Joan Richards-Barber 

Joan Richards-Barber, of Princeton, died December 26 at home.

Born in Princeton on April 9, 1959, she attended Princeton Public Schools. From age seven until 16, she was a swimmer and a competitive diver, competing in AAU diving for a number of years. After finishing school, she worked for two years at Carrier Clinic, Skillman.

She moved to Florida in 1980, where she became well known for her fishing. She appeared several times on television, and held multiple records for catching the most fish in one day. She was a member of Sandsculptures International, and helped build a castle on Treasure Island that earned a place in the 1986 Guinness Book of World Records, as well as winning 1st prize for an individual sand castle the same year.

Returning to Princeton in 1988, when her father became critically ill, she drove to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital every day to be with him. After he passed away, she decided to become a dialysis technician in the Helene Fuld Dialysis Unit. She was kind and compassionate, and was well known by the patients to be one of the most dedicated technicians in the unit.

These qualities also made her marvelous with both animals and children, who adored her immediately. She had a gift with birds in particular, and owned multiple large, talking parrots throughout her lifetime. She was also skilled at administering first aid to animals; many times she cleaned wounds, set bones, and saved lives.

Soon after having her daughter, she sustained a back injury that, after two major surgeries, left her physically disabled and in constant, debilitating pain. As her suffering worsened, she became unable to do the things she loved, and eventually, it became difficult for her to even leave the house.

She could relate to others in a way that was contagious. She was funny, but honest, and always spoke her mind. She lived her life exactly as she wanted to, and never asked permission or made compromises when it came to things she cared about. She taught everyone around her to do the same, and in that way, she lives on.

Predeceased by her father, Raymond Richards; and her brother, Mark Richards; she is survived by her daughter, Lindsay Barber; her mother, Doris Richards, and her brother, Ray Richards.

A memorial celebration was held on January 2 at the Kimble Funeral Home, Princeton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to help pay her daughter’s college tuition.

To extend condolences, please visit TheKimbleFu
neralHome.com.

Charles L. Jaffin

Charles L. Jaffin, 83, of Princeton, died December 22 at the University Medical Center at Princeton. He had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in June.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on February 27, 1928, he attended the Bronx High School of Science and then Princeton University. He graduated with high honors from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs in 1948 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He remained a loyal son of Princeton and of the class of 1948 for his entire life, serving a stint as class president.

He attended Columbia Law School and was editor of the Law Review. On a blind date to a tea dance in 1951, he met Rosanna Webster. They were married in 1952 and would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this June. Her job as secretary to the scientist Robert Oppenheimer at the Institute for Advanced Study led the couple to settle in Princeton.

Upon graduation, he joined the firm of Carter, Ledyard & Millburn, eventually leaving to become a partner with Lewis & MacDonald. There, he helped orchestrate its merger with Battle Fowler to form one of the leading law firms in the country. He went on to head Battle Fowler’s Corporate and Securities Department. His many prominent clients included Cornelius Vanderbilt III, the paleoanthropologist Richard Leaky, and the baseball player, Jackie Robinson. He would often tell of the time he took Jackie Robinson to a Princeton University football game. “The Princeton side was sold out so they had to sit on the Dartmouth side of the field”, recalled his daughter. “My father was not happy about that.” But, she remembers that crowds of children followed them everywhere, so great was the baseball legend’s appeal.

His natural gregariousness served him well in his law career. He made friends and clients in the most unlikely places. One story he loved to tell was the time he was seated next to a Pakistani ambassador’s wife on a flight from New York City to Geneva, Switzerland. In short order, he became the couple’s lawyer and good friend.

He served on many boards during his lifetime, including Sterling Extruder (now Merritt Extruder), Holland America Lines, and Sunshine Biscuit. He was also active in civic life in Princeton. He was on the Princeton Township school board for three years, was a member of the Shade Tree Commission, the Civil Rights Commission, and in his later years was a devoted member of The Old Guard. At the time of his death, he was Chairman Emeritus of the board of Kepner-Tregoe, and co-chairman (along with his wife) of the Planned Giving Committee of The Institute for Advanced Study.

In addition to his wife, Rosanna, he is survived by his five children, David W. Jaffin, Jonathan H. Jaffin, Rhoda Murphy, Lora Peters, and Katherine Gibson; 11 grandchildren; and his brother, Richard Jaffin.

