Obituaries 5/13/15
Anthony Edward Fasanella
Anthony Edward Fasanella, age 94, a longtime resident of Cincinnati, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2015. He was born in Philadelphia, PA on March 8, 1921 and was the youngest son of Sebastian and Alfonsa Fasanella of Princeton, NJ. When WWII broke out his patriotism compelled him to leave Princeton University, where he had spent two-years studying Electrical Engineering, to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard. He served on active duty for the duration of World War II. While serving on the USS LST #16 (a Navy landing ship designed to carry troops, vehicles, and supplies), he participated in five invasions including the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. After the European operations were completed he served in the Pacific until the end of the war.
After WWII, he worked as a stone mason for large commercial contractors in the construction of major buildings all over the East Coast from New Jersey to Florida. He left his mark in stone at beautiful Wake Forrest University, Duke University, University of Dayton, Princeton University and Indiana University. In addition, Anthony used his acquired masonry talents locally in Cincinnati to help build Oak Hills High School and McAuley High School (where his daughter Melissa graduated). Later in life, he obtained a teaching certificate from the University of Cincinnati and taught vocational high school masonry courses at Scarlet Oaks until the program was closed. Anthony spent the remainder of his masonry career (until age 85) as the bricklayer on staff serving the Williamsburg of Cincinnati apartment complex and contracting private job requests.
Anthony was predeceased by his devoted wife, LaVerne Fasanella of Cincinnati, who passed away in late February of 2015; by his ex-wife, Dolores Church Fasanella; his parents; his brothers, Anthony Sebastian, Carmen, Joe, and Victor Fasanella; his sister, Helen Fasanella of Princeton, NJ; and by his great grandson Benjamin Vidlak. He is survived by his 5 sons, Dr. Edwin Fasanella (Poquoson, VA), Retired Col. Glenn Fasanella (Tacoma, WA), Mark and Michael Fasanella (Cincinnati, OH), Todd Fasanella (New York, NY); and by his daughter, Melissa Fasanella (Wilmington, OH). In addition, he is survived by eight grandchildren, Annette Vidlak (Williamsburg, VA), Carolyn Moskowitz (McLean, VA), Kenneth Fasanella, MD (Pittsburgh, PA), Raymond Fasanella (WA), Angela Garcia (VA), Sabrina Fasanella (NY) and Flora and Hayden Franek (OH); and by 10 great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at Paul R. Young Funeral Home, located at 7345 Hamilton Avenue, Mt. Healthy on Monday, May 18th from 12 PM to 2 PM, with a Blessing Service at 2 PM at the funeral home. A military honors service will immediately follow at Arlington Memorial Gardens, located at 2145 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the AMVETS (American Veterans) or Puppies Behind Bars, in memory of Anthony Fasanella, an honorable military WWII veteran and dedicated educator and pet lover. Condolences may be sent online to www.paulyoungfuneralhome.com.
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Elizabeth D. Somers
Elizabeth D. Somers, 94, a longtime Princeton resident, died of natural causes on Sunday, May 10, 2015 at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton, New Jersey.
Born in New York City, Elizabeth came to Princeton in 1921 with her parents Giovanni and Raffelina (DeAngelis) DiMeglio, both born in Ischia, Italy.
Upon arrival here, her father began the Rialto Barber Shop on Witherspoon Street. From the age of five Elizabeth started helping her father in the barber shop. At the age of 12 she and her mother worked for the National Recovery Administration. Elizabeth graduated from Princeton High School and Rider College and was employed as a secretary by both Dr. John F. Sly at Princeton University and subsequently Dr. Paul Chesebro at The Hun School until she retired. After retirement, she went to work at her son’s law office on Harrison Street where she was well liked by all of the office clientele.
Elizabeth wed George B. Somers in 1948. Their son, George B. Somers, Jr. was born on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C. while his father was attending law school. Years later, the family moved back to Princeton where George, Jr. opened his practice.
Mrs. Somers was predeceased by her parents, two sisters; Vincenza “Nancy” (DiMeglio) Guanieri and Mary (DiMeglio) Hodges; niece Susan DiMeglio; and two nephews John DiMeglio and Robert Guanieri. She is survived by her son, George B. Somers, Jr of Princeton; three grandchildren Melissa Somers of Lawrenceville, John Somers of Brooklyn, New York and Jeb Somers, at home; a brother, Antonio DiMeglio of Tucson, Arizona; five nieces; Sandi Guanieri, Debora DiMeglio, and Judy DiMeglio all of Tucson, Arizona; Lucia Hodges and Carol Hodges, both of Little Rock, Arkansas; and two nephews, Joseph DiMeglio of Tucson, Arizona and Raymond Hodges, of Little Rock, Arkansas.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 15, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. in St. Paul Catholic Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey followed by a committal service and interment in Princeton Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to Kimble Funeral Home, Princeton, New Jersey. Extend condolences and remembrances at www.TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.
