Obituary of Albert Lembo

Albert Lembo, of Franklin Lakes, formerly of Paterson, NJ departed this life on July 10 at age 85. Devoted husband of the late Grace Minardi Lembo. Beloved father of Linda Lembo Alonso and her husband Diego, Dr. Nicholas Lembo and his wife Susan, and Grace Lembo Burger. Adored grandfather of Alberto and Natalia Alonso, Christina and Nicholas Lembo, and Melissa and Bryan Burger. Cherished brother of Catherine Lembo Cinderella and her husband Joseph. Dear brother-in-law of Rose and Carmen Mastroianni, Salvatore and the late Connie Minardi, Joseph and Rita Minardi, and Thomas and Betty Minardi. He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews. Albert was born in Paterson in 1925. He was raised by his beloved Italian immigrant parents, Aurora Bosco Lembo and Nicola Lembo, who taught him values that he would carry with him the rest of his life. Albert spoke only Italian until he was five years old and started P.S. #9 in South Paterson. At the age of 14, his mother orchestrated a part time job for him as a helper at Glassman's Drug Store in Paterson. Mr. Glassman became his mentor and he decided at a young age that he wanted to be a pharmacist and open up his own drugstore in the future. He graduated from Central High School in 1943 with honors. It was at Central that he acquired his nickname Al "Super" Lembo. He went on to attend and graduate from The Rutgers University College of Pharmacy in 1946, also with honors. After one year of internship, he became a registered pharmacist in 1947. By 1952, he was ready to open up his own pharmacy in Paterson and was delighted that there was space available at 75 Market St. (at the corner of Cross St., now Cianci St.) There was a large Italian-American population in the area and it was very close to St. Michael's R.C. Church where he was a parishioner and where he had married his high school sweetheart, Grace Minardi (Minardi Baking Company) in 1948. Albert proudly opened Lembo Drugs on October 30, 1952. Soon customers began to select Lembo Drugs as their pharmacy and many continued to return to the drugstore even after they moved out of the area. He never refused a sick person their medicine and while some tried to pay a few dollars when they could, some could not. He always had a very strong faith in God and believed and practiced "The Golden Rule" (Treat people like you like to be treated.) Due to his extraordinary 54 years of service to the Paterson community, the Paterson City Council voted unanimously on September 28, 2004 to designate a section of Cianci St. as "Albert Lembo Way." He loved reading about the history of Italy. He wrote a novel entitled "To Conquer An Empire", which was dedicated to his father, Nicola, who was a Bersaglieri in Italy during World War I. When he was not at the drugstore, he enjoyed being together with family and close friends over a great Italian meal lovingly prepared by his "Sweetie" Grace. It did not take much prompting for him to sing his signature song "Mala Femmena" at these family gatherings. He deeply mourned his Grace since her death on May 2, 2005. Visiting will be held on Thursday from 7-9pm and Friday from 2-4 & 7-9pm at Santangelo Funeral Home, 635 McBride Ave., Woodland Park (West Paterson), NJ. A funeral Mass will be offered on Saturday at 9:30am at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 787 Franklin Lakes Rd., Franklin Lakes. Guests may arrive at the funeral home at 8:00am. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Harbor House Partial Hospitalization Program 645 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07503 Attention: Josephine Ruiz Carpenter or to United Hospice of Rockland 11 Stokum Lane, New City, NY 10956