109-Year-Old Chester Man Dies After Life of Learning, Full of Activities

President Roosevelt sat in the White House when George Eberhardt, of Chester, was born.

Teddy Roosevelt, that is.

Eberhardt passed away on April 28 at the age of 109, according to his obituary at williamjleberfh.com.

He lived in Chester for the last 67 years with his wife, Marie. The two were wed for 72 years. Eberhardt was born in Newark, New Jersey on Sept. 29, 1904 and stayed active until his final days.

Eberhardt spent 44 years with Bell Labs during the early years of radio, telephone and radar research, and another 37 years as director of audio facilities at Drew University. The centenarian’s passion was tennis, though, as he spent 70 years actively engaged in playing the sport, teaching and maintaining courts and repairing rackets.

Thanks to his longevity, Eberhardt took part in the Archon Genomics X Prize, a contest designed to challenge scientists to identify the genetic keys to longevity.

In doing so, Eberhardt gave up some of his DNA in 2011 and was one of 100 centenarians to take part in the study, according to cbsnews.com. According to his obituary, Eberhardt beat lymphoma a decade ago.

Due to confidentiality, the United States Census Bureau could not release information regarding Eberhardt's status as New Jersey's oldest living person prior to his passing.

He is survived by his wife, five children, 13 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren. He is predeceased by two children.

A celebration of Eberhardt’s life will be held Friday, May 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. at William J. Leber Funeral Home in Chester. A 10 a.m. funeral service will be held Saturday, May 17 at First Congregational Church in Chester.

Memorial donations can be made to The Fund for Drew University, In Tribute to George Eberhardt, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940, or to the Trustees of Columbia University, Dr. Mears Research Fund, 161 Ft. Washington Avenue, New York, NY 10032.

Mears is credited with giving Eberhardt an additional 10 years of life after treating his lymphoma.