John Sheldon Chatham

John Sheldon Chatham of Princeton and Stone Harbor, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Born on December 24, 1934 and raised in Haverford Township, PA, he was the son of the late Walter E. Chatham and Jane M. Buckley Chatham.

John graduated from Haverford High School and Pennsylvania State University where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and the Army R.O.T.C. Program. He served his country in the United States Army for five years and was stationed in Augsburg, Germany, where he rose to the rank of Captain. Immediately following the Military, John joined Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, where he spent his entire career of 38 years.

The various assignments John held with Ethicon took him to many locations in the U.S. as well as Europe, South America, and Asia. While working in the Chicago area, he and his family became avid skiers with their frequent trips to Vail in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. After retiring in 2002, he volunteered his time working with Habitat for Humanity, serving as president of the Trenton-area organization.

John was a member of the Nassau Club, where he served on the Board of Trustees, a member of Springdale Golf Club, Nassau Gun Club, The Old Guard of Princeton, Princeton Officer’s Society, and the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and sons, playing golf, running, and tennis. One of his most favorite and memorable trips was taking his three sons to play golf on several of the great courses of Ireland. He especially enjoyed the many summers spent at his home and on the beach in Stone Harbor where he could often be found with a good novel and an abundance of sunscreen by his side.

During his retirement years, John looked forward to his weekly rounds of golf at Springdale, as well as having lunch with friends on a regular basis at the Nassau Club. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he especially cherished the time he spent with family, including visits with his young grandsons.

In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his brother, Walter E. Chatham, Jr., sister-in-law Julia Chatham, and nephew Gregory Chatham; his sister Rosemary C. Forrey and brother-in-law Robert C. Forrey. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Barbara Mylowe Chatham, and their three sons, John Jr. of Sacramento, CA; Craig and his wife Louise of Stow, MA; and Mark and his wife Sarah and their sons, Barrett and Henry Chatham of Darien, CT. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Dr. Eugene Mylowe and his wife Valerie of Scottsdale, AZ, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held on Friday, August 4, 2023 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Paul R.C. Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2023. Interment at Princeton Cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Central New Jersey, 530 Route 38 East, Maple Shade, NJ 08052 or to a charity of choice.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ.

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Judith Paulovic

It’s with great sadness to announce that Judith Paulovic passed away on hospice at home on July 3, 2023, aged 85 years old.

Judy was born in Philadelphia, PA, on March 15, 1938, daughter of Dudley Winter and Doris (Yearsley). She grew up on a farm with her four brothers and sisters in Bedminster Township, PA, and graduated from Pennridge High School.

Her passion for music led her to study at Westminster Choir College, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.

Judy married the love of her life, David Paulovic, in Abington, PA, in 1965 and later settled in Kingston, NJ, where they started a family together and resided for 26 years.

Shortly after having their three children, Greg, Tanya and Nola, she opened a private piano business, teaching children in and around the Princeton area for the next 30 years.

She was an active member of All Saints’ Church and loved singing in choir. In addition to her love for her children and music, Judy lived a well-rounded life and enjoyed many hobbies, such as baking, sewing, and gardening.

Judy is survived by her loving and devoted partner of 10 years, Richard Polizzotti; and her children, Greg Paulovic, Tanya Twiggs, Nola Paulovic and their life partners, Vicky Vydra, Matthew Twiggs, and Oscar Romero; her grandchildren, Mckayla, Lucas, Lyla, and Brayden; a sister, Dorothy Schmidt; and brother, Dudley Winter Jr. She was predeceased by Marilyn Bowers and Thomas Winter. Proud aunt to 11 nieces and nephews, and 10 great-nieces and nephews. 

Private memorial services for close family and friends will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11 a.m. in All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the All Saints’ Episcopal Church music fund.

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John Joseph Balestrieri

John Joseph Balestrieri, 89, born in Princeton, NJ, on November 23, 1933, as the first American-born child of parents newly immigrated from the Isle of Ischia, passed away under hospice care in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 29, 2023, surrounded by his friends, family, caregiver, and beagle, Penny.

