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Obituary and life story submitted by the family.

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lan Herlands, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, sibling, and cousin, passed away on December 20th, 2023, in Leesburg, Virginia.

Alan Herlands

Born March 10th, 1949, in New York City, he was the son of Kala Rosenthal Herlands and Herbert Spencer Herlands. He spent his youth in southern California and much of his adulthood near Washington D.C., where he had a 31-year career with the Department of the Treasury in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Al earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Pomona College and a MBA in Finance from NYU’s Stern Business School. He also did a one-year, mid-career fellowship at the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs. He grew quickly into leadership in his career and was known for his intelligence and his integrity.

Al was always a contributing member of every community he lived in, serving on the Neighborhood Watch, Scout Leader, Friends of Mason District Park, Oriental Rotary Club, Oriental Town Board, and the Pamlico County Community College Board of Trustees.

He put significant time into causes he cared deeply for: after his father had been a beneficiary of many blood transfusions before his early death, Al went on to donate over 16 gallons (128 pints/gives) through the American Red Cross; he cared deeply for racial equity after living through the civil rights movement, and served as an executive committee member (often the treasurer) for chapters of the NAACP for over 12 years; and having never forgotten the tragedy and loss of life in the Vietnam War, he served as a local board member of the US Selective Service System for over 17 years.

Al Herlands plays a kazoo at the 2013 Croaker Festival parade.

While his education and career accolades were plentiful, and his service to his community notable and noble, his greatest source of pride was his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Patricia Francis Herlands, and his two children, Michael Joseph Herlands (Lindsey) and Robin Herlands Cresiski (Cory). He was a very involved parent and had the fortune of spending a considerable amount of time with grandchildren, which he referred to as his “grandangels” (Audrey Herlands, Evan Herlands, Taylor Cresiski and Frances Cresiski.)

For his children and his grandchildren (and many of their teammates and friends), he was frequently a coach, a confidant, and an ever-present cheerleader. He rarely missed a game, a match, a tournament, or awards ceremony. Al was quick to brag about an accomplishment of one of his family members to his neighbors, friends, extended family, or any person in line in front of him at the grocery store.

Al, as a member of the Rotary club, hammers a tent stake into place at the 2010 Oriental Boat Show.

Al and Pat’s retirement years were spent first in Oriental, NC and for over a decade, he and Pat hosted “Camp Weedwhack” annually, where their children, their grandchildren, and their only niece Molly Buckle and her family would come to enjoy the Croakerfest Parade, crab catching and fishing, adventurous boat rides, and Al’s kitchen (which sometimes served ice cream for breakfast).

Al enjoyed staying connected to his siblings, Emily Sandersfeld (Don) and Charlie Herlands (Roz), cousins, niece and nephews, other extended family, as well as old friends. In earlier years when he was in good health, he enjoyed getting together for vacations, Passovers, Thanksgivings, and Christmas holidays.

In his later years, especially when he and Pat finally settled in Leesburg, he was grateful for online ways to stay connected, and sweetly extended a congratulations, happy anniversary, happy birthday, or “I thought you might think this was interesting” message to those in his circle. He had a great big heart, which we only wish had been strong enough to hold out a bit longer. He will be dearly missed.

The family hopes to have a memorial for Al in spring 2024.

Posted Monday January 29, 2024 by Allison DeWeese