Obituary of Albert R. Hildenbrand

Albert R. Hildenbrand, 82, of Cliffside Park, NJ, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 9, 2019, surrounded by his family. "Big Al" was born in Union City, New Jersey in 1936 to the late Eugen and Hilda Hildenbrand, and spent the bulk of his idyllic childhood in River Edge and then North Bergen, New Jersey. He attended Cliffside Park High School and the Dunwoody Institute of Technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he trained to be a baker. Al joined his father at Hilltop Bakery in North Bergen, before owning his own shop, Hofstetter's Bakery, in Tenafly, NJ. Al then went on to spend 20 years as a regional sales manager with Pillsbury Company, retiring in 2001, after managing some of the Company's key commercial relationships in the NYC area. Al married the love of his life Carolyn in 1959 and their partnership was one for the ages. They made Englewood Cliffs their home, and through almost 60 years together had a daughter, Lisa McPartland (husband Liam) and two sons, Kurt (wife Joann) and Christian (wife Cathy). Al is also survived by his eight grandchildren, who were his pride and joy: Timothy, Samuel and Alyce McPartland; Benjamin, Andrew and Eliza Hildenbrand (Christian and Cathy); and Jack and Willie Hildenbrand (Kurt and Joann). Al was predeceased by his sister, Anita Hildenbrand. Al was a lifelong fisherman, and nothing made him happier than spending a day on a lake with his son Kurt or best friend Tony Vassallo. He was a devoted (and heartbroken) fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and then New York Mets, and a long-time New York Jets season ticket holder. He also cherished the time he spent coaching and watching his kids and then grandkids at almost every one of their sporting events, through elementary school, high school and college, and no matter the time or place. Al loved history, particularly the American Civil War and 20th Century Europe and could easily have taught both topics. He was also a bit of a political junky, and thoroughly enjoyed healthy debates over the Thanksgiving table. Finally, it goes without saying that Al was a world class baker, and until recent years delighted birthday crowds young and old with his amazing buttercream sheet cakes. Most importantly, Al's love for his family and friends was unparalleled. He was an exemplary son and brother, an inseparable partner to Carolyn, a doting father and grandfather, and a loyal and unbelievably generous friend and colleague throughout his entire life. He relished time with family and friends and loved to laugh, and his energy and spirit were contagious. In short, Al lived a complete life, loved deeply and impacted everyone he met positively. Visitation at McCorry Brothers Funeral Home 780 Anderson Ave Cliffside Park, NJ on Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 4-8, and a funeral service on Friday, November 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Shriner's Hospitals for Children (https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/).