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Margaret Considine
Long-time Princeton resident Margaret Mary Burlee Considine died peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2015 following a three-month struggle with cancer. She was 94 years old.
Marge (as she was known to Princetonians) was born and raised on the historic Tree Hill Farm in Richmond, Virginia. After graduating from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. in 1941 with a degree in English, she enlisted in the Navy on July 31, 1942, the very first day that women were eligible for service. Following Officer Candidate School at Smith College, she worked in the Code Room at the Naval Operating Base in Norfolk, Virginia, where she was promoted to Lieutenant and supervising officer of the Code Room and Radio Room. Marge participated in the robust social life of the Base’s Officer’s Club, where she met her future husband Lt. Norbert Aloysius Considine. After VE Day, she worked in the same capacity at Terminal Island in Long Beach, California, where she and Norbert were engaged and later married in Richmond upon returning to civilian life on the East Coast.
After brief stints in both New York City and Philadelphia, Marge and Norb settled in Princeton in 1947. Their first home here was in the Stanworth apartments, where they made many enduring friendships that they passed on to their four children: Norbert, Brian, Kevin, and Mardi. Her husband, son Norbert, and daughter Mardi pre-deceased her.
In addition to caring for her family, Marge worked at a number of schools and non-profit organizations in Princeton, including Princeton Hospital and Princeton Country Day School; with her husband she was a co-founder of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart where she worked in various capacities. Her longest and most passionate engagement was as a Docent at the Princeton University Art Museum, where she led tours and organized study trips for members from 1980 until recently.
A devotee of art, family, and friends, Marge upheld the intrepid spirit of her war years with extensive travel to Europe, Myanmar, South Africa, Istanbul, and the North Sea, and never shied away from a social engagement on the home front.
She is survived by her son Brian and his wife Pam, their two sons, Liam and Caleb; her son Kevin and his partner Sonny Dumas; her daughter-in-law Eileen; her son, William and step-son Peter; her step-daughter Wylie; and five great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to HomeFront, 1880 Princeton Avenue, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 47 Skillman Road, Skillman, New Jersey. Burial will be private.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home of Princeton.
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William D. Baird Jr.
William D. Baird Jr., known as Denny, of New Vernon, New Jersey, died peacefully on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at the age of 70. He was the son of William D. Baird and Dorothy Wodehouse Baird. Born in Washington, D.C., the son of a Naval aviator, Denny was raised in various parts of the country including McLean, Virginia, where he graduated high school. At Brown University, Denny was a member of the Delta Phi fraternity and he graduated in 1968 with a degree in political science.
Denny’s 43 year career in commercial and investment banking included 27 years at Chemical Bank where he served as president of Chemical Bank-Delaware and managing director of the Global Securities and Foreign Exchange Group. In the early 1990s, he was named CEO of Princeton Bank and Trust Company. He also served as CEO of the Glenmede Trust Company of New Jersey and CEO of Beacon Trust Company before retiring in 2011. He was a member of numerous community boards including service as Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, trustee of McCarter Theatre and the Executive Council of the New Jersey Network Foundation.
Denny was a longtime member of the Morris County Golf Club, the Morristown Club, and Saint John on the Mountain Episcopal Church. He enjoyed playing golf, gardening, collecting art, his golden retrievers, and spending time with family in Duck, North Carolina.
Denny is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joy; sons, Chip and his wife Tressa of Bernardsville, New Jersey; David and his wife Jill of Arlington, Virginia; and Andrew and his wife Sarah of Kent, Connecticut; and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by his three siblings, Lyn, Richard, and Laura and their families.
Family and friends were invited to visit on Sunday, May 10, 2015 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, New Jersey. A funeral service was held on Monday May 11, 2015, at 10 a.m. at The Episcopal Church of Saint John on the Mountain, 379 Mt. Harmony Road, Bernardsville, New Jersey. Burial was at the St. Bernards Cemetery, Washington Ave, Bernardsville, New Jersey. For further information, please contact the funeral home at (908) 766-0250, or to light an online condolence candle please visit www.gcfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to Campaign 360, c/o Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, 475 South Street, Morristown, New Jersey 07960.