Alfred Toborg

Deacon Alfred Toborg, 84, of Lyndonville and longtime Lyndon State College professor, passed away peacefully at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, on Monday evening, March 20, 2017, surrounded by his loving wife and four children.

He is survived by his dear wife of over 53 years, Linda (Onsruth); four children and their families: Katie Franko, her husband Guy, and their son Kyle of Charlotte; Louise Merrigan, her husband John, and their children Anneliese and Arden of Portland, OR; William Toborg, his wife Sharon, and their children Christopher, David, Matthew, and Elizabeth of Barre; Mary Beth Boe and her daughter Lili of Winooski, and Mary Beth's companion Gary Novosel of Massena, NY;  one brother:  A. Frederick Toborg, his wife Barbara of Broad Channel, NY, and their children Lili Cargill and Michael Toborg; Linda’s sister Susan Smith, her husband Gordon, of Dover, NH, and their children Stephanie and Heather; Linda’s twin brother, Cedric and his wife, Zoe of Reeds Ferry, NH.  He was predeceased by his brother Diedrich.

Alfred was born in Brooklyn, NY, on November 9, 1932, the son of German immigrants, Gertrud (Weck) and Willy Toborg.  At the age of four, he travelled to Germany with his mother and older brother to visit their relatives.   They returned to New York in October 1937. Four years later, when Alfred was only eight, his father passed away.

Living only a couple of blocks from Ebbets Field, Alfred and his two brothers would spend weekend afternoons watching the Dodgers.  He had fond memories of seeing Jackie Robinson defeat the New York Giants through a steal of home.  When the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, he and his younger brother adopted the Mets as their new team.

The young Toborg boys’ lives were filled with stickball, drawing comic books, listening to the radio shows and catching the “funnies” at the movie theater when they had each earned a quarter.  A faithful son, Alfred also worked odd jobs to help support his family.

After graduating from Erasmus Hall High School in 1950, Alfred was informed by his advisor that a scholarship to Columbia College was available.  This scholarship allowed him to matriculate as a student at the esteemed college.  His experience at Columbia shaped the course of his life.

The war had increased his interest in history and his early days in Germany had inspired his love of the German language.  At Columbia he studied history and German, had a job at the Deutsche Haus and ran cross-country and track.  Later in life, he took up jogging as a hobby which he enjoyed with his teenage children.

From December 1954 to September 1956, he was enlisted as a Private First Class in the US Army.  Because of his language skills, he was stationed with a military intelligence detachment near the Czech border.

In 1956, he was granted a scholarship to Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH to earn a MA in History.  Upon completion, he enrolled at Columbia University to study for his Ph.D.

In 1958 he was granted a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the Free University in West Berlin, Germany, where he remained until 1959.  Upon his return, he taught part-time at Queens College and Hunter College while working on his dissertation.  He received his Ph.D. in History in 1965 from Columbia University.

In May 1960, he interviewed for his first teaching position at Lyndon Teachers College. When his career started that September he had no idea that he would meet the love of his life, Linda Onsruth.  After asking permission from the college president, they dated.  Alfred spent the next forty years of his life teaching history, German and genealogy.  Over the years, the Toborg family welcomed countless numbers of students into their home.  In 2000 he was named Professor of History Emeritus by the Vermont State College Board of Trustees.

Linda and Alfred were married in August 1963, after she graduated from Lyndon. In 1970, they purchased an 1866 Greek revival home in Lyndonville where he resided until his death.

Alfred and Linda raised four children in that home.  Alfred prided himself on always being available for his wife and children, whether it be help with afternoon homework, trips to watch track meets across the state or judging various competitions.  He was a fierce advocate for his family.

As a devout Catholic and member of St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Lyndonville, Alfred was called to service.  He was ordained in 1990 as a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church for the Diocese of Burlington.  He served at St. Elizabeth’s Church and Corpus Christi Parish.  Functions included serving on the altar, delivering homilies, conducting communion services, visiting and delivering the Eucharist to the homebound, nursing homes, hospitals and senior housing facilities.  Because of his age and several illnesses, he obtained Senior Deacon Status.  Among his proudest moments as a Deacon was that he was able to baptize his eight grandchildren.

During his lifetime, Alfred served his community as a Justice of the Peace, Cobleigh Library Trustee, Member of the Lyndon Board of Civil Authority, Lyndonville Village Moderator, Member and Past President of the Lyndon Town Historical Society, Member of the Vermont Language Bank, Member of the American Legion, Member of the Knights of Columbus, Chair of the Vermont Alumni Representative Committee for Columbia College.  He was also active in the political process, serving on a number of campaigns and was a member of the town, county and state Republican committees.  During his tenure at Lyndon State College, he served as the Chairman of the History and Social Science Department, Chairman of the Faculty Assembly, College Marshal, Student Advisor and Member of the Manor Vail Society.

His writings appear in several periodicals and journals, including The Catholic Historical Review, Vermont Catholic Tribune, and Lyndon Gem in the Green.

Since his passing, Al’s family has received prayers and tidings from around the country and around the world.  His sense of humor, perpetual tardiness, fierce loyalty and love for his family and church will live on as his legacy.

Given his status as a longtime Catholic deacon, a title meaning “servant”, visiting hours will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Lyndonville Friday evening, March 24 from 6 to 8 pm.  The Wake Service will begin around 7:30 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Lyndonville Saturday, March 25, at 11 am.  Burial will be at St. Elizabeth’s Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, marked in his name, could be directed to either the “Dr. Alfred Toborg Scholarship Fund”, Attn: Jenny Harris, Institutional Advancement, Lyndon State College, PO Box 919, Lyndonville, VT 05851; or to Good Shepherd School, 121 Maple St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05851.

Memories and condolences may be shared privately at www.guibordfh.com.