Judge Albert P. Close

His life and legacy

Albert Patterson Close was born in 1918 at Hazel Dell, near Bel Air, the youngest of seven children in a family of Harford County lawyers. He graduated from St. John’s College in Annapolis and the University of Maryland School of Law.

During World War II he volunteered for the Marine Corps and served in China, rising to the rank of major. He came home to practice law in Bel Air, served as a People’s Court judge, and in 1967 joined the Circuit Court for Harford County. Over nearly two decades on the bench he served as administrative judge, guided the expansion of the county courthouse, and became chief judge of the Third Administrative Circuit.

Colleagues remembered his patience, his fairness and his humor, and a chambers door that was always open. He mentored many young lawyers who went on to successful careers, volunteered with the Boy Scouts, earning their Silver Beaver Award, and served on the board of the Upper Chesapeake Health System. He loved the Chesapeake Bay, the Eastern Shore, his garden and the Orioles.

After he passed away in December 2000, his family and friends founded the Foundation in 2002 to carry his devotion to young people forward. Today we still help send Harford County scouts to camp at Broad Creek, and our largest grant each year supports new families at Upper Chesapeake.