Herbert Gurk, mathematician and father to Lisa Herman

HERBERT M. GURK, 82, a mathematician for RCA and longtime member of the Princeton, NJ Jewish community died Friday, January 11, 2013. A leader of research and development teams at RCA Astro Space Division, Gurk was also president of the Jewish Center of Princeton and chairman of several of its committees and a trustee on its board of directors.

He volunteered on a number of different community and charitable organizations including as a volunteer reader of math and physics for the Blind and Dyslexic in Princeton, now called Learning Ally. Gurk also tutored in math and physics at Princeton High School.

Gurk graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also selected as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa national honor society. He continued his studies there and also received a Ph.D. in mathematics dealing with game theory. This may have been why he became a Life Master of the American Contract Bridge League and was an an avid partner at various local and regional duplicate bridge tournaments.

Gurk is survived by his wife Maxine Auerbach Gurk, daughters Lisa Herman (Mike) of New Orleans, Louisiana and Rebecca Gurk (Stuart Mangel) of Columbus, Ohio; son David Gurk of Ann Arbor, Michigan; five grandchildren and brother Guilford Gurk.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Learning Ally, Financial Development Dept, 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540 or the Jewish Center of Princeton are appreciated.