1930s: Raised in a duplex house on Birch Avenue. Son to Salvatore and Maria; brother to Sal, Louis, Dominick, Mary, and Fanny.

Always adventuring with his brothers and their scrappy gang of friends. His first job is with a traveling circus, picking up after elephants, along with his friends, in exchange for show tickets. Later, becomes a four-time marbles champion whose prize is a ticket to his first major league game.

1940s: In high school, he’s talented in baseball, football, basketball, and golf; known as Choo-choo on the football team, Deuce on the basketball team. Also in the marching band until his coaches make him choose. He wins a tournament between caddies with an impossible shot and is offered a pro-golf apprenticeship, but can’t persuade his mother.

Always a craftsman, he soon becomes a skilled wood carver, furniture maker, and draftsman; his student work is shipped to Chicago and displayed nationally. He has ambitions to be an architect after graduation but is guided by his parents to learn a trade.

1950s: Graduates high school and apprentices as a glazier; soon decides that being suspended by a rope from high buildings is not for him. Then apprentices with a notable area builder; learns how to build houses, and is never one to take shortcuts with his craft. From a job site rooftop, he watches Albert Einstein walk down to the brook and back each day; they wave to each other.

On weekends, he drives tanks in the New Jersey National Guard.

1960s: Starts his own contractor business; builds a furnished house in Princeton for his parents and sisters, and then a house for himself on the Jersey shore. He takes his youngest sister, Fanny, for cancer treatments in New York City; she passes away soon after graduating high school.

Works around Princeton and eventually in the home of a retired policeman and his wife; he meets and falls in love with their daughter, Louise. After many closely-supervised dates, they marry at St. Paul’s Cathedral on September 11, 1970.

1970s: First and only child, John Jr., is born. Their home and apartment building burn down; no one’s injured, but everything’s lost. They move in with his in-laws until he finishes the home he’s started in Skillman, NJ. Soon, the basement of their new home begins to fill with bowling trophies.

He opens a workshop and hardware store on Witherspoon Street but is forced to shutter it after a few years due to back-to-back economic recessions; he always regrets opening the store instead of accepting an offer to take over a successful cabinet shop business. He sells the shore house.

1980s: Joins the Princeton Elks Lodge and works hard with new friends to raise money and provide equipment for special-needs children; he runs weekly bingo and other fundraisers. Summers are spent camping, or at the beach, with his family.

Always a parent who supports his son in whatever he pursues, he continues working as a contractor-carpenter from his new home workshop. He saves money, along with his wife who runs a secretarial business, to surprise their son with his first computer, securing his future career.

1990s: A proud father attends his son’s college graduation.

2000s: Growing older but still possesses the energy of a younger man. His father-in-law passes, leaving the family to handle his house and possessions. Opens a nearly-new and furniture repair shop behind the Princeton Elks; he enjoys restoring and repairing pieces in the back while listening to Yankees games and entertaining visitors.

2010s: Takes care of his wife as she battles, and succumbs, to lung cancer over three short years. His grown son’s business allows him to spend more time with him; together they raise a puppy, Penny, plant a garden, and grow figs.

2020s: Sudden heart failure, but has the strength and the will to fight; he undergoes procedures, rehab, and eventually makes a full recovery. During the pandemic, his son and daughter-in-law live with him, managing his care and keeping him safe.

Moves into assisted living at Brandywine, Princeton to spend time with his last living sibling, Mary, before she passes away. He finds new friends, community, and the dance floor. After two broken hips (not related to dancing), he makes further speedy recoveries, and is dancing again.

Undergoes dialysis three times a week to stay alive; it drains his energy, until he can no longer find the strength to continue. He desires to leave the hospitals and return to his home at Brandywine, “a place where I was happy,” surrounded by his family, friends, trusted caregiver, and Penny. We are able to fulfill his dying wish.

Dad, you are greatly loved and will be missed by many. You were always there for your family and friends; generous with your spirit and quick with a joke or humorous remark. Wherever you are, I hope there’s a dance floor and I hope you’re still the first one out there. We love you.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023, from 12 to 1 p.m., with a memorial service at 1 p.m. at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.