Deacon Robert E. Herta passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Oct. 23, 2021 at the age of 85 in Troy, Michigan. Robert was born on Sept. 11, 1936, in Detroit to August Anthony and Clara Herta. He married his beloved wife Joyce of 62 years in 1959 on Halloween.
He is the loving father of Mary (Jeff) Jamerino, Robert (Kristine) Herta, Rosemarie (John) Melcher, and Joyce (fiancée Scott McNitt) Tripi. Proud grandfather of Dr. Jennifer (David) Jamerino-Thrush, Anthony Herta, Ariana (fiancée Alec Bollinger) Herta, Emily Melcher, Elizabeth Melcher, Julia Tripi, Kevin Tripi, and Sophia Tripi. Very proud great grandfather of Amelia Joy Thrush. Dear brother of Thomas (Judi) Herta, and Larry (Beverly) Herta and the late James Herta.
A graduate of the Society of Mary (Marianists) seminary in New York, Robert was a devout Christian with a lifelong commitment to the Blessed Mother Mary. He was one of the first U.S. permanent deacons ordained in 1976 in New Jersey and served the Archdiocese of Detroit faith community for more than 40 years.
Deacon Herta was ordained a permanent deacon on June 15, 1974, in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. A job transfer brought him to the Archdiocese of Detroit, in which he was officially assigned at St. Lucy Catholic Church, St. Clair Shores, on Dec. 22, 1975, and served at St. Lucy until his retirement on June 26, 2012. From October 7, 1980, through March 8, 1989, Deacon Herta served as deacon coordinator for the permanent diaconate pre-ordination formation program, with specific coordinating responsibilities in the area of spiritual formation.
Deacon Herta spent his career in a variety of finance, treasury and human resources leadership roles at AT&T, Volkswagen and Right Associates as a senior management consultant. He proudly served in the United States Air Force before being honorably discharged in 1963. Robert graduated from the University of Detroit with a degree in business administration.
One of his great passions was large model trains. He had both a garden railroad and indoor displays. Christmas was a spectacular display of his collections.
Instate will take place on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 10:30 a.m. with a noon funeral Mass at St. Lucy Catholic Church 23401 Jefferson (south of 9 Mile Road), St. Clair Shores. Burial will take place Monday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (10 Mile corner of Beech), Southfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Robert's memory to De La Salle Collegiate High School, Warren, Michigan.
Copy Permalink
