Ashton Harvey 

Ashton Harvey of Princeton, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2017, at the age of 88. Born on February 26, 1929 in New York City to Dr. Harold D. Harvey and Katharine Davis, Ashton graduated from Pomfret School and from Princeton University in 1951. He was the beloved husband of Isabel Moore of Trenton, who tragically suffered a major stroke in 1971. He lovingly cared for her until her passing in 2007.

He served in the Intelligence Department of the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C., before returning to Princeton, taking a job as a financial adviser for Janney Montgomery Scott, a member of the New York Stock Exchange. In 1970, he and his partners formed the investment advisory firm Delafield, Harvey, Tabell. Located in Princeton, the firm was bought by U.S. Trust in 1983. He remained with the company until his full retirement in 2012.

In 1991, Ash married Marion Kulley Dunham of Princeton. Together they embarked on countless adventures, sharing his love of the west, Block Island, fly-fishing, sailing, and exploring the world. Ash and Marion exemplified the definition of “soul mates.”

Despite his influence and success in the financial world, Ash was happiest working and walking the land he cherished: chopping wood, mending stone walls, building bird houses, or towing his wagon behind his beloved 1936 Allis Chalmers tractor. Ash was a true steward of the land, active in the D&R Greenway Land Trust of Princeton, the Block Island Land Trust, the Block Island Nature Conservancy, and numerous other nonprofits. He was on the Board of Directors at Lee Development Group in Silver Spring, Md. and at D&R Greenway. In 2002, Ash formed the Harvey Family Charitable Foundation, an organization set up to help “those who are hurting.” He allowed family members to delegate funds each year, a legacy that will continue. He was a role model to us all.

Ash is survived by his wife Marion; his three children, Ben, Edward, and Julie; his two stepchildren, Andrea Dunham Riccio and Daniel Dunham; his seven grandchildren; and his sister Dorothy Davis of Plymouth, Mass.

A celebration of Ash’s life will take place on Friday, June 2, at 11 a.m. at the D&R Greenway in Princeton, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the nonprofit HomeFront at 1880 Princeton Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 and homefrontnj.org. Condolences and memories can be posted at www.fluehr.com.

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Lorenzo Fletcher Jr.

Lorenzo “Bubby” Fletcher Jr. was born in Princeton on April 6th, 1934, and departed his earthly home on May 2, 2017 at Capital Health systems in Hopewell. He was a lifelong resident of Ewing Township.

Lorenzo, known as “Bubby” by family and friends attended the Princeton Public School system where in addition to his academic excellence he served as captain of the football and track teams. He continued his education at the University Of Pittsburgh and Trenton Junior College. He also graduated with a BA in sociology from Rutgers University. Lorenzo served honorably in the armed forces as a medic in the Marine Corps and Navy.

He worked for Midstate Mobile Radio, New Jersey Bell Telephone, and AT&T, where he managed commercial Motorola Mobile Radio accounts, and coordinated their FCC licensing program. As a district manager for AT&T he was designated as the point of contact for providing and coordinating communications for the president and vice-president of the United States whenever they visited New Jersey. He worked closely with the secret service and the White House communications group to coordinate the visits.

Lorenzo is pre-deceased by his wife Madge, a son Lorenzo “Tony” Fletcher III, his father Lorenzo “Lefty” Fletcher Sr., a sister Loretta Fletcher Hawthorne, and a brother Donald Fletcher. He leaves to mourn his passing, a son, Brian; his mother Maxie; a brother Lamont Fletcher (Lottie); a sister Deborah Gibson (Greg); three grandchildren, Colby, Casey, and Jami; and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

He was known by family and friends to be quiet but stern, precise, an articulate intellectual, and a sharp dresser who included argyle socks in his fashion statement. Lorenzo was known by his co-workers as a highly motivated self starter with strong interpersonal skills. He spent the last years of his life caring for his mother, Maxie and providing wisdom, support and love to his family.

Funeral services will be held at the Hughes Funeral Home, 324 Bellevue Ave., Trenton New Jersey on Friday, May 12th at 12:30 p.m. Viewing hours will begin at 11 a.m. A graveside ceremony will take place at the Ewing Church Cemetery on Scotch Road in Ewing, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be given to the The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Meals On Wheels, and homeless shelters.

