Robert Louis B. Sanz

Robert Louis B. Sanz of Houston, TX, and Princeton, NJ, passed away suddenly of cardiac arrest July 13, 2024 while enjoying a cold morning swim. He was on a pilgrimage visit to his grandfather Arthur G. Boughner’s home, Brookhaven, in Confluence, PA, where he fondly recalled his childhood summers.

Beloved husband, father, brother, son, uncle, cousin, devoted Catholic, lifelong student, mentor, philosopher, a mover of mountains, confidant, advisor, coach, golfer, competitor, swim buddy, laugher, toastmaster, storyteller, humorist, champion of the force, animal lover, dog walker, world traveler, gift giver, conversationalist, patriot, warrior, protector, and sincere friend; he will be widely and often missed.

Robert was born October 21,1949 in Washington, DC, to Robert B. Sanz and Elaine Boughner Sanz, and sister Elaine Sanz Engels. He was a successful amateur golfer from an early age at his home course Congressional Country Club in Potomac, MD, attended Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, MD, and Mercersburg Academy in PA. At Vanderbilt University he would play football and participate in track and field, before enlisting in the U.S. Navy and earning the cherished moniker “Mad Spaniard” as a UDT SEAL.

Following his time in the SEAL Teams he would train with the Master Jhoon Rhee. He met his wife of 51 years, Irene Randel Sanz, while running the family-owned Sanz School of Languages in Washington, DC.

During his next 48-year career in the global energy field, Robert was instrumental in the development of the industry. He built decades-long friendships with trusted comrades across the world. And still, Robert’s most proud and passionate accomplishments are his two children, Regina and Gregory.

Robert was always keen for a proper steak and a chilled dry martini, all the while maintaining a daily morning regimen of exercise and cardamon coffee. Surrounded by his library of history and philosophy, Robert’s written word was profound and compassionate. He was well known for lending his hand to anyone in need, and lived out his faith through his generous spirit, sage advice, tenacity and determination to bring joy to others. He will be sorely missed by many.

Robert was predeceased by his mother Elaine and father Robert, and sister Elaine.

He is survived by his wife Irene Randel Sanz, daughter Regina L.B. Sanz Dahnoun of Sonoma County, CA, son Gregory L. B. Sanz of Seattle, WA, son-in-law Rachid Dahnoun, sister-in-law Mulan Chan Randel of Santa Fe, NM, niece Tara Engels Mendicino Riles of Houston, TX, nephews Cody W. Randel of Berlin, MD, and Alistair J. Coyte of Concord, NC, and their families, as well as his many beloved pets.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday morning July 25, 2024 at St Paul Catholic Church, Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ, at 10 a.m.

Final interment to be at a later date in the custody of the U.S. Navy SEALs.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to veterans’ services organizations of your choice or animal rescue charities.

For additional information or to share condolences, please contact The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ, at matherhodge.com.

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James A. Gatsch

James A. Gatsch, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and accomplished architect passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at the age of 72. A longtime resident of Lawrenceville, NJ, Jim was the son of the late James “Albert” and Jean Halliday Gatsch.

Jim graduated from Lawrence High School where he was a member of the championship golf team and met and later married his high school sweetheart, Mary Sorrentino. They married in 1975 and built a loving family together. He will be deeply missed by his family; Mary; Chris and Ali Gatsch; his grandchildren, Lucia, Mason and Dominic; Jeanne and Robert Bushar; Jennifer and Thomas Tuffy, Joseph Sorrentino; and his many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jim’s life was so accomplished that it cannot be fully captured within the limits of this notice. He attended Virginia Tech, where he earned his Bachelor in Architecture in 1974. He went on to pursue his passion in architecture throughout his career. He was an ardent supporter of the practice of architecture having served on multiple levels within the American Institute of Architecture (AIA), culminating as its Vice President, Treasurer, and Board Member of the nearly 100,000-member association.

Jim’s contributions to architecture were recognized with numerous accolades. As an accomplished Architect, he was elected to the College of Fellows in 2002 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the profession. With the exception of the Gold Medal, Fellowship is the highest honor the AIA can bestow on a member. He was awarded the Richard Upjohn Fellowship from the AIA and also received the Citation for Outstanding Leadership from AIA New Jersey. He retired from his career as the managing partner of Farewell, Mills & Gatsch, a prominent architecture practice in Princeton.

Beyond his career achievements, Jim was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a man of many passions. Outside of his professional life he was an avid golfer and traveled all over to play golf at some of the most renowned courses. He was a past member of Springdale Golf Club for over 10 years and still remembered every detail of his hole-in-one on the 5th hole at the Springdale Member-Guest tournament in 2010. Jim shared the sport with his son, Chris, as well as passed on his love for skiing. Jim was proudly promoted to “G-pa” in 2016 and will be greatly missed by his grandchildren.

Services to celebrate Jim’s life will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday July 27 at Wilson Apple Funeral Home, 2560 Pennington Road, Pennington, NJ. Condolences are welcome at wilsonapple.com.

For those who feel inclined and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrier