Tonight (5/21/24)there was a Hakzara for Rabbi Herber Zatzal on Zoom. The following are some of the things that were said: 
He infused Torah into every part of him and into every part of his life. He was caring. He called all of his children and grandchildren each and everyday to ask how they are. He was a pillar of the Agudah community. He was a ba’al tzadaka, he gave in secret (Rabbi Greenblatt looked emotional when he mentioned this). He loved teaching Torah. He loved teaching Torah to children. He was an i’sh eme’s, true to his word, fulfilled promises (such as a present for a child). Loved Emes. Searched for the eme's when hearing a dra’sha and focus his questions on that point. Although he looked like he was sleeping….he wasn't..his sudden questions made that clear. He has a tremendous memory for learning….remembering drasha’s from 25 years ago (and would ask the Rav about them as if it was yesterday). Had a clarity in learning that is rare. A klurkeit in a Rav Akiva Eiger offering 2 clear mehalchim. He loved Torah and having a kash’ya is fine, even without a teirutz, if there is a kash'ya then the emes requires  asking the question even without an answer. He was known as Chaim yosef the Masmid when he was a bachur (wow!). Rav Aaron Kutler said he was the 2nd top bachur in Lakewood (and that was from the 1950’s).  Rabbi Menachem Tendler referred to him as his Rebbe for the past 14 years. He was sharp until the very end (except his final week in Rabbi Musers Mishna chaburah). He was one of the original 10  founders of the Agudah. Although he did not dress yeshivish, he was drawn to the Agudah and that environment…and he helped make the environment. He was an anav, a Lamdan, a Masmid and had a leiv tov. He did a lot for the community. Genuinely cared about others. He spoke about how Hashem is the only one that truly loves us (he spoke about the tefila ahava Rabba). He was mekabeil the sufferings in his life. His son (tzadok?) passed away (1997?). Tzadok was lively etc, Rabbi Herber was mekabei’l this. The other example was the passing of his wife (Chaya Basya?). He was “multifaceted” (said Rabbi Greenblatt) by community help which included teaching kids their bar mitzvah. He taught people from non-religious homes (including children). Rabbi Greenblatt said he wonders whether he would still be Rav if Rabbi Herber would have been there during the Sunday morning that Rabbi Greenblatt presented his shiur to the Agudah. 

Rabbi Herber was born 1937. He grew up on the lower East side. He wanted to be a doctor. A 5th grade Rebbe got him excited about learning. He ended up learning in Lakewood. He was Moser nefesh, and gave up being a doctor in order to become a Talmud Chacham. He was very great in learning but considered himself a regular person and made a living driving an old truck selling used batteries to scrap metal (possibly owned a scrap metal company called h&h) for a time. He moved to St Louis in the mid 1960s. 

Some of the traits I mention (on this video/recording) were mentioned tonight. Examples include Kavod Shabbos, always answering Baruch Hashem and others. The concept of “derech eretz kadma latorah” was commonly said by him. Many stories resurfaced in my memory after tonight which I haven't had a chance to say yet. I will leave off with the words of one of my friends "He was ttruly one of the greats from a different generation".