John Irwin Fischer

John Irwin Fischer, 74, eighteenth-century scholar specializing in the works of Jonathan Swift, died at home in Princeton on the morning of May 15, 2015. He suffered from a lung disease, which worsened throughout 2015.

Fischer held a BA from Ohio State and a PhD from the University of Florida. He was a Woodrow Wilson and an NDEA fellow. Upon receiving his doctorate, he accepted a position in the English Department at Louisiana State University (LSU). Later, he chaired that department and served as its graduate director. He won grants and fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). He also served as consultant for NEH. He was author of On Swift’s Poetry and co-editor of Swift and His Contexts and Contemporary Studies of Swift’s Poetry. He was a regular contributor to the Munster Symposia on Jonathan Swift.

After remaining at LSU for his entire academic career, Fischer retired in 2001 and moved to Princeton. Here, he pursued his bibliographic work on Swift, editing the only as-yet-unpublished work that Swift wrote.

In Princeton, John Fischer was a member of Community Without Walls, House Five, for which he once served as president. Noted internationally for meticulous historical scholarship, John’s well-known wit fueled his generosity, allowing him to offer helpful insight
and humor in equal measure.

After a marriage of 40 years, he is survived by his wife Panthea Reid. Other survivors are his daughter Hannah Fischer, son-in-law Michael Pinck, step-son Reid Broughton, and step-grandson Reid Broughton Jr.

Memorial services will be held on June 14, 2015 at Princeton University Chapel and the Arts’ Council of Princeton.

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Kathryn Allshouse

Kathryn Guinn Allshouse, 80, left us on May 14, 2015. Born in Princeton, she resided in Princeton her entire life before moving to Hillsborough in 2004. A graduate of St. Paul’s School and Princeton High School, Kathryn retired from the Hun School of Princeton after more than 37 years of service. She was co-owner, along with her husband of the #55 stock car.

Kathryn was an avid reader, New York Yankee and Dallas Cowboy fan. Preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Kathryn (Oehr) Guinn; husband Philip Allshouse; sister Dorothy Yingling; and sister-in-law, Rosa Guinn. She is survived by her loving children, Tim And Kim Allshouse, Marianne and Keith Spooner, Gretchen and Hans Sidler. Grandchildren, Elizabeth and Gunnar Sidler; brothers, Raymond Guinn and Robert (Anne) Guinn; brother-in-law, Stephen (Mimi) Allshouse; and sister-in-law, Joyce (Bill) Simonetti; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends; and her loyal dog, Sadie.

A funeral service will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. Friends may call on Thursday, from 6 p.m. until the time of the service at the Funeral Home.

Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Deborah Heart & Lung or St. Jude’s Children Foundation.

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Catherine Cirullo

Our Mother, Nana, and the matriarch of our family, Catherine “Katie” Lamantia Cirullo, 97, a resident of Princeton for 92 years, joined her husband, son, sisters, and parents in heaven on May 12, 2015. She passed away peacefully at Merwick Center.

Born on December 24, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York, Mom was predeceased by her beloved husband of 58 years, Anthony “Tony” Cirullo; her father, James Lamantia; her mother and step-father, Teresa and Frank Burratti; her son, Michael Anthony; her sisters, Rose Williams and Anna Boccanfuso; and her grandson, Baby Michael Cirullo. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Frances and Henry Jones of Lawrenceville, New Jersey; and her son and daughter-in-law, Anthony and Donna Cirullo of Wellington, Florida.

She was the very proud “Nana” of John Vincent Cirullo, Teresa (Thomas) O’Leary, Catherine (Benjamin) Fruscione, Wendy (Mike) Gunderman, Rick (Jen) Jones, Karen (Paul) Truban, Mark (Jennifer) Jones, Rebecca Jones, and her husband Ray Pyontek, Stephen Cirullo, and Breanne Cirullo.

Nana was proud to be the great grandmother of her 14 great grandchildren Peyton, Alex, Kathryn, Charlotte, Caroline, Cate, Aidan, Thomas, Liz, Caitlin, Nate, Samantha, Michaela, and John Robert. Mom is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors, and her dear friend, Christine Casati.

