A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. in St. James Church, Pennington, for Michael J. Herbert, who died Sept. 12 in his Titusville home. He was 73.

Mr. Herbert was a longtime supporter of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton. He first joined the board of trustees in 1999 but had been a steadfast sponsor of the agency’s only annual fundraising event, the Guardian Angel Dinner Dance since 1991.

In 2004, his dedication to Catholic Charities was formally recognized when he was honored as the Mercer County Light of Hope Award recipient.

Mr. Herbert was born in Jersey City. He moved to Trenton in 1965, and 11 years later he moved to Titusville.

Mr. Herbert was a senior partner in the Lawrenceville law firm of Herbert, Van Ness, Cayci and Goodell. He received a bachelor’s degree from Jersey City State College, from which he graduated with honors. He was an Eagleton Fellow from Rutgers University, from where he earned a master’s degree. He earned his law degree from Seton Hall University, South Orange, in 1970. While attending law school at night Mr. Herbert served as secretary to Gov. Richard J. Hughes, executive assistant to the Chancellor of Higher Education, and on the staff of the Commissioner of Community Affairs. Mr. Herbert was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1970 and became a certified civil trial lawyer in 1982.

He was widely respected and often lectured on legal topics. In the municipal area, he served, among many others, as municipal attorney for Princeton Borough, the Township of West Windsor and Plainsboro Township. He was associate counsel for the NJ League of Municipalities and served on the Governor’s Transition Committee on Personnel (2001).

Mr. Herbert served as counsel to the Diocese of Trenton; the Standard Bred Breeders and Owners Association; the Mercer County Vo-Tech and Special Services Schools and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, which governs sports for public and parochial schools.

Since 1983, he served as a member of the board of directors of the New Jersey City University Foundation, Inc., and he also served in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Herbert was predeceased by his parents, William J. and Margaret F. Garrahy Herbert, and two brothers, William and John. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Auer Herbert; four sons, Michael W. (Kimberly); Christopher J. (Kathleen); Brian C. (Rose), and Mark P. (Danielle); a daughter Susanne (Oliver) Giller; seven grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law; two brothers and one sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held in St. James Church, 115 E. Delaware Ave., Pennington, Sept. 15 from 5 to 9 p.m. and the following day from 10 to 10:45 a.m. , prior to the start of the funeral Mass.

Burial will follow in Harbourton Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, 383 West State St., Trenton, N.J. 08618.Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the M. William Murphy Funeral Home, Ewing.

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