Mary E. Bahr

Mary Elizabeth (Foster) Bahr, 85, of Kutztown, PA, died Sunday, December 19, 2021. Mary grew up in Vishers Ferry, NY and began raising her family in West Berne, NY, before moving to New Brunswick and Rocky Hill, NJ, while Rev. Bahr was in seminary. She spent 17 years in Rocky Hill before moving to Leesport, PA, to begin the next chapter of her life.

Mary was always active in an event or organization. She was a Borough Clerk of the town of Rocky Hill and a former Regent of the Princeton Chapter of the DAR. Mary was a 55-year member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and an avid researcher on Ancestry.com, helping many friends and family trace their family history. She was a member of East Penn Chapter #336 Order of Eastern Star. She played the piano and church organ and loved to sing and was an excellent sewer, making Revolutionary costumes and dolls. Mary was a knitter specializing in decorative mittens and Peruvian Chullo hats. Family always came first; she was never too busy for a phone call or a visit and visits often involved baking bread, sorting through old pictures or just sitting and chatting.

Wife of the late Rev. Frank J. Bahr and longtime companion of the late Nevin C. Miller, she is survived by her son Maurice J. Bahr (Debra) of Crosswicks, NJ, and daughters Mary-Grace Carroll (Arthur) of Ewing, NJ, Johanna B. Snedeker (Donald) of Skillman, NJ, Elizabeth B. Rohrbach (Bruce) of Kutztown, PA, Amity B. Mamola (Jerome) of Lititz, PA, and step-daughter Mary E. Barr of Michigan City, IN. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Daniel Bahr (Laura), Sarah Gordon (Samuel), Stephanie Bahr, Melanie Carroll, Elizabeth Farrell (TJ), Jennifer Rohrbach, Rebecca Deno (James), Rachel Mamola, Victoria Mamola and Joseph Mamola and step-grandchildren Philip Barr and Paula Chalik. She was the great-grandmother to Liliah Gordon, Samuel Gordon, Claire Deno, Julia Deno, Charlotte Farrell, Fiona Bahr, Loxley Gordon, and step-great-grandchildren Braeden Barr, Trenten Chalik, Owen Chalik, Logan Chalik, and the late Alexzander Barr.

A viewing will be held Wednesday, December 22, 2021 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., 223 Peach Street Leesport, PA. An Order of Eastern Star Service will begin at 7:30 p.m. with family remembrances to follow. Burial will be held Thursday, December 23, 2021 at 11 a.m. in Rocky Hill Cemetery, Merritt Lane and Montgomery Avenue, Rocky Hill, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard Fund; please mail checks payable to Sons of the American Revolution to Nevin Miller, 210 Highland Avenue, Kutztown, PA 19530-1102.

For online condolences, please visit leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com.

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Morton Collins
1936-2021

Morton Collins, a six-decade resident of Princeton, NJ, died on Tuesday, December 14 at the age of 85 after a long illness. Morton was born in Somers Point, NJ, on January 28,1936 and was raised in Linwood, NJ. His parents were Emily (Swan) Collins and Morton Collins, Sr.

He received a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware, and an MS and PhD from Princeton University, also in Chemical Engineering. Later in life he received an honorary PhD in Science from the University of Delaware recognizing his many years of service and support to the University’s School of Engineering. Morton understood the power of education and how it changed the trajectory of his life. He never forgot the educators that supported him on his path, including his fourth grade teacher. He dedicated much of his time and many resources to supporting and mentoring young people.

Morton had an insatiable curiosity and passion for adventure. He explored every corner of the world with his adoring wife Donna, but always came back to the East Coast shoreline he loved as a child. He started his first business there as a young teenager, raking clams and other delicacies to sell to large local restaurants. Orphaned at 11, and on his own from the age of 16, Morton worked hard to create a strong and loving structure for his family; sharing not only the serious lessons he had learned in life, but also many joyous and exciting escapades, and innumerable small silly moments with his children and grandchildren.

Morton received a Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the ROTC Program at Delaware and in 1963 was called to active duty. He led a special project team at U.S. Army Picatinny Arsenal and the National Security Agency (NSA) and then trained to fly at Patuxent River Naval Air Station and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. He went on to fly over 160 missions in the F-4 Phantom II over the South China Sea operating off the USS Enterprise. Through his lifetime he remained an active private pilot of single and multi-engine aircrafts, turbojets, and even a bright red, open cockpit WACO biplane. He eventually accumulated over 7,000 hours of flying time.

