Obituaries 9/5/18
Jonas Byron Bingeman
February 21, 1925 — August 26, 2018
Jonas Byron Bingeman, age 93, passed away on August 26, 2018, at his home in Skillman, New Jersey. Jonas was born in South River, Ontario, Canada and raised on a dairy farm near Waterloo, Ontario. He graduated early from high school and went on to earn a BS in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario (Dominion of Canada Scholar); an MS in Physical Chemistry from University of Detroit; an MS in Chemical Engineering from University of Minneapolis; and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University. He was the oldest of three children born to Gordon and Edna Bingeman and was the beloved husband of Kathleen Macdonald Bingeman for nearly 70 years. After meeting at Queen’s and marrying in 1948, Jonas and Kathleen enjoyed living in various cities throughout the U.S. while Jonas pursued his successful career in engineering, which included leadership positions at Ethyl Corporation, Rexall Drugs, Allied Chemical, and NL Industries, as well as being granted numerous patents. The couple retired in Princeton, where Jonas was an elder at Nassau Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Nassau Club, the Old Guard, and Springdale Golf Club.
Jonas was always active and enjoyed being outdoors, taking fishing trips, visiting family and friends, making wine, playing bridge and hearts, and pursuing his passion for golf at 104 courses throughout the world.
Jonas was a beloved father and devoted to his children, the late Grant Bingeman (Ruthann), Leslie Sillinger (Glenn), John Bingeman, and Claire Hatten (Jimmie). He will forever be remembered by his brother Gordon Bingeman; sister Beth Tousaw; treasured grandchildren Jeanette Ellefson (Eddie), Keith Bingeman, Jared Bingeman (Amanda), Michael Sillinger, Chris Sillinger, Angela Taylor, Michael Bingeman (Joyce), Courtney Weld (Thomas), James Hatten, and Ainsley Hatten; along with 24 great-grandchildren and countless other family and friends.
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Fleury Velie Mackie
Fleury Velie Mackie, a generous, humorous, and caring member of the Princeton community for over 65 years, died peacefully early in the morning of August 26.
She was a loving mother and stepmother to her four daughters and her four stepchildren. Fleury helped hundreds of people in the Princeton/Trenton area with her philanthropic involvement. At various times in her life, she committed her time and resources to the following organizations: HiTops, the New Jersey State Museum, HomeFront, Princeton University Art Museum, Morven, and others. Her legendary parties were often created to benefit local causes.
Besides her monetary contributions, she was always eager to give her time and talent to community causes, such as Family Born where she assisted births, and was both a volunteer and fundraiser for the Princeton Hospital.
She operated with a unique combination of humor, compassion, honesty, practicality, and discretion. She looked for and helped others to find laughter, even at the darkest moments. Always glamorous, she was nevertheless loaded with grit and fortitude.
Fleury was born in Moline, Illinois, in 1926, and spent most of her youth in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She was a graduate of the Foxcroft School, and Ogontz Junior College. She was the great, great granddaughter of John Deere, and the granddaughter of Willard Velie, who founded the Velie Motor Company, which manufactured automobiles from 1909 to 1928, and the Velie Monocoupe from 1927 to 1929.
She met her first husband, Jack Valdes, on a blind date at a Princeton football game, and a few years after marriage, they moved to Princeton permanently.
In 2011, Fleury wrote an admired memoir, Born Not A Moment Too Soon.
Fleury was an accomplished horsewoman throughout much of her adulthood. Her equestrian skills were polished at the Foxcroft School, and, well into her 70s, she spent time riding horses each summer while out West.
She was predeceased by her first husband Jack Valdes, her second husband Donald Mackie, two of her daughters, Vicky O’Donoghue and Stacy Lorenceau, and by her stepdaughter, Diana Mackie.
Fleury is survived by her daughters Kelly Valdes and Midge Valdes, by Midge’s husband Stanley Kaplan; by her stepchildren Douglas Mackie, David Mackie and his wife Mary Rabbitt, and Cynthia Mackie and her husband Jim Tarrant; and by her grandchildren Margay Kaplan, Pierce and Nick McKellar, Antoine, Thomas and Olivier Lorenceau, and her step grandchildren Kevin and Melati Tarrant, and Ariane Belkadi.
Fleury, with her good cheer and positive attitude, will be dearly missed by them, by her cousins, her nieces and nephews, and her many, many friends.
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Dr. Alice Levite Brandinger
November 23, 1929 – August 18, 2018
Alice Levite Brandinger died on August 18, 2018 after a short illness at her home in Pennington, NJ, surrounded by family. She was born on November 23, 1929 in Manhattan, NY.
Alice attended Hunter College in New York City and it was there that she met her future husband Jay, whom she married on December 25, 1949. She had three children and lived with her family in Riverhead, NY, Lawrence, NJ, Indianapolis, IN, and Pennington. Alice earned a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College, as well as master’s and doctor of education degrees from Rutgers University.
Alice’s interest in special education led her to teach at the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf, head the Trenton State Teacher’s College Department of Special Education, and assume the role of Director for the Indianapolis Public Schools Center for Autistic Children. Her husband Jay’s career with RCA and the New Jersey State Commission on Science and Technology gave them opportunities to travel worldwide, their destinations included: Japan, China, Europe, and Israel.
Alice read extensively, enjoyed gourmet cooking/entertaining, and excelled in competitive bridge achieving Life Master. Her skills with interior design were exemplified by a unique kitchen remodel and an extensive spa room. She and her husband regularly attended Chair Yoga and Healthy Bones classes in Pennington.
Alice shared and supported her husband’s interests and hobbies including: flying their plane, piloting their boat, as well as attending aircraft owner/yacht club outings and trips. Alice also edited Jay’s technical publications and his books on photography.
Alice’s marriage of 68 years with Jay left a lasting impression on all who knew them and demonstrated what a loving and high achieving team they were with family, friends, and professional acquaintances.
She is survived by children Paul, Donna Lee Mark, and Norman; two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
The family requests that contributions in the name of Dr. Alice Brandinger be provided to The College of New Jersey Foundation.