Elizabeth Perry

Elizabeth Stuyvesant Perry (formerly Pyne) died Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at her Princeton home of more than 60 years with her devoted husband, Dr. Venkatesan Perry, and a son by her side. She was 92.

A shrewd and highly successful investor, Mrs. Perry was also a Silver Life Master in bridge, an enthusiastic gardener, and an early supporter of environmental and women’s reproductive health causes. But most important to her, she was a loving and supportive mother to her five children: Peter, Elizabeth (“Lyn”), Russell, Lawrence (“Lucky”), and John (“Jay”) Pyne. She was a strong, independent woman who worked tirelessly to ensure that they received the best possible education and start in life.

She was born October 26, 1922 in Washington, D.C., the first child of Grace Chapin and the Hon. Hamilton Fish. As the young daughter of a long-time member of the U.S. Congress, she had many experiences in pre-war Washington that seem improbable today. She regularly helped her mother host notable statesmen; was asked by President Calvin Coolidge to throw the switch for one of the first national Christmas trees with electric lights; and, along with her friends, played regularly at Blair House and on the grounds of the White House.

She attended St. Timothy’s School in Maryland, where she won several prizes, but was largely self-educated. She was a voracious reader, and had a sharp mind and an infectious love of learning.

During World War II, she worked for the U.S. State Department before marrying Lt. John Insley Blair Pyne in 1943, who was a carrier-based pilot in the U.S. Navy. After the war, they moved into G.I. Bill housing so modest that one bathroom served several apartments. While Mr. Pyne continued his studies at Princeton University, she listened closely to him and the experts in the emerging field of computer science in which he later worked, and she successfully identified companies in which to invest their then meager savings.

Over the years, she developed an analytical approach to investing that outperformed most stock indices, and she came to understand state and federal tax codes better than many CPAs. She never forgot her childhood during the Great Depression and was a lifelong saver, but she was generous with her wealth, which she shared with her extended family.

In 1981, she and Mr. Pyne were amicably divorced after a separation of many years, and in 1991 on the island of Kauai she married Venkatesan Perry, PhD, a pioneer with several patents in fuel cell and fiber optic technology. They were steadfast bridge partners, great friends, and frequently traveled together, with India and Brazil being two favorite destinations. She also enjoyed becoming close with Dr. Perry’s family in the United States, including brothers Seshan and his wife Lalitha; Balu and his wife Radha, and Natarajan and his wife Sudha.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sons, Russell B. Pyne, a venture capitalist in Atherton, California; his wife Helen C. Pyne and their children Thornton Hamilton, Russell Stuyvesant, Nicholas Fish, and Elizabeth Cooke Pyne; Lawrence S. Pyne, an outdoor journalist and on-air personality for Vermont PBS in Middlebury, Vermont; and his children Grace Chapin, Nathan Stuyvesant, and Jacob Perry Pyne; and John Pyne, MD, an orthopedic hand surgeon in Dixmont, Maine; his wife Sandra W. Pyne; and their children Sarah Morris, Abigail Stebbins, and Chapin Reed Pyne.

She is also survived by her late brother Hamilton Fish Jr.’s four children: Hamilton Fish III, Alexa Ward, Nicholas Fish, and Peter Fish.

A celebration of her life will be held later this summer in Princeton. Her ashes will be scattered in her garden at her Princeton home, at her ancestral churchyard in Garrison, New York, and the Ganges River in India.

Arrangements are by Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

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Dorothy Fletcher Alexander

Dorothy Fletcher Alexander, 88, life-long resident of Princeton, New Jersey, was called to rest on July 1, 2015 in Merwick Care Center, Plainsboro, New Jersey. Her mother, Queen Elizabeth Black, died in 1995 in Bronx, New York. Dorothy was raised in Princeton by loving parents John and Mary Fletcher. She graduated from Princeton High School in 1946. She studied organ and voice at Westminster Choir College in Princeton while playing organ for First Baptist Church Sunday school, and singing in the Youth and Senior Choirs. For 52 years, Dorothy was the organist at First Baptist Church in Princeton. In addition to her church responsibilities, Dorothy worked full-time in the laundry department at Princeton Hospital for 42 years.

