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OUR BROTHER, AL CONDE
May 29, 1939 - September 11, 2001

One of The Heroes of September 11, 2001
We Miss You, Al

FIVE YEARS LATER
September 11, 2006
from the ASBURY PARK PRESS

ABOUT ALBERT CONDE
AGE: 62
HOMETOWN: Marlboro
FAMILY: Diane, wife of 31 years, of Marlboro; sons Brian, 33, John, 33, and Matthew, 32, all of Jackson; and daughter Stephanie Tedeschi, 31, of Marlboro
EMPLOYMENT: Insurance underwriter for AIG

Memories of Albert Conde still linger everywhere, said his widow, Diane Conde.

She sees a little bit of her late husband in their son Brian, who, like his father, keeps a carefully written record of his gasoline mileage. She is reminded of the family patriarch when any of their four grown children tells a goofy joke.

"My husband was known for his corny jokes, and once in a while the kids will come up with something silly," Conde said. "It's the little things. Every so often something will make us all say, 'Gee, that's what daddy would have said,' or 'That's just like daddy.' "

Her 18-month-old grandson, named Albert Joseph after his grandfather, giggles in the background as she recalls her husband's memorable sense of humor, his faith as a devout Roman Catholic and how proud he would be of his children.

"We still think of him and everything," said Conde. When people ask her how long she was married to Albert, Conde includes the last five years.

"We're trying to move on," Diane Conde said. "It does get easier, but we still miss him."

Song Long, Old Pal
By Joanne M. Mrazik

The smile.   The voice.  The energy.  The enthusiasm.   The passion.  The faith.   All are images of Al Conde that I treasure. 

Privileged to have been able to talk with him at Leader School, Monthly Mass and other Cursillo activities, I respected him greatly.  He always made a point to talk to me, of course, after hugging me.  He just did not hug and leave.  He would always compliment me on something that I either had written or had done.  It was not a brief compliment but extensive words of praise.   His words always came either when I had doubted my abilities or when I felt that I had taken risks.  His words reaffirmed me and encouraged me to continue. 

On several occasions, I had grouped with Al on the Cursillo Card.  Each time, I realized that he was always “on fire” for Christ.  He possessed both a gift and a passion for evangelization.   He was always searching for ways to reach and help people learn about Christ.  For this, I greatly admired him.   

No matter how a conversation started or what the topic was, Al would always mention his wife, Diane and/or one of his children and the latest endeavor, such as, buying a car or choosing a career - signs of a devoted family man.

By 10:00 am on Tuesday, September 11, I was taking a mental inventory of all my family and friends who could have been impacted by the incidents in New York, Washington, D.C. and air travel.   Throughout this time, Al’s name kept on popping in my head.  Each time I quickly dismissed it by saying to myself that, “He is retired.  He is not there at the World Trade Center.”

After hearing on Tuesday night that close friends had survived, I still had a lingering feeling that someone I knew had perished.  Again, I continued to search my memory of all my friends and their spouses who could have been impacted.   By Wednesday, September 12, 2001, the Cursillo email had announced that Al was missing.  Diane had not heard from him.  Yes, Al was at the World Trade Center on Tuesday. By Thursday, all my interactions with him came to memory.   Throughout the day, I remembered the ways that he had impacted me.  I alternated between smiles and tears.  As a selfless person, his actions reflected it.  His words, his presence and his faith have made a lasting impression on me. 

Later that day, both the melody and words regarding a particular phase from the song called Enough To Be On Your Way by James Taylor kept coming to my head.  The song is about the death of an old friend.  Of course, I played the song on my way home from work that day.  Upon hearing the phase, “So long old pal”, I offered my friend Al a final salute.  Although I did not know Al very long, only a few years, and only saw him on Cursillo occasions, I felt that I had known him longer.  He made me feel comfortable which allowed me to share my ideas and faith experiences with him.

Thank you to Gordon Reinold for these pictures
taken by Ray Germann, Trenton 1.
Thank you, Ray and Gordon.

