Paul Harding Rutherford

Paul and Audrey Rutherford

Paul Harding Rutherford, 85, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2023, at the Riverwoods Retirement Community in Exeter, NH. He had been a resident of Princeton for 45 years before moving to New Hampshire in 2010.

Paul was born on January 22, 1938 in Yorkshire, England, the son of Joseph William Rutherford and the former Annie Harding. After his family was required to relocate early in World War II, he attended the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne. He won a scholarship to Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, where he earned a B.A. in 1959, receiving first-class honors in the Mathematical Tripos. He remained at Cambridge for graduate work and completed a Ph.D. in 1962. After postdoctoral appointments at Princeton (1962-63) and the U.K.’s Culham Laboratory (1963-65), he returned to the United States as an immigrant in 1965 to join the research staff at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, where he remained for his entire subsequent career, serving as Associate Director for Research from 1980 to 1995. His research was in the theory of fully-ionized plasmas in strong magnetic fields and was supported as part of the quest for a controlled thermonuclear fusion reactor.

Paul met his future wife, the former Audrey J. Irvine, in Newcastle upon Tyne, and she accompanied him first to Cambridge for the completion of his graduate work and subsequently to Princeton. The Rutherfords became United States citizens in 1976.

Paul taught courses in plasma physics at Princeton University, and co-authored with Robert J. Goldston a graduate text, “Introduction to Plasma Physics”, published in 1995. He was the recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy’s E. 0. Lawrence Memorial Award for physics in 1983, with a citation for contributions to the basic theory of plasma confinement and to the toroidal fusion reactor concept.

Throughout his career, he had always been prominently involved in the international aspects of fusion research. In 1992, he was appointed Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee for the design phase of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), and he continued in that role from 1992 to 1998. The ITER is presently under construction at Cadarache in the south of France.

Having been an active member of Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, he was equally active in the Congregational Church in Exeter, UCC.

In addition to his loving wife of 64 years, Paul was survived by daughters, Andrea Christine Rutherford of Andover, Massachusetts, and Julia Irvine Rutherford, of North Andover, Massachusetts, and by two grandchildren, Alexander McClintick and Samantha Trombly.

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Audrey J. Rutherford

Audrey Jones Rutherford, 89, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2023 at the RiverWoods Retirement Community in Exeter, NH. She had been a resident of Princeton for 45 years before moving to New Hampshire in 2010.

Audrey was born December 12, 1934, in Berwick upon Tweed, the daughter of James Irvine and the former Jane Ellen Thompson. Although she retained strong family ties to Berwick, on the border between England and Scotland, she spent her childhood in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, attending Heaton High School for Girls. The death of her father while she was still in high school precluded her from attending a full-time college, but she enrolled in the College of Commerce, now part of Newcastle University, taking evening and weekend classes. While serving in various positions in the Health Department for the County of Northumberland, she pursued further studies in local government. After becoming qualified as a Committee Clerk by the Local Government Examinations Board in 1958, she was appointed Committee Clerk of the Health Committee — becoming the first woman in the county to hold a position at that level.

After marrying Paul Rutherford, she moved with her husband to Cambridge, where she lived from 1959 to 1962, working at Pye Electronics Ltd while her husband completed a Ph.D. in theoretical physics. She then spent a year in Princeton, New Jersey, after which the couple returned to England and lived in Wantage, Berkshire, for two years. In 1965, she and her husband emigrated to the U.S., where they lived for 45 years in Princeton, New Jersey, becoming U.S. citizens in 1976.

After raising two daughters in Princeton, Audrey was then able to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a preschool teacher. After appropriate certification, she taught for 10 years at the Cherry Hill Nursery School, following which she was a frequent substitute teacher at the University League Nursery School.

After her husband’s retirement, she moved to the RiverWoods retirement community in Exeter, New Hampshire, where she had lived since 2010. Having been an active member of Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, she became active in the Congregational Church in Exeter, UCC. From early childhood, she has enjoyed all forms of needlework and was especially skilled in tapestry needlepoint.

The Rutherfords are survived by two daughters, Andrea C. Rutherford of Andover, Massachusetts, and Julia I. Rutherford of North Andover, Massachusetts; and two grandchildren, Alexander Rutherford McClintick and Samantha Grace Trombly.

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Manuel del Cerro

Manuel del Cerro, MD, died in Princeton, NJ, on Friday, October 13, 2023, at the age of 92.

He was an Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurobiology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Dr. del Cerro was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the 30th of August 1931. He grew up in that city, where he undertook all his formal education receiving his MD degree in 1958. After completing his residence in the department of Intensive Care, where he reached the position of Chief Resident, he became a member of the Faculty in the Department of Cell Biology of the Medical School of the University of Buenos Aires.

In 1957 he married Constancia (Coca) Nuñez. He and his wife left Argentina at the end of 1964 for the USA where Dr. del Cerro had been offered a faculty position at the Center for Brain Research of the University of Rochester, Medical School. He moved up through the academic ranks reaching the position of Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurobiology at the University of Rochester. Starting in the middle 1980s, Dr. del Cerro and his team, which included his wife Coca, did pioneering work on transplantation of developing retinal cells into the retinas of blind animals and humans. That work, published in national and international medical journals, proved the viability and in many cases the beneficial effects of those transplants. Dr. del Cerro was an invited speaker at numerous national and international professional meetings. He was a mentor to numerous students, many of whom reached prominence in the medical profession in the USA and abroad. After his retirement in 1989, Dr. del Cerro and his wife traveled extensively; he also pursued his hobbies of photography, chess, and reading, particularly of world history and history of art.