Dorothy received numerous awards and honors for her tireless years of service, including serving as an Executive Board member of the Hampton Institute Ministers and Musicians Conference, “Distinguished Service Award” from the Deacons Union of Trenton and Vicinity, the Service Appreciation Award “For Your Faithfulness in Using Your Musical Gifts to Serve the Lord,” President of Progressive National Baptist Women’s Department of New Jersey, State Organist of the New Jersey Convention of Progressive Baptist, and the Progressive Women’s Fellowship of First Baptist Church. She travelled throughout the country playing the organ at numerous conventions, church services, and programs. Dorothy loved the First Baptist Church and will be missed by her church family.

In 1947, she married William Alexander of Virginia. They had three sons, William Jr. (Billy), Roland, and Dennis. She is also survived by a grandson Jared Alexander; sister Carmelita Moore; brother in-law Joe Moore; aunts Carmelita Reed, and Julia Roberts; nephews Tony Black, David Black, Kurt Black, and Woodrow Alexander; nieces Shannon Martin and Karen Alexander; many cousins including Fletchers and Alexanders. Susie Tindall, who was Dorothy’s best friend for 30 years, is also a very close family member. Predeceased sisters are Carmen Black and Betty Jean Black. Dorothy is also predeceased by her step-brother Robert Fletcher.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at First Baptist Church Princeton at John Street and Paul Robeson Place. Viewing is at 9 to 11 a.m. Service is at 11 a.m.

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Rosemary Miles Blair

Rosemary Miles Blair died on July 2, 2015 in Princeton, New Jersey at the age of 84.

Rosemary, the youngest of three children, was born on February 22, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York to Catherine Gannon Miles and George Bernard Miles.

Rosemary received her BA from the College of New Rochelle and Master’s from Columbia University Teacher’s College. In 1954 she married David William Blair, of Rogue River, Oregon, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at Columbia. They were married in the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

In 1958 they moved to Princeton. Rosemary became an art teacher in the Princeton School system where she taught for 30 years. They had six children.

Rosemary was active in the community of Princeton and an accomplished artist. She was instrumental in bringing bike paths to Princeton in 1978. She was on the small Catholic study group that led to the establishment of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. Rosemary was passionate about preserving open space in both Princeton and New Jersey. She was a founder of the D&R Greenway Land Trust after serving as president of the Friends of Princeton Open Space. Under her stewardship, the Land Trust preserved in excess of 15,000 acres in New Jersey for the enjoyment of future generations.

Rosemary is survived by her husband of 61 years, David; five daughters and one son and their spouses; Karen and Tom Horn, Moretown, Vermont; Barbara Blair Randall, Brooklyn, New York; Maria and Eric Belliveau, Hinesburg, Vermont; Amanda and Peter Nichols, Hopewell, New Jersey; Bernice (May) and David Belmont Olav Blair, Washington, D.C., and Rachel and Terrence McGregor, Dedham, Massachusetts. Rosemary was proud of her 16 grandchildren who are spread far and wide at university or working from San Francisco to Zurich, Switzerland. They are Ben, Amos, Catherine, Henry, Philip, Lucy, Willie, Blaire, Zachary, Becca, David, Edith, John, Norah, Sam, and Charlie.

Rosemary was a practicing Catholic and feminist. Rosemary rested at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, New Jersey. Visiting hours were on Tuesday, July 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. A Roman Catholic mass will be said on Wednesday, July 8 at 10 a.m. at the Princeton University Chapel.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the D&R Greenway Land Trust, 1 Preservation Place, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.

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Frances Hayes Hook

Frances Hayes Hook, 90, of Elon, North Carolina passed away, Sunday July 5, 2015 at the Cottage at Blakey Hall, surrounded by family and friends.

