Obituaries 2/19/14
Ruth Kemmerer Dorf
Ruth Kemmerer Dorf died peacefully in her sleep on February 11, 2014 at 104 years old. Because she lived so long and because she loved so many, she had many friends and admirers.
Ruth was born in 1909 in Ithaca, New York, the only daughter of Edwin Walter and Rachel Kemmerer. The family soon moved to Princeton where her father took a position as professor of economics at Princeton University, which he held until his death. She often would tell stories of her childhood in Princeton — hitching her sled behind the horse drawn milk wagon, sleeping on a sleeping porch with her family on Fitzpatrick Road, and wheeling a parrot dressed up in doll’s clothes around the neighborhood. She attended Miss Fine’s School and the Walnut Hill School where she excelled, especially in athletics. Her father enrolled her in Wellesley College when she was born and, in 1928 she went to Boston and attended Wellesley where she majored in chemistry. (“Chemistry, Mom? What was fun about that?” “Well, I liked the way it made me think.”) She was very thankful for the education she received at Wellesley and was an active volunteer for the alumnae association throughout her life. In 2002, she attended her 70th reunion there with a few of her remaining classmates.
Her family traveled a great deal, and Ruth learned how to manage for herself at an early age and also how to change the rules. She would say “unless it’s illegal, when someone asks you to do something, do it and expose yourself to life.” That’s probably why she flew on one of the first commercial airlines coming home from a vacation in Boston and then told her parents that she had taken the train; or accepted her father’s graduation gift of going around the world on a rusty freighter with a close friend; or traveled wherever and whenever she could; be it alone or with her future husband, or her beloved brother, Don. It might have been why she decided to volunteer as the make-up artist at a community theater event where she met Erling Dorf, a young professor of geology at Princeton University, who was also acting in the production. The name of the production is long lost to history, but the meeting produced sparks and Ruth and Erling were married a couple of years later in 1934.
Ruth did what was expected of her as a young bride — cleaned house, learned to cook (“I couldn’t even boil an egg when I married your father”), and went to geology department socials, but she knew that life was more than that. As they started having children (Tom in 1936, Norm in 1938, Bob in 1941, and Molly in 1948), she threw herself into rearing her family. Ruth was devoted to her family and not only thought about how to care for them, but how to make life an adventure. At various times in their lives, the Dorf household had dogs, crows, magpies, a monkey, birds, a squirrel, and cats. One of Bob’s earliest memories is of his Mom bringing garter snakes to him in her golf bag after she played. She took him on her bike packed in the wicker basket during World War II, took the family West to follow Erling’s geology pursuits, enrolled them in swimming and tennis classes, took them ice skating on Lake Carnegie, and secretly cringed as her oldest, Tom, made his own airplane from a kit, or as her daughter, Molly, went to Africa for the summer. She reminded the kids that life was to be looked at straight on with a twinkle in your eye.
Whatever Ruth decided to do, she would do it with gusto: despite her earlier problems with food preparation, she became a very accomplished cook with a local reputation for good parties and great food. Ruth’s sense of humor as well as her love of people made her parties the talk of the town — people always had fun.
When she realized that all four kids were going to need braces and a professor’s salary was not going to stretch that far, she parlayed her love for baking into a cottage-industry baking and selling “Mrs. Dorf’s Homemade Rolls” often making, baking, and packaging as many as 80 dozen rolls a day. The kids got straight teeth.
Perhaps the greatest example of her wisdom was her response to son Tom’s death in 1958. Without any books to guide her, she pulled her family through the grief of his sudden loss by, again, looking at life straight on and teaching them all how to cope. She took a job as a snack bar manager at the local YMCA just so she wouldn’t be at home feeling sorry for herself. She never let the kids forget their brother, nor did she let them get morose about his passing.
People remember her as “always there,” friendly and warm — always easy with a hug — making homemade bread and rolls, filling the house with that comforting smell, easy with her laugh and her love, eager to hear about your adventures and not be judgmental if they didn’t work out. None of her children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren ever doubted that she loved them and loved them for who they were.
She was classy — knew how to set a table, how to dress for a dinner dance, but also knew how to fish the Yellowstone River. She could talk with all different kinds of people and always let them know she had listened. She was a world traveler — flew on the Concorde and visited all seven continents. She was a health nut who exercised and took vitamins until she was 98, but who had a secret passion for Thomas Sweet chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce, a great fondness for Jack Daniels whiskey, and an appreciation for an ice cold beer. She was funny, loving, refined (with a naughty streak), and always interested. She was resourceful when she had to be and generous when she could be.