In 1968, he founded Data Science Ventures (DSV), a pioneering venture capital firm that had offices in Princeton, NJ, and Newport Beach, CA. DSV partnerships specialized in early stage financing of high technology companies in the fields of life sciences, electronic materials, communications, and software. A former president, director and chairman of the National Venture Capital Association, Morton was the recipient of the 1989 University of Delaware Medal of Distinction, the 1990 New York Venture Forum Award, and the 1992 Delaware Valley Venture Group Award.

Morton chaired President Ronald Reagan’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship and served as a technology policy advisor to President George H.W. Bush. He served on the New Jersey Governor’s Commission on Science and Technology, the New Jersey Governor’s Superconductivity Roundtable, and was a member of the Research Roundtable of the National Academy of Sciences. He was also a member of the National Academy of Engineering. In addition, he was a member of the Advisory Council to the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at the University of Delaware; a member of the Leadership Council of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Princeton University; a member of the Graduate School Leadership Council at Princeton University; a member of the Systems Biology Advisory Council at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ; and a member of the President’s Advisory Council at the University of Delaware. 

Morton is survived by his wife Donna Collins of Princeton, NJ, and his four children and their spouses: Kristy and David, Melissa and Mike, Quincey and Rob, and Tyler and Stephanie. He was also beloved by 13 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Carole Shreve and their daughter Lisa, and his second wife Eva Karacsony.

A memorial service will be held in 2022. Details will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Princeton Area Community Foundation Inc, PO Box 825454, Philadelphia, PA 19182-5454. Please make checks payable to Princeton Area Community Fund with “Collins Fund” in the memo line. Donations can also be made online at: https://pacf.org/morton-and-donna-collins-fund.

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Maureen Darrow

Maureen Grace Sullivan Darrow died December 14, 2021. She was in her home with family by her side at Stonebridge at Montgomery. She passed away peacefully.

She was born August 17, 1926 in New York City. Her parents were Edward and Hazel Sullivan.

Maureen entered at 16 and graduated from City College of New York, one of the first classes of women. She then met R. Morton Darrow, who promptly founded the History Club in order to get to know her. They married at age 20 and would have been married 75 years last May, but we lost Mort in November 2020.

They moved to Princeton in 1951 where they lived for 65 years until they moved to Stonebridge 8 years ago. Maureen also earned a master‘s degree from Trenton State College.

Maureen was known for her inner and outer beauty. She was bright, extremely generous, kind, energetic, and determined. She enjoyed being a wife, parent to Marc Darrow, Nancy Darrow Whiteside, aunt to Rob, Charlie, and Richard Goldberg, and grandmother to Daniel Whiteside, as well as the loving great aunt to her nephews’ children: Alison, Emily, Keith, and Julie Goldberg. She is also survived by Harry Johnson, her stepfather’s son. Maureen had many friends who she valued greatly, and who loved and admired her.

She taught school, served as an assistant teacher with ESL students, and brought her talent for innovation to Project Child, an early intervention program in West Windsor that became a national model.

The extent of Maureen’s volunteer work for the Princeton community was remarkable. At various points, calling herself a “Professional Volunteer for Non-Profits,” she: helped found Friends of the Princeton Library, served on their board, and helped get a new library built; helped establish the Youth Employment Services for teens; helped found a YMCA nursery school; served on the Boards of Council  of Community Services, Mercer Street Friends, and Princeton Senior  Center; served as a Cub Scout leader and Den Mother; helped found a local Meals on Wheels and helped deliver meals; volunteered with the Democratic Party; volunteered at Planned Parenthood; volunteered for Princeton Hospice; volunteered  for over 20 years at Mercer Street Friends Food Pantry in Trenton, together with her close friend, Janet Townsend; and served on the board of the Lillian Gertel Marcus Scholarship fund for over 30 years.

Maureen had a strong sense of social justice and valued community service. She and Mort also enjoyed reading, art museums, music, nature, and travel, including attending 26 elder hostels, many of which were overseas. She was a gifted hostess. There are many who will greatly miss Maureen’s warmth, charm, and caring spirit.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Mercer Street Friends (151 Mercer Street, Trenton, NJ, 08611) or the Lillian Gertel Marcus Scholarship Fund (42 Harriet Drive, Princeton, NJ, 08540) in her name.

Cards can be addressed to Nancy Whiteside at 41 Shobe Avenue, Brunswick ME, 04011.

There will not be a funeral or memorial service.