He is survived by his daughter Marilu DeCoste, and grandchildren Thomas, Samuel, and Christopher Joseph.

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Mary Jane Hayes

Mary Jane Hayes, 81, of Lawrence Township, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 16, 2023. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mary Jane moved to Princeton as a young child and lived there most of her life, except for periods when she lived abroad. She attended the Miss Fine School and graduated from Princeton High School in 1960.

Mary Jane was a worldwide traveler and lived and worked abroad, including living on a Kibbutz in Israel, as well as time in Australia and Turkey.

A lover of all animals, she had two beloved dogs Amtrack and Johann. In her spare time, Mary Jane loved to be in her garden.

Mary Jane worked for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and then was the Administrative Officer for 29 years at the School of Mathematics of the Institute for Advanced Study, before retiring in 2017.

Mary Jane is predeceased by her father, Dr. John Raymond Burbidge, her mother Thelma Kirksey Burbidge, and her brother John Burbidge, Jr. She is survived by her sister Bettina Anne Burbidge, her niece Amy (John) Israelsson, her nephew James (Anna Maria) Hummerstone, and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, New Jersey.

Mary Jane will be truly missed by her close friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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Esther LaFranco

Esther LaFranco (nee Rubin), 91, of Princeton passed away peacefully on Monday, October 16, 2023. She was born on September 13, 1932, in Trenton, N.J., to the late Abraham Rubin and Bessie Barker. She was married to the late Antonio LaFranco and lived in Lawrenceville before moving to Princeton 29 years ago.

While singlehandedly raising her three young children, Esther earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration. She worked as a paralegal at the NJ Public Employment Relations Commission for more than 20 years. She was a proud member of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization and the Princeton Senior Center, where she was involved in memoir writing and other activities. She was an avid supporter of the Parkinson’s Foundation. In addition to memoir writing, Esther also was passionate about astrology, antiquing, politics, health and wellness, movies, the Boston Red Sox, and, most of all, her children and grandchildren.

She loved to share her stories and insights with family and friends and was always generous with her time and her love. She was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Esther’s favorite quotation was, “Family is the most important thing.” She lived by this motto, always prioritizing her family over herself. She taught her children and grandchildren to “always do the hard, right thing not the easy, wrong thing.” She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Esther is survived by three children, Mark Anthony LaFranco, Audrey Rita Maest, and Barry Richard LaFranco; her son-in-law, Christopher Maest; two grandchildren, Eric and Rachel Maest; and one sister, Frances Rubin.

Funeral service was on Thursday, October 19 at Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Road in Ewing Township. Interment followed at Brothers of Israel Cemetery, 1100 Cedar Lane Cemetery, Hamilton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

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Wesley Thompson

January 4, 1947 – October 17, 2023

Wesley R. Thompson, 76, of Caledonia, Michigan, formerly of Indiana and New Jersey, died at 10:07 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at StoryPoint Assisted Living in Rockford, Michigan. He was born on January 4, 1947, in New York City to Ralph and Ruth (Lindveit) Thompson. Wes grew up in Griggstown, New Jersey, and married Sandra (Sandie) Thompson on September 5, 1970.

Surviving are his son Matthew (Erin) Thompson of Newaygo, Michigan; grandchildren Wyatt, Ruby, and Scarlett; cousin Elaine Trapp; niece Dana Oley; and nephews-in-law Patrick and Allen Carns of New Jersey. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and sister Arlene Oley.

Wes was an insurance underwriter and part time pastor by occupation. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1965-1971. Wes had a passion for theological studies, volunteering, music, and walking. He had a unique ability to listen to others with true care, provide compassion, and relate to all perspectives.  Above all, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a man of God who always put the needs of others in front of his.

According to his wishes, there will not be a memorial service. His ashes will be spread by family members.

Donations in his memory can be made to Feed My Starving Children (fmsc.org).

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Lawrence Hunter Parsons

April 11, 1944 – October 18, 2023

Lawrence Hunter Parsons, known by all as Larry, passed away peacefully October 18, after many years of declining from dementia. He was a kind, generous, and respected member of the Princeton community, which he loved. A friend said of Larry that he was, “someone who rarely expressed criticisms of others, preferring to support, rather than destroy.”

Larry was a wonderful listener with great creative vision and insight. He used these qualities to contribute to many good causes and organizations in leadership roles such as the Princeton Photography Club and the Princeton Adult School. He is survived by his wife, Jean, his daughter, Meg D’Incecco and her husband John, their son, Leslie, and by his son Hunter and his wife Amber, and children Margot and Sheppard.

Though Larry’s career was in finance, his heart was with culture and beauty, which he expressed through his photographic art. He was devoted to Gallery 14 on Mercer Street in Hopewell where he was a member for many years.

As almost a miracle, a retrospective of Larry’s artwork at the Gallery was scheduled some time ago to open at the Gallery 14 on Saturday, November 4. Now it can be an immediate celebration of his life through his art! The opening reception will be from 1-5 p.m. on that day, and the show will run through December 3. It would be an honor to him for you to come to see the show when you can. A celebration service of Larry’s life is being planned for March at Nassau Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, he would have loved you to support the organizations of your choice that support the arts, education, the environment, and justice for humankind. Some of his favorites were Princeton Adult School, Princeton Pro Musica, Princeton Public Library, Centurion, Young Audiences, and Nassau Presbyterian Church, especially the hunger relief programs.