John “Jay” Albert
John “Jay” Albert passed away peacefully after a 17 month brave battle of Pancreatic Cancer on September 9, 2012 at the age of 59. Born September 27, 1952 in New Bedford, Mass. and raised in Philadelphia, PA. He attended The Lenox School for Boys, Lenox, Mass., Wesley College in Dover, DE and graduated from Lebanon Valley College, Lebanon, PA with a degree in special education.
Jay relocated from Philadelphia to Santa Barbara to be with the love of his life, Brian Meeder, in May of 1987, being together for nearly 30 years. They managed to get married during the few months that it was legal here in California.
He worked for Strawbridge and Clothier, then at Rets Electronic Schools as a career counselor in the Philadelphia area. After settling in Santa Barbara, he worked many years for Johnny’s Sheet Metal and Heating, Inc., which later became Service Now Plumbing & Heating. Then for Cottage Health System as a Patient Financial Counselor II, a position he so very much loved.
Jay belonged to many organizations including: The Savoy Opera Company in Philadelphia, Gilbert and Sullivan Company of Santa Barbara, Hollybush Singers, Santa Barbara Master Chorale, AMICA International (Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors’ Assoc.) and the Trinity Episcopal Church Choir. He volunteered and also worked with The Beyond Tolerance Organization to help when the Anne Frank exhibit came to Santa Barbara and served on the Sarah House board and was their board president.
Jay will be greatly missed by those who knew him for his outgoing and always positive personality, kindness and generosity.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents, The Rt. Reverend John J. Albert and Mary Betty Albert, beloved step-mother, Alice Albert, sister, Anna Maria Albert, cousin, Margaret (Marky) Stevenson, step-brother, Henry McNally and step-brother-in-law, Harold Roselius.
He is survived by his spouse/partner Brian K. Meeder of Santa Barbara, cousins, Mary Beth Dent, James (Jamie) Albert, step-sister, Nancy Roselius, step-sister-in-law, Kay McNally and their families. Brother-in-law, Thomas Meeder, sister-in-law, Ann Meeder, brother-in-law, Bruce Meeder, sister-in-law, Debbie Meeder and brother-in-law, Douglas Meeder, sister-in-law, Denise Meeder and their families.
The family would like to thank all of the medical care teams both at Cottage Health System, Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care and Cancer Center of Santa Barbara with special note to Dr. Thomas Woliver.
A celebration of Jay’s life will be held on Saturday, September 22, 11:00am at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1500 State Street, Santa Barbara.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, Attn: Development, 300 W. Pueblo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care, 222 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Be sure to specify “In Memory of John M. Albert”.