his son Donald Slaght (Sarah Brown), stepson Donald Lewis (Suzanne Kimm), and stepdaughter, Barbara Lewis Harrison (James Harrison). He is survived by four nieces and nephews and  nine grandchildren who will miss him dearly. 

Doc was born, January of 1923. He joined the United States Army shortly after the outbreak of World War II. He served in the combat engineer battalion until the Germans surrendered, whereupon he was assigned to the engineer’s section of the 7th Army headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. Following an honorable discharge, he graduated from his beloved Lafayette College, Class of 1944, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, and attained a Bachelor’s of Arts in Economics.
Doc enjoyed a successful career in sales, specializing in heavy machinery for Caterpillar, Inc. He worked for dealers in New Jersey, including the Smith Tractor Company and Foley Machinery Company. He retired as a paving machinery specialist in 1988. 

A man of great faith, Doc taught Sunday school at the Springfield Church. Upon moving to Short Hills, over 60 years ago, he became a member of the Community Congregational Church in Short Hills and later the Central Presbyterian Church in Summit. He was an active member of the Short Hills Republican Club, serving on the Board in a variety of capacities.

Known by family and friends for his charming smile and dry wit, Doc’s passion was golf and he was a Life Member of Canoe Brook Country Club. He achieved three holes in one over his auspicious career. He founded the prestigious Dryden Cup golf tournament and was a two-time winner. 

Doc devoted countless hours to the game he loved, serving as a long time member and former Chairman of the Tournament Committee at Canoe Brook, a former member of the Board of Trustees and Rules Committee of the New Jersey State Golf Association, and a longtime member of the New Jersey State Seniors Golf Association. His golfing legacy lives on in his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren, all enthusiastic golfers. As a member of the Rules Committee, Doc’s greatest pet peeve was when players called the Flag Stick a “pin” or a Bunker a “sand trap.”

Relatives and friends are all invited to attend a celebration of his life at 10:30AM on Saturday, November 2nd 2013 at Central Presbyterian Church, 70 Maple Street, Summit, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation and the New Jersey Special Olympics

For details, directions, and condolences, please visit www.OBrienFuneralHome.com