Herbert Windsor Hobler

September 25, 1922 – August 10, 2019

Herbert Windsor Hobler, age 96, died August 10, 2019 at Stonebridge at Montgomery in Skillman, New Jersey.

Born in St. Louis in 1922, he was raised In Bronxville, NY, and Stamford, CT. His family moved to Princeton in 1941 when he was a student.

After graduating from the Hill School, he entered Princeton in the Class of 1944, where he was on the basketball and track teams. He thereafter served as class secretary for many years, and was President of the class for five years. A dedicated Tiger to the end, Herb showed his stripes when this year, he attended his 75^th Princeton reunion; his 73^rd reunion in a row. A trustee candidate of the University in 1969; he was honored in 2003 with the Princeton Alumni Service Award. He chaired many of the Class of 1944’s reunions. Herb likely also saw more Princeton basketball games (over 870) over 70 years than anyone else, in large part by being the color man on the WHWH radio broadcasts over a period of 18 years.

During World War II, he was an Army Air Corps (now the Air Force) navigator on a B-29 flying missions over Japan, and in 1986, was President of the 9^th Bomb Group Association, and continued for 14 years.  

A commuter to New York for 18 years, Herb was first in programming at Mutual Broadcasting Company, then joined the NBC-TV network the day it started in December 1949, where he sold his first spot on the “Today” and “Show of Shows.” After two years with the CBS network, he joined the start-up company, Teleprompter, for five years, helping to pioneer their prompting system. For four years he was head of production at Videotape Productions in NYC, where he supervised thousands of TV commercials and shows. After founding the Nassau Broadcast Company, he put WHWH Radio on the air in 1963. The station provided extensive community programming. A year later he bought WTOA-FM from the Times of Trenton changing the call letters to WPST. As principal owner and Chairman of Nassau Broadcasting Company, he also started six cable companies. Nassau Broadcasting Company was sold in 1986.

In 1975, Herb was named National Broadcaster of the Year with the Abe Lincoln Award for editorializing about government broadcasting restrictions. As a result, he served four years on the National Association of Broadcasters Board where he chaired the First Amendment Committee. 

Locally, he served on the boards of the YMCA, the Hun School, the United Fund, Princeton Savings and Loan, the Nassau Club, and Tiger Inn. A member of the Springdale Golf Club, a past active elder in the Nassau Presbyterian Church, Paul Harris Rotary Fellow, and Chairman of Princeton Township’s 150^th anniversary.  Herb was honored as Princeton’s Man of the Year both by the Chamber of Commerce and the United Fund’s Lambert Award. In Princeton he was also a co-founder of Concerned Citizens of Princeton, and in 1999 created the 20^th Century Brick Walk in Palmer Square. He also helped create “the Spirit of Princeton,” a fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation, of which he was a co-founder. Due to his fundraising, the fund was able to bring back the annual Princeton Memorial Day Parade. At the Nassau Club, over many years, as Chairman of the Speaker program, Herb was responsible for bringing over 1,000 speakers to the weekly luncheons.  

One of Herb’s great passions was the American Boychoir School.  After becoming a board member in 1974, he was responsible for suggesting a name change to the school, The American Boychoir, which was accepted by the Board. Serving as Chairman of the Board for 22 years, Herb worked tirelessly on behalf of the Boychoir, helping them achieve national recognition for their academic and vocal excellence.

Mr. Hobler is survived by his four children: Randolph of Norwalk, CT, Debbie of Santa Barbara, CA, Nancy of Germantown, MD, and Mary Hyson of Cheshire, CT. He leaves behind six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. His wife of 73 years, Mary “Randy” Hobler, died in 2017. His parents were the late Atherton W. Hobler and Ruth W. Hobler of Princeton; and he was predeceased by his brothers, Edward and Wells, and sister, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Princeton Area Community Foundation or a local charity in his name. A memorial service is planned at a future date.  

———

Robert (Bob) Dalton Smart

Robert (Bob) Dalton Smart, 83, died on August 4, 2019.

Bob, son to the late Dalton and Gertrude Smart and oldest of five children, grew up in North Quincy, MA. He graduated from North Quincy High School where he ran track and was an Eagle Scout. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Bob met the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty” Rodden of Salem, MA, on a blind date to the Boston Pops with Arthur Fiedler. They were married and he commissioned to the United States Navy, Civil Engineer Corps. During his 20-year Navy career he obtained two graduate degrees from MIT, was a Deep Sea Diver, served in Vietnam, and was an Ocean Engineering Instructor at the United States Naval Academy; he retired a Navy Commander.