A native of Warren County, Mrs. Hook attended Norlina High School. She earned a degree in biology from Elon College, and afterward taught chemistry at a nursing college while working as a lab technician in Wilmington, North Carolina. Soon after, she married Harvey Hook, of Elon and moved to Princeton, New Jersey where they raised their four children. Mrs. Hook did extensive volunteer work in New Jersey with the Appalachian Service Project through the Princeton United Methodist Church. She was also an active volunteer with CONTACT of Mercer County, where she became the director of training and served on the board of directors. In 1989, she and Mr. Hook returned to Elon where she became a member of the Elon Community Church, the Alamance County Antique Automobile Club, and the Alamance Piecemaker Quilt Guild.

Mrs. Hook was the daughter of the late Martin Frederick Hayes, Sr. and the late Lanie McCullers Hayes. She was preceded in death by her husband Harvey O. Hook. She is survived by her four children and their spouses Bruce G. Hook (Ceil) of Rochester, New York; Ellen Hook Tyler (Mike) of Lynchburg, Virginia; Nancy Hook Auel (Conrad) of Monessen, Pennsylvania; and Anne Hook Lewis (Alan) of Elon, North Carolina; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at Rich and Thompson Funeral Home in Burlington, North Carolina, 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 9, 2015. Her funeral service will be held Friday, July 10 at 2 p.m. at the Rich and Thompson Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Pastor Conrad G. Auel of Monessen, Pennsylvania. Burial will follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Elon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity, of Alamance County, North Carolina.

Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com.

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Elizabeth Marie Pirone

Elizabeth Marie Pirone, 82, of Princeton, New Jersey died Thursday, July 2, 2015 at Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center, Plainsboro, New Jersey. Born in Trenton she was a resident of Princeton for over 63 years. Elizabeth was co-owner, along with her husband, of Pirone Paving Company. She also worked for many years as a secretary for Benson and Benson of Princeton. She was an avid swimmer and instructor at the YWCA Princeton. Elizabeth was the past-president of P.I.A.S.C. Ladies Auxiliary. She had an undying love for her German Shepherds Simba, Toby, and Bear.

Daughter of the late Salvatore and Mary (Camiso) DeAngelo, sister of the late Patrick DeAngelo, Rachel DeAngelis, Sophie Falcey, she is survived by her husband of 63 years Felix V. Pirone; 2 daughters Felisa Scannella, Pamela Pirone Verdi; a son Umberto Pirone; a brother Louis DeAngelo; 2 sisters Mary Kane, Rose Keefer; 2 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law; Marie DeAngelo, Christina and Teodoro Tamasi, Anthony Pirone; 9 grandchildren Laurence, Larisa and Steven Scannella, Francis Verdi, Nicholas, Julia, Salvatore, Joseph, Thomas Pirone; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m., St. Paul’s Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton. Burial will follow in the Princeton Cemetery.

Friends and family may call on Wednesday, July 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the ASPCA.

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Kathleen Neuer Blumenthal

Kathleen died in her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico after a long, well-lived life. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, she graduated from Goucher College and then moved to New York City, the city of her dreams. She lived and worked in New York for Mademoiselle Magazine as a writer, then editor. She met and married Jack Blumenthal, and moved to Princeton, New Jersey where she raised her son, while fighting for women’s equality and social justice. Kathleen continued writing and authored The Inn Book.

Her love of writing led her to poetry, which she continued to write her entire life. Moving to New Mexico, she based herself first in Taos, then Santa Fe. Kathleen continued to travel and write.

Kathleen lived through the Great Depression and World War II.

She is survived by her son Adam of Deering, New Hampshire; grandsons Jacob and Joseph; nephews Carl Socolow, Roy Socolow and Jeff Socolow; as well as numerous friends.

Interment will be in the Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Memorial donations in her name may be made to the charity of one’s choice.