Howard James Hill

Howard James Hill, age 63, from Princeton, New Jersey, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at the Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Howard’s hometown was Edmonton, the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta, and he also called London, Los Angeles, and New York home before settling in Princeton, New Jersey, in 2009.

Howard graduated from Saint Xavier High School in Edmonton. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Alberta in Canada, and his Juris Doctorate from New York Law School in the United States.

From a young age, Howard was a brilliant innovator and creator. He tinkered and experimented with technology, music, and writing. He enjoyed breaking down complex systems and making things work better and more efficient, and Howard spent his 40+ year career doing what he loved most alongside many colleagues that he was grateful to also call friends.

Howard worked for law firms and software companies in London (IRS Eclipse; Rouse & Co International/Willoughby) and in Los Angeles (Netnames) before moving to New York and joining the General Counsel’s Organization at American Express in 2001 working in legal operations. In 2022, Howard joined ServiceNow in New York where he continued his legal and technology career.

Throughout his career, Howard mastered the art of weaving technology into his legal colleagues’ daily lives. He was always willing to find a solution with his “can do” and tenacious spirit, and he brought ease and efficiency to his colleagues at American Express and ServiceNow. Howard’s laughter and love of technology as well as his friendship will be greatly missed. 

Howard lived with his wife, Lisa Schroter, and their adorable pet felines, Loafy, Sabrina, and Salem. Howard met Lisa, his soulmate and the love of his life in 1989, they married in 2005, and the two have been inseparable for more than half of their lives. Together, Howard enjoyed hobbies of gardening, biking, kayaking, the arts, British comedy, cooking and fine dining with friends and family, and traveling the world. Howard was also a talented music creator, and an aspiring writer with his first graphic novel in production based on an intriguing character he had created from his own imagination.Howard was truly a unique, brilliant, and multi-faceted individual.

Howard had a passion for enjoying life and its every adventure with Lisa by his side. He was a witty conversationalist and had an uncanny sense of humor that everyone loved. Howard valued his connections and relationships and devoted time to truly getting to know people; he was everyone’s biggest fan as their loyal friend. Howard made friends everywhere with his sincere smile, infectious laugh, and his strong sense of calm and peace that he brought to every situation.

Howard is predeceased by his adoring parents, Gordon Francis Hill and Sybill Alberta McCormac Hill of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lisa Schroter; his dear brother-in-law, Hal Schroter; and his cousins in Toronto, Marie Baker, Margie O’Callaghan, John O’Callaghan, Ken and Fran Hill, Gord and Marie Hill, Neil and Vivienne Hill, Tim and Adrianne Hill, Francie and Peter Barbetta, and all their respective children, as well as his cousins in the UK, Marion Royer and Alan May. Howard is also survived by his long list of great friends that he considered family, and many other loved ones who will miss Howard and his generous and caring heart and zest for life.

A memorial service for Howard will be celebrated on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 3 to 5 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church located at 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Canada or to the American Stroke Association.

Please visit Howard’s tribute page provided by Mather-Hodge Funeral Home located in Princeton, New Jersey: matherhodge.com.

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Susan K. Alcántara

January 1, 1944 –April 4, 2024

Susan K. Alcántara, 80, of Princeton, passed away on April 4, 2024, at her son’s home in Waco, TX, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in New York City in 1944, Susan and her twin sister grew up in Allentown, PA. She attended Ithaca College where she graduated with a degree in physical therapy. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Princeton where she worked at Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center’s original location on Bayard Lane. She met her husband José at Merwick in 1971, and they were married in the chapel there two years later. 

In 1975, they moved to the newly built Princeton Community Village, a vibrant, caring, multicultural community located off Bunn Drive. They raised their family at Mulberry Row and were among the longest-tenured residents of the Village, having lived there for 48 years until 2023. Residents always appreciated her quiet strength and thoughtfulness and saw her as the perfect counterbalance to her husband, whom they referred to affectionately as “The Mayor of the Village.” They held membership at Princeton United Methodist Church for close to three decades. In their later years, they also worshipped at Central Church in Ewing and Stonehill Church in Princeton.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Helen Schmidt, and her grandchildren, Justin Alcántara and Viviana Hightower.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, José; her twin sister, Karen; her daughters, Amanda and Lucia; her son, Jared; her step-sons, Rick and Tony; and her nine grandchildren: Austin, Julian, Maya, Hayes, Liliana, Gabriel, Rayan, Emerson, and Evelyn.

The funeral service will be held at Princeton’s Stonehill Church, 1025 Bunn Drive, on April 13, 2024, at 10 a.m. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. After the service, the family will hold a private graveside service in Wayne, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the place that she loved to bring her family, Princeton Public Library, at princetonlibrary.org.

Arrangements will be made by the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton. Condolences are welcome on Susan’s tribute page at matherhodge.com.

The family would like to offer its deep appreciation to José and Susan’s dearest friends, George and Mina Angeletopoulos, and to Jared’s wife Jennifer, for devoting herself so fully to caring for Susan in her final year.

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Dr. Juan Campos Abellana

Dr. Juan Campos Abellana — known affectionately by friends, family, and patients as John, Johnnie, and Dr. A. — passed away peacefully at Brandywine Serenade at Princeton on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the age of 84. He was a longtime resident of Princeton and a beloved physician who specialized in internal medicine with a focus on caring for elderly patients. He was admired for his dedication, empathy, and unwavering commitment to serving others.

Born in Cebu, Philippines in 1939 to the late Celso Abellana and Sostenea Campos Abellana, Juan graduated from Far Eastern University – Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation in 1965. He completed his internship and residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth, NJ. During his tenure as chief resident, he met Victoria de la Cruz, a fellow intern who would later become his wife. Subsequently, he pursued a two-year fellowship in pulmonary diseases at the Veterans Administration Hospital in New York City, where he also served as chief resident for nine months. He then worked at the French and Polyclinic Hospital in New York City and at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank, NJ.

Dr. Abellana relocated to Princeton in 1973 to assume the role of Medical Director at Rossmoor Medical Center in Jamesburg, NJ. A year later, he established his private practice in Princeton. Until his retirement in 2014, Dr. Abellana served as a Senior Attending Physician with Penn Medicine at Princeton.

Devoted to his family, Dr. Abellana especially cherished spending time with his two grandsons. An avid gardener, he delighted in cultivating an impressive array of vegetables and flowers each spring. He had a passion for music and singing, enjoyed long-distance road trips and navigating NYC traffic, and remained a lifelong Mets fan.

Dr. Abellana is survived by his wife of 54 years, Victoria, and his three children and their families: Joy and her husband, Stephen, along with their son, Charlie; John and his wife, Cordelia, and their son, Augustus; and Jason. He is also survived by three siblings, Marcos, Victor, and Cora; half-siblings Victoria, Camila, Robert, Louis, Tomas, Christy, Emma, and Cheryl; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family members. He was predeceased by six siblings: Nemesio, Norma, Agapito, Celso Jr., Alfonso, and Erasmo; and his half-sister, Rosalia.

Visitation will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the Kimble Funeral Home, located at One Hamilton Avenue in Princeton, NJ. The following day, on Monday, April 15, 2024, a Funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Parish, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.