Daniel L. Hertz Jr. was born Feb. 27, 1930, in Montclair to Daniel L. Hertz Sr. and Elizabeth Beet. He went to his final reward Jan. 9, 2021. As a young man he served with the United States Army in Korea. He went on to be the president and CEO of Seals Eastern Inc., which he founded in 1953. He also served as the chairman of the American Chemical Society – Rubber Division.
It is difficult to summarize all of Daniel’s accomplishments. Among his many awards, those of which he was most proud include his honorary degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1982, his Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award in 2006, his five patents, and more than 60 published articles on elastomers and sealing concepts. In 2015, NJBIZ awarded him the Raymond Hopp Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in New Jersey Manufacturing. In 1986, after the Challenger disaster, NASA brought Daniel in as an expert. He determined that the O-ring design was at fault and offered a design modification to solve future issues, and he was invited to speak about the Challenger by the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. For his nearly 65 years of invaluable contributions to his field, Daniel was celebrated by Marquis Who’s Who, both nationally and internationally.
Dan was an avid sportsman who loved fly-fishing, duck hunting, and railbird shooting. He belonged to the Log Cabin Gun Club, the Muddlers Club, and the Root Beer and Checker Club. He was also a valued member of the Seabright Beach Club, the Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club, and the Rumson Country Club.
Dan was predeceased by his parents, his two sisters and his brother. He leaves his wife of 50 years, Isabel Waud Hertz, and his eight children: Richard and Kara Hurd, Lauri and Michael Boyle, David and Ann Hurd, Suki Hertz and her husband Michael Hagerty, Daniel and Pamela Hertz, Bruce and Lucy Hurd, Seana and Tyson Pritchard, and Benjamin and Samantha Hurd. He also leaves behind 24 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In addition, he will be missed by the many he mentored over the years.
Dan made our world a richer place, and his passing leaves a void in so many lives. A celebration of his life will take place in the summer of 2021. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Dan’s name to All Saint’s Memorial Church in Navesink.
Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, has been entrusted with the arrangements.Â
The article originally appeared in the January 28 – February 3, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