It was good that Ruth lived for 104 years because she was still telling stories that many of her children hadn’t heard right up to her death. In the end, the span of time that she was here made her appreciate life even more and pass that enthusiasm on to whomever she met — and for this, the family will always be grateful.
She was preceded in death by her sons Tom (1958), Norm (2007), and her husband of 50 years, Erling (1984).
She is survived by her son, Bob; daughter, Molly; 7 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.
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Raymond H. Pirollo
Raymond H. Pirollo of Springfield, formerly of Yeadon and South Philadelphia, died on February 16, 2014, at the age of 83. He was the former owner of Raymond Hair Stylist in Yeadon. Loving husband of Jeanne (nee Navo) Pirollo, father of Lana (Thomas) DelFera, Gina (Larry) Hookey and Raymond A. (Kimberly) Pirollo; also survived by 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, brother of Samuel Pirollo.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass on Thursday, February 20 at 11 a.m. at S.S. Simon and Jude Church, 8 Cavanaugh Court (Routes 3 and 352), West Chester, Pa. 19382 where friends may call from 10 a.m. Thursday at the Church. Interment will be at S.S. Peter and Paul Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to EDEN Autism Services Foundation, 2 Merwick Road, Princeton, N.J. 08540.
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Frederick Lamb Gilman
Frederick Lamb Gilman, 95, of Skillman, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on February 14, 2014. Born in Warrensburg, Illinois in January 1919, Mr. Gilman was a long time resident of Lawrenceville before moving to Stonebridge at Montgomery in Skillman.
Son of Lelia Lamb and George Gilman, he is survived by Ruth Sutherland Gilman, his wife of 66 years, children Joanna (William Strauss), Thomas (Jennifer Gilman), and Martha (Scott Yarberry) and his grandchildren, Grace and Quinn Gilman, and Aric and Neal Yarberry.
After completing his education at Millikin University and The University of Illinois, he entered the U.S. Navy Midshipman School at Northwestern University. During World War II he served one year as a Communication Officer on the staff of Admiral Nimitz followed by three years as a Gunnery Division Officer on the USS Salt Lake City, a heavy cruiser in the Pacific Theater.
He worked for the National Cash Register Company in the Marketing Division for 25 years and later as vice-president of information technology at Princeton Insurance Company.
He was a member of The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, Hopewell Valley Golf Club, The Old Guard of Princeton, The Nassau Club, and Scottish Rite. He became a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, Sons of the Revolution, and other hereditary organizations based on ancestry, and he traced his earliest roots to Edward Gilman who emigrated from Hingham, England in 1638.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on March 1, 2014 at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, 2688 Main Street Lawrenceville. Burial will be at the Illini Cemetery, Warrensburg, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville or to a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
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Julia M. Newton (Weissenburger)
She married Albert J. Newton on June 7, 1952. She worked for the Princeton University library and geology department as a secretary before starting their family in 1955. She enjoyed growing flowers and working in her garden.
She is survived by a daughter Joan Walter of Deltona, Fla.; a son Timothy Weissenburger (Lynn) of Wharton, N.J.; a daughter-in-law of Lompoc, Calif.; three granddaughters Marissa, Paige, and Jesse all of Lompoc, Calif., and many dearly beloved friends.
She is pre-deceased by her husband and best friend Albert, a son James Weissenburger of Lompoc, CA, and a son-in-law Michael Walter of Deltona, FL.
The family would also like to express thanks to the Princeton Healthcare Ministry and volunteers for all of the help and kindness they gave to Julia and Albert during the past couple of years. It was greatly appreciated.
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Hsueh Yen LeeMr. Hsueh Yen Lee, of Princeton, passed away at the Somerset Medical Center on Feb. 9, 2014 at the age of 102. He was born into a rural merchant family of Hakka descent in Meshian, Kwongdong Province in southern China. When he was 15, he escaped apprenticeship as a tailor, and went to Nanking to attend high school, supported by his eldest brother, a military officer in the Nationalist Army. He was accepted into the Central Aviation Academy and became a Chinese Air Force pilot in 1934. In Kunming in 1938, he married Tzu-Ching Chang of Guanxian, Sichuan Province. From 1937-1945, he was a bomber pilot fighting against the invading Japanese forces during World War II. In 1943, as the commander of the first bomber group of the Flying Tigers, he led the successful bombing of the Japanese-held air field in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He was a highly decorated flyer and flew over 150 missions during his Air Force career. He survived two airplane crashes and went on to become a senior Air Force officer in China and then in Taiwan.