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Irving J. Kessler

Irving J. Kessler, 76, of Skillman, died May 3, 2017, of complications from Parkinson’s disease. A Brooklyn native, he was born May 14, 1940 to Hyman and Etta (Skott) Kessler. He attended Brooklyn College, and got his Ph.D. in mathematics under Walter Rudin at the University of Wisconsin. After teaching at Southern Illinois University, he spent the majority of his career at IDA/Center for Communications Research — Princeton.

It was at IDA that he met his colleague, Hollis Fitch, who became his wife of 32 years. Together they enjoyed their home on the hill, many travels, and being with their grandchildren. Irv had an enthusiasm for all sorts of games, including chess, poker, horse racing, and baseball. He loved music, and served on the board of The Princeton Festival. He was also a longtime tennis player and a runner, participating in the New York City Marathon and many local races.

Predeceased by his parents and sister, Natalie Tannenbaum, he is survived by his wife Hollis Fitch Kessler; two sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel P. Kessler and Karen Jacobson of Stanford Calif. and Michael B. Kessler and Anna Kessler of Haddonfield N.J.; and four grandchildren, Abigail, Gabriel, Samuel, and Eden. He is also survived by a niece and nephew, Lisa and Michael Weis.

Funeral services will be held at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton at noon, Monday, May 8. Cantor Michael Weis will officiate. Burial will follow at Rocky Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in Irv’s name to princetonfestival.org.

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Janet Ellis deGrouchy

Janet Ellis deGrouchy, née Janet Lee Ellis, age 92, of Princeton, passed away on April 22 of natural causes.

Janet was born in Trenton, the eldest child of William John Ellis and Blanche Marie Law. She was raised on the grounds of Trenton State Hospital since her father was Commissioner of Institutions and Agencies in New Jersey. She graduated from George School in 1942, attended William Smith College, Ursinus College, and graduated from Trenton State Teacher’s College in 1946, lettering in field hockey, basketball, and tennis. After graduation she taught physical education in the Chevy Chase, Maryland school system and later was active in teaching tennis and in the foundation of the Princeton community tennis program. She was a ranked tennis player and longstanding member of Pretty Brook Tennis Club. She also was a life master bridge player. She belonged to the Colonial Dames, The Present Day Club, and Springdale Golf Club. She was an extremely generous and beloved friend and a devoted dog lover.

Janet is survived by her husband Jack deGrouchy; her children Richard, David, Elizabeth and Andrew Tomlinson, Lisa Kincannon, Jan Hraska, Suzy deGrouchy; her grandchildren Sasha Pantel, Coleman and Sophia Bartels, Emily, Sam, Will, Drew, Chloe and Trevor Tomlinson, Zoe Hraska, Tommy and Georgeann Siller; and great grandson Jacob Carl Pantel. She was preceded in death by her first husband William Barrington Tomlinson, her sister Mary Ellen Doll, brother John Ellis, and son John Jay Tomlinson as well as many generations of dogs of all shapes and sizes.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the 1867 Sanctuary at Ewing, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing Township NJ 08628.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to SAVE Princeton Animal Rescue, 1010 Route 601, Skillman, NJ 08558. www.save-animals.org.

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

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Gail Hostetler Wilson

Gail Hostetler Wilson, 76, of Princeton, passed away on May 4 from complications of cancer.

She was born in Manhattan, N.Y., and raised in Jamesburg, N.J.; she attended Grace College and the Indiana University School of Music. Gail lived most of her life in East Brunswick, before moving to Princeton in 2011. She was a longtime church organist and choir director for the United Church of Christ of New Brunswick and Aldersgate United Methodist Church of East Brunswick, and led the music at the First Presbyterian Church of Titusville during 2015 and into 2016.

She was predeceased by her husband, George Dell Wilson II, to whom she was married for 48 years, as well as her parents, Henry Merle Hostetler and Doris Wright Hostetler. Gail is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law and six grandchildren: George D. Wilson, III and Ellen Wilson and their daughters, Sarah and Emily; and H. Merle Wilson and Jay Wilson, and their children, Halie, Leah, Caroline and Jacob; her sister, Barbara (Ivaniski) Dickinson and sister and her husband, Janie Hostetler and Frank Burkhardt; her sister-in-law, Peggy Wilson; and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, May 15, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 22 South Main Street, Cranbury. Interment will follow in the Brainerd Cemetery, Cranbury.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 12, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the A.S. Cole Son and Company Funeral Home, 22 North Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to Compassion International, Colorado Springs, CO 80997.