Albert “Al” Kouba passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 4, 2022, at the age of 89 at his residence in York, PA. Whether you knew him as a friend, a colleague, a teacher, a family member, a fellow church goer or a poker buddy, you would not be surprised to know that he remained charming, affable and generous till the end.
Born in Bergen County, New Jersey, in 1932, Al moved to Glens Falls, N.Y., where he attended school and participated in all things sports related. Al was prolific in skiing; both on the snow and in the water. After graduating High School, Al enlisted in the Army and served overseas in Japan during the Korean War. Upon his return he obtained his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany.
While in college, he met Mary Gavan. Al and Mary were married in 1960. They resided in Glen Ridge, NJ, and Al attended graduate school at Columbia University Teachers’ College.
Al and Mary moved to Fayetteville in 1965, where Al spent many years working for the Fayetteville Manlius School District as a vice principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. He eventually took a position as the school superintendent of the Vernon Verona Sherrill School District, and retired from that position in 1992. In 1997, Al and Mary left New York for a long anticipated life of golf, poker, real estate sharp-shooting and car wheeling-and-dealing on their beloved Cape Cod, the place Al would call home for the next 20-odd years, even after Mary’s untimely passing in 2005.
Eventually, though, his love of cars won out, and in 2020 Al left Brewster for a life on the road. No matter what state you live in east of the Rockies (and he had plans for California next year), you may well have received a surprise visit, or two, or three, from him over the past couple of years. He would stay just long enough to share a meal and some memories, petting your dog throughout, and then he’d be back behind the wheel and gone. His heart, though, was always firmly planted on Cape Cod, and that is where services will be held for him at 10 a.m. on April 2, 2022, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 61 Canal Road, Orleans, MA 02653, followed by a luncheon at Ocean Edge, 2907 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631.
Al was preceded in death by wife Mary and three brothers Otto, Robert and George. He is survived by his three children M.A. Dailor (Mike), Matthew Kouba, Patricia Arbetman (Steve) and four grandchildren, Jillian, Matthew, Jacob and Arthur. He also leaves behind his companion of 14 years, Nelle Huetigg, and a lovely extended family. Al’s kids look forward to meeting you in April, perhaps for the first time, perhaps for the thousandth, and sharing shaggy dog stories (his favorite kind) about their Dad. For online condolences, please visit nickersonfunerals.com.