Bob then moved to Princeton, NJ, in 1978 and began a 20-year career for Princeton University, working first at the Plasma Physics Laboratory and then the University Main Campus; he retired in 1998 as the Director of Facilities. During his time in Princeton he was active in the Aquinas Institute and the MIT Club of Princeton. He would often return to Princeton to visit friends and family and enjoy pizza at Conte’s.

Bob and Betty moved from Dodds Lane to Wolfeboro, NH, for their retirement; they built a house and lived on Lake Wentworth. His joy in life was having his grandchildren visit and spending time with them on the lake. Bob was the President of the Holden Shores Association for over ten years. Wolfeboro, Lake Wentworth, and his community of local friends held a special place in his heart.

Bob is survived by Betty, his loving wife of 61 years and his six children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren: Donald and Andrea Smart of West Windsor, NJ (Ryan, Tammy, Skylar, Gayle, Cathryn); Maureen and Brian McAloon of Agoura Hills, CA (Tim and Laura); Tom and Carolyn Smart of Naperville, IL (Britney, Isabella, Patrick); John and Jane Smart of Herndon, VA (William and Caroline); Jim and Joanne Smart of Hopewell, NJ (Michael and Kenneth); Barbara and Tom Linko of Princeton, NJ (Kevin, Colleen, John).

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Alton, NH. Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. While in Princeton, Bob was inspired by Father Tom Hagan and his mission in Haiti; in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory are appreciated to Hands Together,
handstogether.org.

———

Thomas Harvey McNally

On Thursday, August 8, 2019, Rev. Thomas Harvey McNally passed away at age 84.

Thomas was born on November 13, 1934 to Peter and Alice (Lukens) McNally. He graduated from Bucknell University in 1958 and received his MDiv. from Andover Newton Theological Seminary in 1961. While at Bucknell, he met the love of his life and future wife, Beverly Jane Griner. Prior to her death in 2010 they celebrated 50 years of marriage. They raised two daughters, Dawn and Heather. 

Tom, a lifelong NJ resident, served in American Baptist churches in Trenton and Holmdel. He also had a long career as a civil servant in New Jersey State Government, retiring as a manager in the Budget Bureau. 

He was an active member of Christ Congregation for the past 50 years serving on many boards and committees. In addition, he served on several state boards for ABC-NJ. Throughout his life he volunteered for different organizations including Holmdel Volunteer Fire Department, Coalition for Peace Action, and Centurion Ministries, along with mentoring seminarian students.

His passing leaves a hole in his family that will be impossible to fill. He was devoted to his family and fiercely loyal to his friends. He was a man with a strong moral compass. He enjoyed watercolor painting and in retirement became an avid golfer. He loved reading, especially historical biographies. His family will remember him for his quirky sense of humor and style which only made him more unique. No one could sport plaid and stripes together the way he did.  The proudest moment of his life was when he married Beverly. For the next 50 years they fell in love a little bit more each day, and he has been lost the last nine years without her. We are comforted that they are together again.

Thomas was preceded in death by his sisters, Ruth and Leona, his brother Peter, and his wife, Beverly Jane Griner. He is survived by his daughters Dawn McNally Cobb (Randall) and Heather McNally; grandchildren Jacqueline, Juliet (Patrick), and Benjamin; his three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 16, 2019 at Christ Congregation on the corner of Walnut and Houghton in Princeton, NJ, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pennington First Aid Squad, 110 Broemel Place, Pennington, NJ 08534.

———

Thomas J. Moran

On Thursday, August 8, 2019, Thomas J. Moran, passed away at the age of 73.

Tom was born on September 20, 1945 in Brooklyn, NY, to Tom and Dorothy (Weis) Moran. He received his engineering degree from Manhattan College in Bronx, NY, in 1967, after attending Regis H.S. in New York, NY, and he worked as a civil engineer for the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., for 33 years. 

