Former Toms River Superintendent's Name Graces Health Building

TOMS RIVER, NJ — For a decade, Albert "Al" Dietrich worked at 54 Washington St. as head of the Toms River Regional School District.

Now, the building where he served as the district's superintendent bears his name, after a ceremony last week to formally the site that currently houses the Partnership Health Center, the Toms River schools' health services for district staff, for Dietrich.

Dietrich, who died in February, began his tenure in the Toms River schools in 1961 as an English teacher and worked his way up to being superintendent, the position he held from 1981 until he retired in 1991. He also served as president of the Toms River Education Association before moving into the district's administration.

Interim Superintendent Stephen Genco said people who knew Dietrich described him as "a true leader who led by example," said Stephen Genco, interim superintendent of the Toms River Regional Schools. "Not someone with a huge ego, but as somebody who truly cared about the people he served."

His leadership led to a number of awards for the district. Among those was an honor from President Ronald Reagan for the development of an alcohol and substance abuse prevention program, the plaque installed at the building says.

In addition to his career as an educator, Dietrich was an Air Force veteran who received the American Spirit of Honor Award.

"The American Spirit Award recognizes an individual who best exemplifies the outstanding qualities of the American spirit, including teamwork, optimism, courage, and sacrifice, and who inspires the exploration and expression of these values through their own life and work," said Toms River School Board President Joseph Nardini, a friend of Dietrich for nearly 40 years. "Well, that kind of sums up the person that Al was."

After he retired from the schools, Dietrich continued to stay involved in school and community events. His children have gone on to serve as educators in the district.

"Although I didn’t meet him," Genco said, "I only have to know the type of person that he was from his daughter to know he was a special person. I have known Deb (Schwartz, the district's health supervisor) for a long time and she has always exemplified leadership in a personal and classful way."

Dietrich's children — Schwartz and her brothers Dan, Darren and Doug — all were in attendance, along with his wife of 62 years, Peggy.

"It is prophetic that 54 Washington Street is now dedicated in his name, as this place is still taking care of teachers — really, all of us — through the Partnership," Schwartz said. "I know my father is smiling today."

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.