Herbert E. Ellerbrock

On Monday, February 7, 2022, Herb Ellerbrock passed away peacefully at age 73.
Originally from Sharpsburg, Herbert was the beloved husband to the late Mercedes "Dolly" (Gigante) Ellerbrock; son of the late Margaret (Bougher) and Herbert Ellerbrock Sr. ; son-in-law of the late Mercedes and Vincent Gigante Sr. ; brother-in-law of Carolyn (Gigante) Schepis and the late Peter Schepis.
Herbert had many nieces and nephews whom he was so proud of and loved dearly.
Among his surviving relatives and friends, Herb is survived by his cousins Eric Dembowski and Dennis Bougher- whom he considered as "brothers" and cherished their lifelong relationship. Herb ever so appreciated his cousin Julia Doerr who visited with him frequently.
Herb had an exceptional life and many extraordinary journeys that took him all over the globe. The "Herbert's Reptiles" sign hung for decades at his Sharpsburg home where many friends would gather and share his passion for snakes and reptiles.
From there, his career expanded to over 50 years at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. He worked at the Children's Zoo which led him to many wonderful experiences and lifelong friendships. He appeared several times on The Don Rigg's Show and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Throughout the years Herb and his wife, Dolly, went on several expeditions and made friendships with fellow herpetologists in places such as: Texas, Colorado, Costa Rica, and Bali, Indonesia. His most significant contribution to the Pittsburgh Zoo was the adoption and care of the zoo's first Komodo Dragon, named "Noname". He and Dolly spent countless hours and efforts for Noname to become part of the zoo and the Pittsburgh community. Their joy was seeing and knowing that so many enjoyed visiting Noname and sharing this incredible experience. Herb was a member and leader of the Pittsburgh Herpetology Club where he promoted positive and ethical treatment of reptiles and amphibians.
Many people knew Herb as a dedicated citizen and supporter of community service. For many years, he was a fireman with the Aspinwall Fire Department and served as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Foxwall Ambulance Service. He and Dolly both served as Ski Patrols at Seven Springs Resort where they were avid skiers.

Herb had many friends that enriched his life and shared in his wonderful journey .
His adventures and stories were never-ending. He wanted you all to know how much he appreciated and loved your time together . Thank you.

Friends will be received Friday 2-7 pm at Worrell Funeral Home, Inc., Sharpsburg.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Raphael's Church, Morningside, on Saturday at 11:00 am.