Totally independent until her recent illness, Mom was a resilient, energetic woman with a strong work ethic whose youthful appearance belied her age. She was employed in retail sales for many years before retiring from Carter Wallace in 1987. She was a devoted and compassionate caregiver to many family members. She was happiest when surrounded by her family and when she was preparing meals and baking “Nana” cookies, a family favorite. Mom loved tending her gardens and sitting on her porch visiting with neighbors and friends.

She was a longtime member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church and a former Catholic Daughter.

Visitation was held on Monday, May 18, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue in Princeton and Tuesday, May 19, 2015 from 9 to 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 214 Nassau Street in Princeton. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church. Burial followed in St. Paul’s Cemetery.

Everyone who knew Mom knew how much she loved flowers. However, they also knew how strongly she felt about helping others. If you wish, memorial contributions may be made to Senior Care Ministry of Princeton, P.O. Box 1517, Princeton, N.J. 08542-1517, whose friendship and service she valued, or St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton, N.J. 08542, where she was a faithful parishioner for 92 years.

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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. When World War II 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 the war, 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 Forest 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; and by his great grandson Benjamin Vidlak. He is survived by his 5 sons, Dr. Edwin Fasanella (Poquoson, Va.); Retired Col. Glenn Fasanella (Tacoma, Wash.); Mark and Michael Fasanella (Cincinnati, Ohio); Todd Fasanella (New York, N.Y.); and by his daughter, Melissa Fasanella (Wilmington, Ohio). In addition, he is survived by eight grandchildren Annette Vidlak (Williamsburg, Va.); Carolyn Moskowitz (McLean, Va.); Kenneth Fasanella, MD, (Pittsburgh, Pa.); Raymond Fasanella (Wash.); Angela Garcia (Va.); Sabrina Fasanella (N.Y.); Flora and Hayden Franek (Ohio); and by 10 great-grandchildren.

A visitation was held at Paul R. Young Funeral Home, located at 7345 Hamilton Avenue, Mt. Healthy on Monday, May 18th from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., with a Blessing Service at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. A military honors service immediately followed at Arlington Memorial Gardens, located at 2145 Compton Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 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 World War II veteran and dedicated educator and pet lover. Condolences may be sent online to www.paulyoungfuneralhome.com.

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Vernon Gerald Wright

Vernon Gerald Wright, a resident of Princeton, New Jersey since 1972, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 3, 2015, at the age of 90.

Wright, who was born in Port Neches, Texas, lived in Beaumont, Texas; Port Credit (now Mississauga), Canada; and Winchester and Lincoln, Massachusetts before moving to Princeton.

He was a graduate and registered civil engineer, educated at Rice University and the University of Texas. He later completed the Advanced Management Program of the Harvard Business School.

He served as a Civil Engineer Corps officer attached to a Seabee Combat Pontoon Battalion in the South Pacific during World War II hostilities, and then
participated in the first postwar atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Award for his contribution to those tests.

His professional career was spent in the engineering and construction industry. He was employed for many years by Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation, Boston, where he ended as a vice president responsible for projects. After a short vice presidency with Research Cottrell in Bound Brook, New Jersey, he joined Catalytic, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and retired as its president in 1986. From 1984 until his retirement, he was also president of Stearns-Roger, Inc. of Denver, Colorado. He assumed a prominent international role in the engineering and construction business, serving as chairman of the National Constructors Association in 1979. Subsequent to his formal retirement, he acted as a consultant for several major companies related to the engineering and construction industry.

Wright was a trustee of the Williamson School, Media, Pennsylvania, for over 30 years, and served on the Construction Advisory Board of Princeton Township and on the Board of Trustees of the Friends of the Princeton Public Library. He was a member of the Harvard Club of Boston, Union League of Philadelphia, the Nassau Club, Springdale Golf Club and the Old Guard of Princeton. He was also a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church and a 32nd degree Mason.

