Albert R. Subers, longtime judge and lawyer in Montco

Albert R. Subers, 79, of Lower Gwynedd, a retired Montgomery County Court judge, died of an apparent heart attack Tuesday at home.

Judge Subers was appointed to the bench in April 1983 and was elected that November. He served until retiring as a senior judge in 2005. During his judicial career, he presided over high-profile proceedings in civil and criminal court. He also had several unusual cases, including those of a babysitter charged with giving marijuana to children and a pet owner accused of mistreating 112 animals.

He loved the law, said his wife, Emmaneta "Emmy" Hepford Subers. For the last three years, he had been a civil-settlement master with Montgomery County Court and worked as recently as last week, she said.

Judge Subers, who grew up in Elkins Park, was an Eagle Scout. He played trombone in the marching band and orchestra, and competed on the football and wrestling squads at Cheltenham High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he rowed on the crew team and was president of the marching band. He also earned a law degree from Penn, and was a devoted alumnus and Quakers football fan, his wife said.

As a young lawyer, Judge Subers clerked for a judge in Philadelphia and was counsel to Philadelphia Transportation Co. In the late 1960s, he joined a law firm in Norristown. In 1975, he was a founding partner of the firm of Kane, Pugh, Anderson, Subers & McBrien in Norristown, and was a civil litigator and solicitor for several Montgomery County townships until his judicial appointment.

He served on the board of the Philadelphia Cricket Club and was a member of the Society of the War of 1812. An ancestor, Peter Stuart Hay, fought in that conflict.

He enjoyed travel, especially river cruises in Europe.

In addition to his wife, Judge Subers is survived by daughters Elizabeth Kelly-McMahon, Julie D'Aeth, Ruth, Emily and Janet; two stepsons; a sister; and nine grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Episcopal Church of the Messiah, where Judge Subers was a vestryman, Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. Friends may call at 10 a.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Class of 1951 Endowed Scholarship Fund, University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St., Room 601, Philadelphia 19104.