Albert Curl

Albert Matthew Curl, an incredibly loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away very peacefully while holding his beloved wife Ginger’s hand after “choosing life” and truly surviving for their love, following a devastating diagnosis and prognosis several years ago.

A New Yorker through and through, Albert was born May 4, 1931, in the borough of Brooklyn, to Matthew and Sophie Curl, who both emigrated from Gottschee, Austria in the late 1920s. Growing up in a “cold water flat” in Brooklyn with other families who emigrated from the same area of Austria, Albert only spoke German as a child, and didn’t even learn to speak English until he started elementary school.

When VJ Day marked the end of World War II in 1945, a then 14-year-old Albert literally “hopped” a train into Manhattan to celebrate (we all still look for a younger tow-headed Albert in images taken that day). Upon graduation from Bushwick High School, Albert enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served as part of the last occupying forces stationed in Germany for World War II.

After leaving the service, Albert met the love of his life, Ginger Flynn. Albert asked Ginger for a date the very day he met her, and Ginger politely declined, thinking he should have given her more notice. He immediately asked her out for the next week to which she said, “Yes!” And for their first date, they very romantically went to see the horror movie, House of Wax in 3D!

The two were happily married in 1955, and resided on Long Island. Albert and Ginger were blessed with four children and as their young family started, Albert was already working a full-time job at Sperry Gyroscope when he enrolled at C.W. Post College, graduating after nine years of night school with a Degree in Physics. The family then moved to upstate New York in 1964, so Albert could start his long career with IBM. Living there until 1979, Albert was offered a relocation to North Carolina to continue his career. The IBM acronym had come to be known as “I’ve Been Moved” referring to all the New Yorkers who had moved into the area. Albert enjoyed his career with IBM and retired in 1992. Upon retirement, he successfully opened up Curl Incorporated, a company that would “rehire” retired IBMers on a contractual basis.

Avid fans of Broadway shows and local productions, Albert and Ginger also enjoyed performing onstage together in Community Theatre. During his retirement, Albert took up professional acting as well, when he was “discovered” during an audition his wife Ginger was on and the Casting Agency “needed someone who looked like he could be her husband.” A star was made as Albert embarked on yet another career, this time in the performing arts, being cast in Commercials, TV spots, Voiceovers, and Films.

Albert’s memory will live on in the hearts of his family, as the beloved husband of 68 years to Ginger Curl; precious father to Debra Curl, Kevin Curl, AnnMarie Stahl (Jim), and Elizabeth Bates (Richard); devoted grandfather to Tyler Curl, Kara Williamson (Alex), James Stahl (Nikki Stein), Karen Jenkins (Kaleb), and Brandon Bates; and dear great grandfather to Chloe Williamson. Albert leaves behind a true legacy of love, for if you knew him, you were considered family too.

Albert truly “chose life” and celebrated it fully while still here with us. We will be honoring his loving memory with a Mass in the near future.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Albert’s parish of St. James the Greater Catholic Church 139 Manor Ave. SE. Concord, North Carolina, 28025 or donations to support the compassionate and respectful “end of life” care provided by the Tucker House, Atrium Health Hospice 5003 Hospice Ln., Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081.

















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