A memorial service will be held for ALBERT CONDE, 62, of ENGLISHTOWN

Published in the Asbury Park Press 10/10/01

A memorial service will be held for ALBERT CONDE, 62, of ENGLISHTOWN, a victim of the World Trade Center tragedy of Sept. 11. He was an insurance underwriter for A.I.G. (American International Group) in Manhattan for the past three years. He was a communicant of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, Marlboro. He graduated from The College of Insurance, New York City, in 1970. He was active in weight lifting competition for 20 obitpix years. His titles include the Junior and Senior Metropolitan Championships, New York State Championship, and the Region 1 and Eastern States Championships, all in the 132-pound class. He also competed in the National Championship. He served as an officer and administrator in the Metropolitan AAU District Organization. He later became a coach and led his team to the Metropolitan Team Championship. He promoted several major meets while working at the Emanu-El YM/YWHA. He was an active member of the Diocese of Trenton's worldwide lay movement called "Cursillo," a short course in Christianity. Lay people are asked to imitate Jesus Christ and build up the body of Christ and the church in all places of their lives. Al served in a leadership capacity on the guiding body called The Secretariat. He co-chaired the section responsible for conducting four annual weekend retreats and was active in all spiritual and social functions of the community. As a dedicated leader he assisted the community in "The School of Leaders," helped form St. Gabriel's prayer group, was speaker/facilitator of Information Nights, spoke at weekend retreats, participated in the monthly Community Eucharistic Celebration, and, with his family, organized the community family picnic. Al was known throughout the community for his open smile and sincere favorite phrases, "What can I do for you?" and "Whatever you need, let me know." His Christ-like living drew people together, fostering the Cursillo Church community. He loved greatly and was gently and warmly loved in return. He touched many, and the community is thankful to his wife Diane and his family for sharing him. Born in Brooklyn, he lived in Staten Island before moving to Englishtown 19 years ago.

Surviving are his wife, Diane DiGiorgio Conde; three sons, Brian and Matthew, both at home, and John of Pine Hill; a daughter, Stephanie of East Brunswick; a brother, Philip Galan of Queens; a sister, Connie Hansen of Queens; and several nieces; a nephew; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Gabriel's Church, Marlboro, officiated by the Rev. Eugene J. Roberts. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Al Conde Memorial Fund, First Union Bank, 365 Route 9 South, NJ2071, Manalapan, NJ 07726, Attn: Rosemary DiMattei. Condolences may be sent to www.freemanfuneralhomes.baweb.com.

From The New York Times, Saturday, October 6, 2001:

ALBERT CONDE
She 'Thought He Was Safe'

At a quarter to 8 on Sept. 11, Albert Conde was on the phone with his wife as he was every morning, reporting the details of his commute from Marlboro, N.J., and promising to check in later, once he settled into his day. When Diane Conde turned on the television at work and learned what had happened to World Trade Center, she gasped in disbelief, not knowing that her husband, who worked at 70 Pine Street, was in 2 World Trade Center that day visiting an insurance broker.

"I thought he was safe," Mrs. Conde said. "I assumed that I was lucky."

At 9 p.m. that day, a friend gave her the news that Mr. Conde, 62, an avid golfer and a Roman Catholic, was among the missing. In the days since he disappeared she has tried to cling to the faith she shared for 32 years with her husband and to his own words. "He used to tell me: `If I die today, I ready. I'm at peace.' "

But peace for Mrs. Conde has not come easily, interrupted by thoughts of the milestones that were yet to come for the Conde family — son Brian's completion of graduate school, daughter Stephanie's wedding next year. "I just had no idea he was in that building," Mrs. Conde said. "We were just starting to look forward to retirement. And now he's gone."

Please remember Elena Haggerty nephew's aunt worked on the 80th floor of the first building and her friends son who was on the first EMT team that went into the first building. Also remember Jean Tahan who is the Lay Director of the Paterson Diocese asking for prayers for Ed Murphy, brother of Fr. Dan Murphy, Pastor of Blessed Kateri in Sparta, NJ who is also missing and John Pocher, a Cursillista from Newark Diocese, to those on your list of missing from the WTC.  John was sponsored by Dick and Jean Andrejack.

Let's continue to lift up Al, Elena's friends, Peggy Lynch's son, Robert Lynch, Ed Murphy and all their families and all those whose lives have been shattered by the tragedy.

Also pray for our President and Government that they will be guided by the Holy Spirit in all decision they need to make.