David Paul Alberth

Major David P. Alberth of Bel Air, passed away peacefully in Harford Memorial Hospital on Sunday May 3, surrounded by family and friends. Born February 26, 1948, in Ellwood City, Pa. to John and Eva Alberth. Dave is survived by brothers Chris Alberth and friend Jim Casola of Madison, NJ, Paul Alberth and friend Rickey Vickery of Helena, Montana, sisters Becky Johnston and her husband Cliff Johnston of Morrisdale, Pa, and Annette Alberth of Carrollton, Pa and his niece Jenny Johnston of Morrisdale, Pa. He was predeceased by brothers Tim and Mark Alberth and sisters Elaine Molling and Johanna Alberth. Dave entered the field of radiation protection after being awarded the Bachelor of Science (1970) and Master of Education (1972) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His further academic education included doctoral studies in medical physics at The Johns Hopkins University from 1978-1981. Dave's Army service started in 1972 and included assignments such as staff instructor at the US Army Academy of Health Sciences, Chief of the Operations Branch of the Health Physics Office at Walter Reed Army Medical Centers, and Chief, Laser and Microwave Division at the US Army Environmental Hygiene Agency. After his service in 1992, Dave entered the Federal Civil Service and served as a Senior Health Physicist and Master Consultant at the US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine and successor agencies. During his military and civilian service, he mentored much of today's current senior Army nuclear medical science officers (Army health physicists) and senior civilian personnel. In recognition of his service and among his numerous awards and honors, Dave was inducted in to the Order of Military Medical Merit in 2007, and he was also awarded the Civilian Superior Service Award by the Military Section of the Health Physics Society in 2014. A man of culture as well as science, Dave was fluent in French and German, and taught himself music theory and zither as a child. Harmonica, Guitar Recorder, all manner of wind and string instruments inspired and retained his active attention throughout his life. For many years as a member of the American Recorder Society, David performed, and collected classical blokfluit repertoire literature. Even later in life, as he was struggling with limited mobility, he continued to study and expand his knowledge, picking up the violin which had belonged to his grandfather and finding a teacher. It was a blessing for David to live next door to a Latin American family whose three children were all musicians, the youngest of which was an all state youth orchestra violin player. They were an enormous help to David as his health declined. If time would have permitted, David would have made a wonderful music teacher as a second career. The family has requested in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: St. Andrew's School Music Department, 227 South Cherry Street, Richmond, VA 23220 Funeral Home: Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home 333 South Parke Street Aberdeen, MD US 21001