By Jeanne Herman and Loretta Heuer
Herman was the son of Tess and Al Herman, who established Quality Gardens, where Al sold his famous pansies and also phlox, primroses and homegrown tomatoes.
Herman, proprietor of the last farm in Franklin Square, died June 3 of natural causes. He was 84.
A Coast Guardsman during World War II, Herman was stationed at the Montauk Lighthouse. He had many assignments during the war, but the one that really affected his life was shore patrol on the Staten Island Ferry. That's where he met the love of his life, Marie. The couple remained married for more than 60 years.
As a young father, Herman was involved in the activities of their children, Loretta and Ralph. Herman passed on to his children his love of baseball. He played ball as a young man on the Garden City South Field, the same diamond where Ralph coached sons Keith, Gregg and Jake. Herman's two other grandsons, Tad and Jed, played youth baseball in Massachusetts and became Little League umpires.
Herman worked with his father and later Ralph, making Quality Gardens a three-generation Franklin Square institution known throughout Nassau and Queens. Not only did their flowers occupy the gardens of many local homes, they also adorned the flower beds of Belmont Racetrack and other corporate properties.
Herman was not only devoted to his family, but to St. Catherine of Sienna Church. He had a solid relationship with the pastors who have passed through the parish, allowing them to call on Herman whenever help was needed. Whether it was helping build a stage for the chorus or counting money after Sunday collection, Herman was there.
Editor's note: The authors are Herman's daughter-in-law and daughter. Comments about this story? (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