Retired from the (Nationalist) Chinese Air Force as a Lieutenant General in 1967 after serving as the superintendent of the Air Force Staff College, Mr. Lee began a second career as a professor in the Chinese Cultural University in Taipei, where he taught history for 17 years. In 1985, Mr. Lee and his wife moved to the U.S. to be closer to their five children. Mrs. Lee died in 1988. At the age of 90, Mr. Lee wrote his autobiography entitled Blue Sky and Flying Tigers: Memoir at Ninety. The book was recently re-printed in Taiwan as a part of the 70th anniversary of the Hsinchu bombing,
Mr. Lee is survived by his son, Wei-li Lee, and daughter-in-law, Linda Eckert Lee of Princeton, his grandchildren, Caryn Lee Farnum, Jason Lee, and Jessica Lee, formerly of Princeton, and their spouses, and his great-grandson Everett Jay Farnum; as well as his other children Sophie Yu of Baltimore, Shirley Chiou of Bridgewater, Chiawen Keh of Irvine, Calif., and Wei Ping Andrew Lee of Baltimore and their spouses, and ten other grandchildren, and four other great-grandchildren.
The viewing and funeral will take place in the J. M. Murphy Funeral Home in Monmouth Junction at noon on Saturday, February 22, 2014 followed by burial in Princeton Cemetery.
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He graduated from Central High School in Washington, D.C. and matriculated at Princeton University. In 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp and served in both World War II as a 2nd Lieutenant and the Korean War in the Air Force, reaching the rank of Captain. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business with a BS in economics, class of 1950 and received his MBA from New York University in 1964.
Early in his career, Mr. Faus worked for IBM and RCA in various management positions. From 1964 to 1979 he worked for AMF in their world headquarters in New York City becoming director of corporate information systems in 1973. He founded Systrin Information Systems in Princeton in 1980 and in 1983 became VP and National Director of Information Systems Consulting for Hayes Hill Incorporated. Through the mid 1960’s and into the late 1970’s he was co-owner, along with his wife, Fleurette K. Faus, of Gallery 100 on Nassau Street in Princeton.
Mr. Faus was a long time member of Trinity Church in Princeton where he served as an usher on Sunday mornings and volunteered for their annual community rummage sale. For many years in retirement, he helped run workshops for Trinity’s outreach program, Jobseekers. He was a member of the Barnegat Light Yacht Club on Long Beach Island where he served as Commodore, Trustee, and long time Principal Race Officer.
An avid sailor of Lightning’s and Sunfish; he meticulously cared for his vintage cedar planked Barnegat Bay Garvey, Quahog. He enjoyed many summer days cruising the bay with family and friends. Later in life, he became a loyal Bedlington terrier owner and long walks were a daily routine. An avid Princeton University Tigers fan, he attended both alumni classes and sporting events throughout his adult years. Most of all, he was known and respected as a gentleman, committed husband, father, and grandfather.
Mr. Faus was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Fleurette K. Faus and his grandson, Nathaniel; he is survived by his four sons, Brad and his wife, Ginny, of Lakeville, Conn., Todd of Norwalk, Conn., David and his wife, Holly, of Baltimore, Md., and John of Rocky Hill, N.J. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Jamie, Cady, Libby, and John.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Church, Princeton.
Entombment will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Church Memorial Fund, 33 Mercer St., Princeton, N.J. 08542.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Saul Colonial Home, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, N.J. 08690.
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Evelyn Beatrice Brazzell TurnerEvelyn Beatrice Brazzell Turner, age 90 of Princeton, passed away February 11, 2014 at Princeton Medical Center at Plainsboro. Born in Natchez, Miss., she was a graduate of Brunfield High School in Natchez in 1942. She was employed for many years at Miss Mason’s School and later the Mason Early Education Foundation.
She was the daughter of the late Katie L. Briscoe and Roy Brazzell, stepdaughter of the late Edward R. Briscoe, wife of the late Thomas T. Turner, sister of the late Thelma E. Jenkins, mother of the late Thomas Hillary, William Harrel, and Kenneth Earl Turner, grandmother of the late Anthony Ray Turner.
She is survived by two sons Barry C. Turner (Crystal) and Norman H. Turner (Taundra), daughter Evelyn Elaine Counts, three daughters-in-law Emma A. Turner, Kathryn Virginia Turner, and Ann H. Turner 14 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, a host of other relatives and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at the Hughes Funeral Home 324 Bellevue Avenue in Trenton. Calling hours will begin at 10 a.m. and will last until the time of service at the funeral home. Interment will be at Franklin Memorial Park in North Brunswick, N.J.