Tom was dedicated to serving his country and helping people. He served in the U.S. Navy for many years, in addition to his work with the EPA. After his retirement in 2010, Tom received an MBA from George Washington University, and then put his time and energy towards helping foreign national college students make their way in the U.S., both during and after their graduation, including helping them find employment. In this way, he helped hundreds get acclimated to their new environs, and gave specialized help to a lucky few – all on a volunteer basis. Tom was a kind, gentle, and brilliant man.

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Thomas, his mother, Dorothy, and his brothers Bob and Bill. He is survived by his brother Tim; his sisters-in-law Leslie, Johan, and Lynda; his nephews Brian and Michael; and his nieces Casey, Leah, Shannon, and Megan.

A memorial for Tom will be held at a later date.

———

Ann Johnson

R. Ann Johnson, aged 81, passed away peacefully at her Princeton home on July 22, 2019. She was born on March 25, 1938 in Narberth, PA, to L. Sarle Brown Sr. and Doll Daisy Adams Brown. She is survived by her sons Richard and Lewis, her daughter-in-law Kim, and her longtime partner Joseph Pinelli.

The Brown family moved from Narberth to Fort Worth, TX, in 1954, when Sarle Brown accepted a faculty position at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ann graduated from Paschal High School in 1956 and married Larry Johnson that June. Then in 1958 the Johnson family left Texas for the Northeast, finally settling in Princeton in 1963. Ann finished her bachelor’s degree at Douglass College in 1964 and continued graduate work in biology at Rutgers.

Ann started raising Golden Retrievers in 1970 and established what came to be known as Gold-Rush Kennels, an internationally recognized breeder of show dogs. After Ann and Larry divorced in 1982, Ann continued to live in Princeton and operated Gold-Rush in Wrightstown, NJ.

Ann was an eclectic mix of matriarch, humanitarian, and scientist. While she held firm to her convictions, she never said “no” to anybody. Stay at the house? Glad to provide a roof over your head, for any amount of time. Take care of your dog for a day or month? No problem. Need to borrow some money? Just tell me you’ll eventually pay me back. Want to learn about breeding, whelping, showing, grooming, and caring for Golden Retrievers? Come to Princeton for an hour or a decade and I will assist. Need my time, money, scientific expertise, and abilities? This is what I live for.

She dedicated herself to her boys and the joy, art, and science of breeding exceptional Golden Retrievers and sharing them with the world — starting with Gold-Rush Charlie, who broke all Golden Retriever show records and held them for 20 years. With the help and support of many friends in the Golden-loving community Gold-Rush produced over 200 titled show dogs. As a longtime friend put it, “She was a friend, she was a mentor. She brought happiness to countless people.”

Over the past few years she faced the challenges of leukemia and its treatment, normal pressure hydrocephalus and subsequent surgery, and progressive dementia. She never once believed she was going to die, and lived her life to the final second knowing her legacy would continue.

There will be a gathering to celebrate her life and love of life at her Princeton home the afternoon of September 8th. Call, text, or message Kim at (310) 804-8227 or kim@leftcoastfarm.com for details. 

It was Ann’s wish that, should friends desire, memorial contributions may be sent to the Golden Retriever Foundation Zeke Cancer Research Fund.

———

Kay Frances Pettit

Kay Frances Pettit of New Hope, PA, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 with her beloved husband Karl D. Pettit, III at her side. She was 76. 

Kay was born and raised in Allentown, PA, by her parents Florence (McNabb) and Willard Seng. In her early twenties she married her first husband, Arlyn Lichthardt, and moved to Oahu, Hawaii, where he taught English at the Punahou School for six years. While enjoying the island paradise, Kay taught nursery school and became the devoted mother to her three children Leilani Souders (Mark), Heidi Feigles (Neal), and Kurt Lichthardt (Kanika). 

After spending brief periods living in Minneapolis, MN, New York, NY, and Abington, PA, Kay and her family settled back in Allentown. During this period and after her divorce, she ultimately followed her passion and took the position of Coordinator and Chief Food Stylist at Rodale Press of Emmaus, PA. Later in the early ’90s, Kay began a new chapter in her life when she worked as the Director of the Gift Shops and Volunteers at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Kay and Karl reacquainted in 2000 and rekindled a friendship that had begun in the 1960s. They settled in New Hope, PA, in 2003, and got married on Block Island in 2005. By that time, Kay had become the Director of Volunteer Services for the University Hospital at Princeton, NJ.  There, she was responsible for managing the services of over 1,000 volunteers as well as the very popular Hospital Gift Shop.  