A memorial service is planned for Friday, January 13 at 11 a.m. at the Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either The Institute for Advanced Study or the University Medical Center at Princeton.

Ellwood Kauffman

Ellwood “Woody” Kauffman, 83, died December 23 at home in Princeton. He was a computer pioneer whose keen intellect was matched only by his keen wit.

After serving as a technical sergeant in Japan at the end of World War II, he attended Temple University on the GI bill, graduating in 1952 with a degree in mathematics and a fascination with a new breed of room-filling “automatic computers.” He joined Remington Rand’s fledgling Univac division, which built the nation’s first commercial mainframe computer, and became one of the earliest operators of that iconic machine.

Later, he turned his sights to computer software, founding and serving as president and CEO of Applied Data Research in Princeton, the world’s first independent software company, which in 1968 was awarded the first patent for a computer program. He remained active in computing for more than 40 years and founded several other computer software and consulting companies in Princeton, including Mainstem and K-Squared Systems. In 1981, he was recognized by the American Federation of Information Processing Societies as a “Univac Pioneer,” one of a group of “indomitable innovators whose foresight … helped usher in the Information Society of today.”

At college, he met his wife, Shirley, and they were married nearly 58 years until her death in July 2008. They traveled the globe together, played a mean game of bridge, and shared the curious distinction of having been named to President Nixon’s infamous “enemies list” for their work with the presidential campaign of George McGovern. He also enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing poker. His greatest pleasure, however, came from time spent with his family, whose images graced nearly every surface in his home. His heroes were his children, his grandchildren, and Albert Einstein.

He taught his children, and those whose lives he touched, the importance of hard work, compassion, and the serious business of humor. He also held the incongruous belief that obituaries should be published while their subjects are alive, so they can appreciate the breadth of their accomplishments and impact.

Predeceased by his wife, Shirley, and his sister, Shirley Dashoff; he is survived by his sons, Scott and Geoffrey Kauffman; his daughter, Jane Kauffman Barthman; five grandchildren; and his “angel,” Marcia Nelson-Brown, his devoted caregiver.

A celebration of his life will be held on January 14 at 2 p.m. in the Wilson Room at Princeton Windrows, 2000 Windrow Drive, off College Road West by Forrestal Village.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Foundation, Tower Two, Fifth Floor, 120 Albany Street, New Brunswick, N.J. 08901; or online at www.cinjfoundation.org.

Lastly, as a particularly fitting tribute, he would be thrilled if you remembered to tell your children and your parents that you love them.

Frances K. Wojciechowski

Frances Klimkiewicz Wojciechowski, 91, of South Amboy, died December 24 at Victoria Health Care Center in Matawan.

Born in South Amboy, she resided there her entire life. She was a co-owner with her husband Joseph of Raritan Printing Company in South Amboy. Prior to her retirement, she was a valued employee of Hanover Insurance Company in Piscataway. A magna cum laude graduate of St. Mary’s High School in South Amboy, she later earned a degree from the Newark School of Business. As a young woman, she was a member of the Sacred Heart Sodality and had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. One of her most cherished moments was when she was selected to be the May Crowner of Our Lady. She was also an officer of the Sacred Heart Altar Rosary Society, as well as a past president of Sacred Heart PTA. She was also a member of Sacred Heart and South Amboy Senior Citizens.

She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She was generous and caring and she loved to knit and crochet. She was a talented seamstress and was always happy to teach and share her craft with others. She enjoyed playing Bingo and was an avid Scrabble and word puzzle enthusiast. She delighted many with her Polish cooking and her recipes will be forever cherished by her family and friends.

Predeceased by her husband, Joseph R. Wojciechowski in 2006; her daughters, Maryann Wojciechowski and Barbara Meyers; her brothers, Rev. Francis, John, Aloysius and Joseph Klimkiewicz; she is survived by her daughter, Joanne Corridon; her son, Frank Wojciechowski; five grandchildren; and her sisters, Estelle Klimek, Alice Zdzienicki, and Ann Kilcomins.

Funeral services were held at the Carmen F. Spezzi Funeral Home, 15 Cherry Hill Lane, Parlin, followed by a Mass at Sacred Heart R.C. Church in South Amboy. A private cremation followed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sacred Heart School Endowment Fund, Cedar Street, South Amboy, N.J. 08879.

Messages of condolences may be left for the family at www.spezzifuneralhome.com.