John J. Herbst

John J. Herbst, PhD Devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather John. J. Herbst, 89, of Bloomfield, beloved husband of Anita J. (Schuele) Herbst of 66 years, died peacefully on August 19, 2026. John was born on September 17, 1936, as a US citizen in Gottschee, Yugoslavia, now Slovenia, to John and Emma (Hoge) Herbst, and he was raised in Austria. He came to the United States in 1946 and lived in New York City. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and was a national finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. He graduated from Manhattan College in 1958 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He did his graduate work at New York University where he earned a Master’s degree and PhD in Nuclear Engineering. Upon graduating, he remained on the faculty of NYU, teaching graduate school in Nuclear Engineering and was responsible for all nuclear experimental facilities, including the nuclear reactor the Van de Graaf Accelerator. He held a Senior Reactor Operating License. He also taught courses at Manhattan College and the Hartford Graduate Center. He was a member of the New York Academy of Science and the American Nuclear Society. Prior to the NYU engineering school merger with Brooklyn Polytech, he went into the industry in various consulting capacities including a position as Director of Nuclear Technology in the New York State Atomic and Space Development Authority. In 1973, he joined the Combustion Engineering Nuclear Safety Department and moved to West Hartford where he lived for over 40 years. He worked at Combustion Engineering for 25 years, holding numerous managerial positions, all in the nuclear safety arena. Before his retirement, he was responsible for all the licensing and safety analyses for CEs operating reactors. In addition to his academic and career accomplishments, John and Anita lived a beautiful life together. They traveled extensively and thoroughly enjoyed hosting family and friends. He was deeply committed to and loved his family. He enjoyed golf, tennis, chess, good books and was an avid philatelist. He was a man of principle and deeply intellectual. In addition to his wife, Anita, he is survived by his beloved children, Cynthia Martinez, her significant other, Edmond Maloney, and her son, Derek Martinez; his son John C. Herbst, his wife Nancy Herbst, his son Austin Herbst and his grandson Jacob Ryba. He is also survived by his loving nephews Walter, Robert and James Herbst and their families, loving cousins Debbie and Pepi Buscaglia, Erica and Daniel Lumpert and their families, and his ex-son-in-law, Luis Martinez Jr. Funeral services will be held on Monday August 24, 2026 beginning with visitation from 9:00 a.m.- 9:50 a.m. at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church Street, Hartford, CT. A Mass of Chirstian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in memory of JJ Herbst, to Avery Heights at 705 New Britain Ave, Hartford, CT 06106, c/o Mike Latina.

John J. Herbst

September 17, 1936 - August 19, 2026