December 11, 2013

Obituaries 12/11/13

M. David Giardino

M. David Giardino, 81, died Wednesday, November 27, 2013 in Naples, Fla. His wife and daughter were by his side.

Dave was born December 3, 1931, in Jersey City, and raised in Williston Park and Manhasset, N.Y. He attended the New Hampton School in New Hampshire where he graduated salutatorian in 1949. He went on to matriculate at Princeton University, receiving his BSCE degree in Civil Engineering in 1953.

Following graduation from Princeton, Dave reported for training at the U.S. Naval Base in Newport, R.I. where he received a commission as Ensign in the Civil Engineer Corps of the U.S. Navy. Dave served five years active duty in Brooklyn, N.Y. and Stockton, Calif. during the Korean conflict and held one of the highest security clearances given during that time.

Upon his return to the East Coast in 1958, Dave began a varied career as a business entrepreneur. He joined HJ Zoubek Company, which he eventually purchased in 1962 and renamed Equipco Sales and Rental Corp. The firm grew from a light equipment distributor to become one of the most significant heavy equipment/crane distributers in the NJ/NY metro market. His future son-in-law James Mackinson joined Equipco in 1981 followed by his daughter soon thereafter. Dave became chairman in the late 1980’s.

In the late 1960’s Dave started and eventually sold a company, which manufactured concrete pumping equipment. He shared several patents for equipment used to pump concrete and grout.

During the early 1970’s, Dave entered into the machinery export business with dealings in England, Belgium, South America, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as the Pacific Rim. Dave and his wife travelled the world extensively in connection with this enterprise during that period. Dave’s love of travel eventually led him to introduce his grandchildren to the world, bringing each in turn on the trip of their choice across the globe.

Dave served his industry in numerous capacities including as president of the New Jersey Equipment Distributors Association, and eventually as board member and in 1988 president of the National Association of Equipment Distribution – AED. He was chair of the N.J. Product Liability Task Force — testifying before Congress on product liability matters. For several years, Dave served as a board member of the N.J. Alliance for Action.

During the mid-1960’s Dave became interested in real-estate development and first managed and later developed a series of projects including apartments, office buildings, industrial buildings, and small commercial structures. Along with his son, he developed several well know properties in Princeton, — Brooks Bend, and Governors Lane.

Dave and his wife, Lorraine, were founding members of Parents Against Drug Abuse — PADA — in Summit, N.J, where the couple lived for nearly 30 years before returning to Princeton.

Dave was a life member of the New York Athletic Club, and held memberships in a number of other clubs over the years including Springdale Golf Club, The Nassau Club, and Fairmont Country Club. Dave enjoyed playing golf and tennis, as well as performance driving. He was an avid collector of wine, establishing an extensive cellar, and was a member of the Chaine des Rotisseurs. Those who knew him will attest to his skill behind the stove.

In later years, Dave served on various advisory boards in the construction equipment distribution industry, as a member of the policy board of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and on the board of The New Hampton School.

He is survived by Lorraine Bell, his wife of 64 years. Also surviving are his two children and their spouses: Michael and Laura, Leslie and Jim; a daughter–in-law: Sandy; and six grandchildren: Margaux, James, Alexandra, Daniel, Dave, and Margaret; and his sister Stephanie.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 14, Niles Chapel, Nassau Presbyterian, Princeton, at 10 a.m.

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Joan Little Treiman

Joan Little Treiman, 87, of Princeton died at her home in Princeton, on November 30, 2013. Born in Russell County, Kansas to the late John and the late Blanche (Bishop) Little, she was educated at Colorado Women’s College and the University of Chicago. While studying in Chicago, she worked at the Orthogenic School. She met Sam Treiman in Chicago, and they married in Wichita, Kansas in 1952. They moved to Princeton, where Sam was a professor in the physics department for many years. Joan received her EdD at Rutgers University in 1973 and worked as a psychologist in the West Windsor-Plainsboro and Montgomery Township schools. Joan was a world traveler, bird watcher, and a member of numerous poetry, theater, and book groups. She was active with the Senior Resource Center, Community Without Walls, League of Women Voters, and Audubon Society.

Joan is survived by her children Rebecca Treiman, Katherine Treiman, and Tom Treiman; their spouses Chuck McGibbon, John Britton, and Nancy Akerley; her brother John Little; her sister-in-law Janet Little, wife of her late brother Bill Little; and her grandchildren Joseph, Robert, Sarah, Eric, Anna, Greg, and Bram.

A memorial service will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the Palmer House, 1 Bayard Lane, Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Princeton Senior Resource Center or the Audubon Society.

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Elsbeth Gaertner Lewin
Elsbeth Gaertner Lewin, 89, died peacefully at home on December 9, 2013. She lived in Princeton for 57 years.Mrs. Lewin was born in Mainz, Germany, on July 4, 1924. As a teenager, she fled Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport rescue train, spending a year in England before emigrating to New York. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Hunter College, and received an MA in economics from Yale University. After a career at Princeton University that included 19 years as executive editor of World Politics, she retired in 1990 and became a docent at the Princeton University Art Museum.She served as president of B’nai B’rith Women’s Princeton chapter from 1959-60, Chairman of the Princeton Jewish Center Women’s Division from 1962-63, and as a board member of the Princeton Chapter of American Field Service from 1975-76 and 1978-79.

Mrs. Lewin was married for 58 years to composer Frank Lewin, who died in 2008. She is survived by daughters Naomi Lewin of New York, Eva Radding and her husband Alan of Newton, Mass., and Miriam Lewin of Brooklyn, N.Y., and granddaughters Lisa and Amy Radding. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, N.J. 08544 or the Leo Baeck Institute, 15 West 16th Street, New York, N.Y. 10011.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 1 p.m. at the Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue, Princeton.