Albert Lavender

Albert Lavender of Canton, Massachusetts entered into rest on December 29, 2021 at the age of 96.

Beloved husband of Marilyn (Fleishman) Lavender. Devoted father of Nadine Lavender-Petersen, Andrea Lavender and her husband Mark Popovsky, and Matthew Lavender and his wife Julie. Loving brother of the late Irving Lavender and the late Murray Lavender. Cherished grandfather of Erica Popovsky and Stefan Lavender and great-grandfather of Lily.

Al was a colorful man. Some might even call him a "character." But they all loved him. He was born in Brooklyn and then moved to the Bronx.

After serving in the Army during WWII, he used the GI Bill to go to college for Pharmacy. He co-owned Jerome Pharmacy in the Bronx with his best friend (and next door neighbor) Nat, and loved to schmooze with the customers. He had a soft heart and always helped those who could not afford the items they needed.

As the Bronx deteriorated, Al's wife pushed him to leave and they moved to Maryland, where Al worked for the FDA, Bureau of Drugs. Even after relocating to Maryland, he always remained a "Bronx boy."

Al was generous to a fault, always helping others who were in need of funds or a helping hand (such as pushing a disabled car out of a parking spot when he was in his 80s.)

He loved his wife and children, but his love of animals set him apart. He would try to sneak food to any dog that was nearby, he befriended a neighborhood squirrel who would visit him daily for a treat. He once brought a huge turtle into the house and placed it in the kitchen sink. He couldn't understand why his wife was upset.

Al's love of softball (and all sports) defined him. He began playing stickball on the streets of New York and continued playing competitive softball into his 80s. His crowning athletic achievement was his induction into the U.S. Senior Softball Hall of Fame.

Al's father was trained as a cabinet maker and Al inherited those skills. His house and his childrens' homes are filled with the products of his labor. The smell of sawdust always brings memories of times spent helping Al in his workshop.

Al was a consummate storyteller. His stories were told with relish and great detail. If it was good the first time around, it was even better in the retelling.

Al was not a religious man, but he was very proud of his Jewishness. He had little use for organized religion. He believed in the "religion of mankind." He practiced and lived Torah by following Hillel's "Do unto others as you would want done unto you." He lived by that principle. He had a deep empathy for the underdog. Al never forgot his humble origins. His kindness was manifested in innumerable ways, whether it was leaving the family dinner table to help a neighbor, jumpstarting a stranger's car, or giving a serviceman a ride home from the airport.

Al will be missed, but his stories and his kindness will live on in all who had the honor to know him.

Due to COVID, Graveside Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made towards Red Sox Foundation Youth Sports: redsoxfoundation.org/youthsports.