He understood both sides of the war, and had no problems portraying either side, depending on what was needed of him. He helped me on many occasions with my uniform, showing me the correct handling of a musket, and just being my friend around the campfire.

He was not afraid to offer his opinion, or to listen to others. We debated many times, with both of us winning on occasion.

Although he was one of the newer members of the 2nd Vermont, he was learning rapidly how to handle a 12lb Napoleon, with his favorite position being the #3 man.

Albert was always ready to lend a hand, doing extensive volunteer work for the Living History Association, as well as serving on their Board of Directors. Within the 2nd Vermont, on many occasions he offered to do the dishes for the whole unit!

He was always willing to help out a fellow reenactor. In my case, after finding I forgot to pack my shirt and being 4 hours from home, he literally gave me the shirt off his back!

Whether in the reenactment community or out in the real world, people like this are genuinely hard to find. If the world were full of people like Albert, we wouldn't need locks, we wouldn't need jails, and we wouldn't need to worry about being alone. I have lost a good friend, and I wish I was as good to him as he was to me.

"Albert was a good friend, and he will always be with me in spirit, and i know he will always be with the 2nd Vermont. I know i will miss him terribly...."

Rodger & Vicky

"I am truly saddened by the loss of Albert. I will always keep him in my thoughts and dreams. For those of us who knew him, he was always there for us and even when we were down, he managed to bring a smile to our faces. For that I will always be grateful to him."

Vicki

"Wow, I still can't believe he is gone. What a nice, gentle and caring man he was. Wish I had gotten to know him better."

Nancy & Steve

"I didn't know Albert very well, but what I do know is that he was a loving and caring man. He was the one who was always _WILLING_ to do the dishes (crazy guy!), he ate those silly tuna fish and cinnamon raisin bread sandwiches, and he always set up those awesome displays at events. Albert, you will be missed."

Amy

"I have a picture in my mind of him standing in heaven, waiting for the rest of us at that big encampment in the sky, where we don't have to set up and pack the camp every weekend, but where we simply live and share each others company with no worries. See ya then Albert!"

Canada

"I think you are right, he is standing at the gates of heaven waiting to admit the 2nd Battery and LHA members, trying to find out who is hard core and who is not. Of course Karen had a point, St. Peter is really bugged that he has this guy standing next to him that:

1.) Wants to see the admittance roster
2.) Wants to know where the oil is for the hinges on the gate and why is it they haven't been painted in such a long time.
3.) Is there anyway we can get that cannon up here and if so, is this gate wide enough...do you have any tools around here? Yep,...that's Albert."

"Albert had many sides to him. He was complex, a little slow on his feet at times, but there was always a sharp common sense intellect at work with a strong sense of what was right, and what was wrong. He was goofy, lovable, open, honest, hard-working, and so many more things that it would be hard not to fill this page with attributes and complexities that made him a wonderfully unique individual who was not afraid to be himself."

"I have run the LHA and 2nd Vermont since I was only 24 years old. I laid the ground work for the organization in 1976 at the age of 22. I have seen far too many people pass away who had become helping hands and unique friends, some others have come very close, but no one has affected me the way this death has."

James Dassatti
Executive Director
Living History Association

Keep your powder dry buddy....

We will miss you more than you will ever know!