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Anne D. Groom

Anne D. Groom passed away at the end of November in Edmonds, WA, after many years of decline with dementia. 

Like her husband, Len Groom, who predeceased her in August, she lived most of her life in Princeton. After graduating from Princeton High School, Anne received degrees in English literature from Barnard College and Rutgers University. 

She had many interests that she pursued throughout her life. Anne loved language and worked first at ETS in Research, creating a series of advanced exams in literature, and later edited a series of texts and teacher’s editions for Macmillan Publishing. She also worked as an editor for the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Following retirement from her positions as an editor, Anne’s academic interests found their expression through her involvement over the years with the Princeton Research Forum. She edited the manuscripts of many PRF members, and was an active discussant on a wide range of topics. 

Anne greatly enjoyed music and singing, and she was an active and founding member of the Princeton Pro Musica, as well as a member of the Westminster Choir, over decades. She retained her love of music to the end of her life, never happier than when she was singing.

Anne’s love of travel and adventure took her abroad numerous times, and she lived in England with her husband, Len, when his work as an architect for The Hillier Group took them to London. She enjoyed hosting her children and friends in London especially.

A devoted daughter and daughter-in-law, as well as a beloved wife and mother, Anne’s family mourns her passing. 

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Lorraine Barbara Bell Giardino

Lorraine Barbara Bell Giardino, 89, born February 1932 in Queens, NY, and raised in Manhasset, NY, passed peacefully December 8, 2021 in Charlotte, NC. By her side were her daughter Leslie, son Michael and his wife Laura, and granddaughter Margaux. In addition to her two children, Lorraine is survived by her sister Claudia and six grandchildren: Margaux, James, Alexandra, Margaret, Daniel, and David, along with four step-grands: Leslie, Claire, Julia, Cameron, and a step-great-grandson Hartford. She was predeceased by her loving husband M. David Giardino in 2013 and her sister Eunice Johns in 2000.

Lorraine was the consummate mother. She had no greater joy than the life of her family including her children, grandchildren, son-in-law Jim Mackinson, daughters-in-law Sandra and Laura Giardino, her sister and brother-in-law Claudia and Bob Gedmin, and a host of nieces and nephews too plentiful to enumerate.

Following her graduation from Centenary College, Lorraine married her beau Dave, and joined him for his senior year at Princeton University. Upon Dave’s graduation in 1953, Dave joined the Navy, which led the young couple to a military life where Dave served in Newport RI, Brooklyn NY, and Stockton CA. They returned to the East Coast with their young son Michael settling in the Summit, NJ, area in 1957. Daughter Leslie arrived in 1959 and the couple made Summit the place where they raised their family.

During the Summit years, the Giardinos were active both socially and politically. They were founding members of PADA – Parents Against Drug Abuse – active members of the Summit Presbyterian Church, as well as the local chapter of the NJ Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Dave and Lorraine also campaigned for local, state, and federal candidates for office, many of whom became personal friends, and led an active social life with a close group of dear friends. Lorraine joined and eventually became a crew chief on the Summit Rescue Squad.

Foremost, however, Lorraine supported her family, attending most every sporting and school event that she could and traveled the world with Dave as he pursued his business interest. 1984 found both Michael and Leslie married and living in Princeton, NJ. So, they decided to return to their initial stomping grounds and join the kids.

In the beginning, it was a bit of an adjustment for them both, but they soon became active members of the community. Lorraine became a deacon at Nassau Presbyterian Church and continued to travel in support of Dave, but her real love remained the family group back home in Princeton – especially as grandchildren began to arrive starting in the early 1980s. “Nan” was truly the glue that bound the family together.

Following the death of her husband in 2013, Lorraine made the difficult choice to leave Princeton for Charlotte, NC, to be near Leslie and Jim. Here she lived independently in her own home along with her companion Maltese dogs, surrounded by her collection of cherished items collected with Dave over their many years together and enjoying her garden with its many feathered visitors. Leslie, Jim, and son Daniel made that happy situation possible by attending to her needs as she aged. Covid impacted Lorraine’s ability to share as much time with loved ones as she would have wished … as is the case with so many. This wonderful daughter of God will be missed by many and welcomed home by many more.

A Celebration of Life in Lorraine’s honor will be planned for early 2022. Lorraine will be interred in a private ceremony, joining her husband Dave, at Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dementia Society: www.dementiasociety.org or to Autism Research: www.autism.org.

Online condolences may be made at www.HankinsandWhittington.com.