Wright was born on July 5, 1924, the son of Edward Vernon Wright and Vergie Payton Wright. He was married in Houston, Texas on December 23, 1946, to the former Huberta Read Nunn, who predeceased him in 2007, after a happy marriage of more than 60 years. He is survived by their three children, Robert Payton Wright and his wife Sallie, of Houston, Texas; David Cummings Wright, of Concord, Massachusetts; and Sally Ann Wright, of Princeton, New Jersey; two grandchildren, Payton Cullen Wright and his wife, Ashley; and Elizabeth Risher Wright Rappaport and her husband, David; a great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Peterson Wright, all of Houston, Texas; and his brother, Harry Payton Wright, of Port Neches, Texas.

A memorial service will be held on June 20, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Nassau Presbyterian Church.

Contributions in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Williamson School, 106 South New Middletown Road, Media, Pennsylvania 19063, Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08542, Friends of the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08542, or to a charity of choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

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John Edwin Avery Jr.

John Edwin Avery Jr., of Palm Beach, Florida, and formerly of Princeton, died on March 15, 2015, in West Palm Beach. He was 86. Born and raised in Connecticut, he was the son of John E. Avery Sr. and Vera Gallagher Avery. After serving in the Army, he earned his bachelor’s degree at Yale University in 1952. He married Antonia Ariani and they raised four children during 32 years of marriage. In 1984 he married Caron Girard Cox, who predeceased him in 2012.

A resident of Princeton for over 30 years, Mr. Avery will be remembered by his family and many friends for his love of life, integrity, and unfailing generosity.

He spent his career in international business. In São Paolo, Brazil, he was employed with J.T. Baker Chemical Company. He joined Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in 1962 as CEO of the J&J subsidiary in Manila, Philippines. While there he expanded the company’s global footprint by opening new Southeast Asian markets. As a senior executive with J&J, he rose to Company Group Chairman of all operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. He also acted as a special international
advisor to the chairman.

Upon retiring from J&J, Mr. Avery served as chairman of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas in New York City from 1993-96. Both organizations were instrumental in promoting the North American Free Trade Agreement during his leadership. He also served on the board of several biotechnology companies.

He is survived by his four children John E. Avery III, Alicia M. Avery, Paul B. Avery, and Andrea Avery Renault; as well as his step-daughter Jenner Girard Beck; he had four grandchildren; he is also survived by his brother George A. Avery and sister Patricia A. Avery.

A memorial for Mr. Avery will take place at noon on Sunday, June 14, at the Madison Beach Club in Madison, Connecticut.

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Rose Johnson

Rose O. Johnson (Mrs. Edgar J. Johnson), 100 years old, died peacefully at Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center in Plainsboro, on April 16, 2015. A lifetime resident of Princeton, she was the daughter of Agnes and Andrew Kurkjian.

Rose was devoted to her family and her passion was the game of golf. She had been a member of Springdale Golf Club since the 1960’s, and had been the Springdale Ladies Champion on several occasions. She was also an active member of the Princeton community, and had been a volunteer at the Princeton hospital and at the annual Princeton Hospital Fete until 2007. Rose was also a member of the Present Day Club and currently a member of The Princeton Historical Society and the Nassau Presbyterian Church. Rose was the wife of the late Humphrey S. O’Brien of Princeton, and also the late Edgar J. Johnson, of Waltham, Mass.

She is survived by her daughter, Dianne O’Brien Unangst, and her partner Dr. John F. Piro, Maryland, of Norwalk, Connecticut; her two grandsons, Mark Unangst, and his partner Ms. Kerry Gorrasi, of Weston, Connecticut and H. Blake Unangst, and his wife Marion, of Redding, Connecticut; her four great-grandchildren, Jaclynn Unangst, Ryan Unangst, Max Unangst, and Sam Unangst; her sister Araxy Foster (Mrs. Walter B. Foster) of Princeton; and several nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service and celebration of her life will be held in June, and will be under the direction of Kimble Funeral Home in Princeton. Interment will be at the Princeton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions or donations may be made to The Princeton Historical Society.

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John Ashby Valentine Jr.