Kay and Karl took many interesting trips together to places like the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, and Martha’s Vineyard. However, in 2015, she began to suffer from liver and neurological disease that soon caused limited movement and the inability to speak. During this difficult time in her life, she was embraced by a very special caregiver, Pat Simpkins, who became her best friend and supporter for the last two years of her life.  In spite of her failing health, Kay was able to maintain her friendships with very special friends, and find pleasures in life despite tremendous frustration. In the end, she displayed unexpected determination and overcame many obstacles to spend several of her last days with her husband, extended family, and friends on Block Island, the place she loved most. 

In addition to her husband and her children, she is survived by her five grandchildren Ty and Cory Souders, Ethan Feigles, Brock and Kadan Lichthardt; her two stepchildren Pauli Pettit (Craig) Rose, and Karl D. Pettit IV; and two step grandchildren Samuel and Bexley Rose. She will be greatly missed and always remembered by those whose lives she touched so deeply.

Cremation services were private. A memorial service will be held in Allentown on August 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Saucon Valley Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift to the Doylestown Hospice would be appreciated.

Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com.

———

Leslie Vought Kuenne

Leslie Vought Kuenne, 58, of Princeton, NJ, and Shelburne, VT, died at home surrounded by her loving family on August 12 after a fierce and courageous year-long battle with ovarian cancer.

Leslie was an engaged champion of the arts, most recently serving as president of McCarter Theatre Center’s Board of Trustees. She was a gifted painter, sketch artist, chef, and award-winning photographer and gardener. Leslie was the loving wife of Christopher B. Kuenne, founder of Rosetta and Rosemark Capital, author, and Princeton University lecturer in entrepreneurship. She was a devoted mother to three sons, Peter, William, and Matthew, and the late Olivia Michelle Kuenne. She was a beloved friend who made a tremendous impact on everyone she met.

Leslie was born in Aspen, Colorado, on December 29, 1960, daughter of Barbara Vought Harbach, former president of the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (where Leslie was treated), and Peter Vought, a noted artist and son of aviation pioneer and member of the Aviation Hall of Fame, Chance Vought. Leslie grew up in Aspen and Santa Barbara, painting, skiing, playing soccer, and helping to raise her little sister, Tori. 

She received her B.A. in Biology from the University of California San Diego, Revelle College, and an M.S. in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College. She went on to work as a genetic counselor at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, and Abington Hospital.

Leslie was deeply dedicated to her community. In addition to her board leadership of McCarter, she served on the boards of the Arts Council of Princeton, the Vestry of Trinity Church, and as an officer of the Stony Brook Garden Club. She volunteered with Trinity Counseling Service, Planned Parenthood, D&R Greenway, The Lawrenceville School, and Princeton Day School. Leslie was also an avid photographer and an active member of the Princeton Photography Club, where she won numerous awards for her nature photographs. Her favorite place to spend time as a family was in and around Shelburne, Vermont, where she and Chris own a house on Lake Champlain and spent summers over the past 30 years.

Leslie fought valiantly over the past 13 months against one of the most virulent forms of ovarian cancer. At each step along the way, she revealed a tenacity and grace that inspired all who knew her. She imbued her life with love, purpose, and impact. Leslie was an extraordinary and loving mother and wife who cared for and inspired the couple’s three sons and their daughter, Olivia, who died in 1997. She was devoted to her friends and applied her empathic listening and quiet leadership skills to her board work. Leslie achieved a life of impact through her compassion and kindness.

In addition to her husband and sons, Leslie is survived by her sisters Victoria Vought of Southport, CT; Annie Vought of Oakland, CA; Pam Harley of Rochester, New Hampshire; and Lisa Setos of Los Angeles, CA; her mother-in-law Janet Kuenne of Princeton; sister-in-law Carolyn Kuenne Jeppsen and husband David and daughters, Charlotte, Isabelle, and Mia of Washington, DC; as well as many beloved friends, cousins, and colleagues.

Her funeral will be held on Saturday, August 17 at 4 p.m. at Trinity Church, Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial gift to the Olivia and Leslie Rainbow Foundation, which is dedicated to providing young children with both instruction and access to the performing and visual arts. Please direct your gift to the foundation c/o Brown Brothers Harriman, PWM-5th Floor, 140 Broadway, NY, NY, 10005.