Alfred  Saupe

Died: May 29, 2016

Alfred Moritz Wilhelm Saupe, Jr. July 12, 1925 – May 29, 2016 Alfred Moritz Wilhelm Saupe, Jr., of Hackettstown, formerly of Convent Station and Madison, passed away peacefully in his home in Bentley Commons at Paragon Village, on May 29. His devoted daughter, Dana LaGueux and granddaughter, Megan LaGueux, were at his bedside. Alfred was 90 years old and had been married to Valerie Corwin Saupe for nearly 66 years, when she died two years ago, in March 2014. Alfred was born at home on July 12, 1925, in East Orange, NJ. His father, Alfred, Sr., was born in Germany. He arrived in the U.S. as a young man, just prior to World War I, and parlayed a vocational education into a successful career as a high level executive in the hosiery industry. His mother, Willhemina Elizabeth Ludeke Saupe, was born in the U.S. to German immigrant parents, and was educated in Germany. Alfred’s first language was German. His older sister, Elizabeth Hartzell, and younger brother, William Arthur Saupe, preceded him in death. Alfred attended high school at Carteret Academy and started college at Penn Military College. His education was interrupted by World War II, when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1944. At age 19, Alfred was one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Marine Corps. He served as a Marine from 1944-1946, after which he completed his education, receiving a degree in economics from Princeton University in 1949. During the Korean War, Alfred returned to the Marine Corps from March 1951 until June 1952. After his discharge from the military, Alfred followed in his father’s footsteps, pursuing a successful career as a sales executive in the hosiery industry for almost 50 years. He worked for 24 years at Berkshire Hosiery and another 17 with Vision Hosiery, where he was instrumental in the promotion and nationwide success of the Christion Dior hosiery brand. Alfred capped off his career with several years running the New York office of Hampshire Hosiery, where he continued his stewardship of the Christian Dior brand. He retired in 1993. Alfred also led an active civic life. Over the years, he served as a deacon in the Madison Presbyterian Church, President of the Madison Golf Club, Trustee of the Cheshire Home, and Paragon Village Morris Hall Resident Council President. After his retirement, Alfred became a familiar face at the Morristown Memorial Hospital and Hackettstown Medical Center, where he volunteered for countless hours over the years. Alfred was the consummate gentleman, even-tempered and respectful to all. He always had a twinkle in his eye and was well-known for his keen sense of humor, joke telling and general good cheer. He loved to play golf and, most of all, to preside over family gatherings. Less than a year ago, Alfred proudly hosted a 90th birthday celebration in Cape May, NJ, attended by his four children, their spouses, and his eight extraordinary grandchildren. Alfred was especially loved by his beautiful and loyal wife, Valerie, whom he first met in nursery school, and with whom he raised a happy and healthy family for over 66 years. Alfred will be dearly missed by his three sons, Theodore C. Saupe and his wife Elizabeth Bailey of Athens, GA, A. William Saupe and his wife Pamela Dupuis, of Asheville, NC, and Peter S. Saupe and his wife Susan Sauer, of Madison, WI, and by his favorite daughter, Dana Saupe LaGueux and her husband Steven LaGueux of Long Valley, NJ, his eight grandchildren, his nieces, nephews, and dear friends. A memorial celebration of Alfred’s life and love of his family and friends will be held at 4:00 PM on June 12 at the Long Valley Presbyterian Church, 39 Bartley Rd., Long Valley. Alfred strongly supported the mission of the Cheshire Home, a residential and rehabilitative facility for young adults with severe spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions, and requests that memorial donations be made in his name to the Cheshire Home, 9 Ridgedale Ave., Florham Park, NJ 07932. View on-line at www.cheshirehome.org

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