To the Editor:

As any psychologist knows, the prevalent presentation of bad news, as from bad behavior and crime in the media, can result in copy-cat crime. As is equally known, but less considered, is the fact that the presentation of good behavior and good role models can result in more good deeds. We could use stronger presentation of positive role models in our own community to stimulate behavior of excellence.

It is absolutely amazing how many dedicated and excellent people live in our midst, providing unselfish service with little recognition. Let me just bring a few to light, in our own town (in alphabetic order):

Leslie Burger built our library into a center of cultural and intellectual life – with her support team, as for film-showing, including Susan Conlon and Janie Hermann.

Jim Floyd, first a leader of our police force, then mayor of the Township, now, in more advanced age, still leading a team to provide low-income housing to our too often disadvantaged African-American community, supported excellently by Minnie Craig and others.

Claire Jacobus was and still is most beneficially involved in a number of community activities.

Wendy Mager has unselfishly managed and built the “Friends of Princeton Open Space” over decades — with a wonderful trails team including Ted Thomas, Clark Lennon, Eric Tazelaar, Andrew Thornton, and more.

Bob Kiser, Lee Solow, and other members of our community administration have provided excellent service beyond the call of duty.

Dave McAlpin is a great initiator and leader of beneficial activities in our town, also including Habitat for Humanity, help to our black community, and more.

Bernie Miller has provided dedicated and capable service to the administration of our community for many years.

Ingrid and Marvin Reed are active in a wide variety of causes in our town, always with great unselfish dedication — presenting the best of American democracy.

Sheldon Sturgis started and promoted “Princeton Future” community planning.

Ralph Widner did the first systematic analysis of community planning data.

Robert von Zumbusch was active for decades in environmental matters and the protection of nature and open space — always unselfishly serving our community.

… and many more who I did not have the pleasure to know and work with, but who could and should be honored as well by those who know about them! How about the guiding individuals of the D&R Greenway and the Watershed Association? Isn’t there also a lady who has provided bus tours for about three decades (!) to great mansions, wonderful parks, museums, and interesting sites, requiring more work than most people realize, as a volunteer, actually losing money on that?

We can no longer “knight” them or add subtitles to their names as the “de” in France or the “von” in Germany – but we can recognize these individuals once in a while – as role models to follow!!

A sincere “thank you” to all of them!!!

Submitted by a citizen of Princeton,

Helmut Schwab

Westcott Road