John Ashby Valentine Jr., age 96, died Friday, May 15, 2015 at Croasdaile Village in Durham, North Carolina. He was born on July 26, 1918 to Mollie and John Valentine. John was preceded in death by his loving wife Nellie Lauth Valentine, and his sister, Elizabeth Valentine Day. He is survived by his son John Valentine and Ann Bushyhead, of Hillsborough, North Carolina; daughter Susan Valentine of Durham, North Carolina; son Timothy Valentine and Dena Knight Valentine of Santa Fe, New Mexico; daughter Megan Valentine and Ivy Hoffman of Pittsboro, North Carolina; and three grandchildren, Charlie Annich, Charlotte Valentine and Dan Gearin, and Georgia Valentine.

Born in Staten Island, New York, John attended Curtis High School, graduated from Princeton University with high honors, Phi Beta Kappa, received a Master’s degree and then a PhD in Social Psychology from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He was a professor of psychology and Chairman of the Psychology and Education Department at Middlebury College; he worked at Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) where he was instrumental in establishing academic committees and served as executive secretary in the groundbreaking Commission on Non-traditional Study. He spent a year, with his family, in England while he consulted with the University of London on multiple choice examinations. He wrote a book, The College Board and the School Curriculum. John was a Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Force and an Air Force reservist. He retired from the College Board in 1987. He and Nellie moved from Princeton, New Jersey to Durham, North Carolina in 1999.

In Princeton, John was an active member and Elder of Trinity Church and All Saints Church; a teacher at the Princeton Adult School; a member and president of the Old Guard of Princeton; a volunteer member and president of the Soup Kitchen in Trenton; and an active member of the Princeton University Class of 1940. He and Nellie enjoyed his membership at the Princeton Club in New York and the Nassau Club in Princeton.

In his later years, in Durham, North Carolina, John was an active member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and at Croasdaile Village. An avid banjo player, John continued to play his banjo into his 90s and was even a member of a musical group called “Three Peas in a Pod” that performed at Croasdaile. John loved to sing, had a beautiful voice, and an uncanny memory for the words to songs. He was a happy and loving man, a good father, and a devoted grandfather.

A family service was held on May 16. Donations can be made to a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.howertonbryan.com.

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Leonard Punia

Leonard P. Punia, 88, passed away at his home on May 18, 2015. Born and raised in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York, Leonard married Renee Denmark in 1950 and moved to Trenton, New Jersey in 1953.

Leonard served in the Army during World War II. After returning from the war, Leonard oversaw the construction of several developments of single-family homes, apartment buildings, and shopping centers in Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Long Island. In 1950, he started building single-family homes in Mercer County. Thereafter, Leonard together with his brother Herbert, built numerous residential and commercial properties throughout the tri-state area. Leonard was a licensed real estate broker in New Jersey and New York. He was involved in many professional organizations and received several awards for his work in real estate. Leonard was especially proud of his involvement with the Sunnybrae Little League, which was created on land carved out of one of his developments.

During his lifetime, Leonard generously donated to many charities including Greenwood House, The American Cancer Society, The Jewish Federation, The Israel Tennis Centers, Israel Bonds, and other worthwhile charities. Upon the death of his wife Renee, Leonard made several significant donations to the Princeton HealthCare System Foundation, The Hun School of Princeton, Abrahamson Family Cancer Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Mass General Hospital (MGH) Fund in his wife’s memory. In addition, Leonard donated to the Greenwood House Hospice which was renamed the Renee Denmark Punia Community Hospice.

Leonard was predeceased by his wife Renee. He is survived by his daughter Leslie Punia Schwebel and son and daughter-in-law Joseph and Sheryl Punia; grandchildren Elyse and Andrew Rosenfield, Charles Punia, Mathew and Dale Schwebel, Michael Schwebel and Mallory Schwebel; brothers Herbert Punia and Jerome Punia; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, May 20 at 11 a.m. at The Jewish Center, located at 435 Nassau Street in Princeton. Burial will follow at Floral Park Cemetery in Deans, New Jersey.

The period of mourning will be observed Wednesday

and Thursday at the Punia Residence, located at 170 Gallup Road in Princeton.

The family requests in lieu of flowers or fruit baskets that memorial contributions should be made to Greenwood House.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Road in Ewing.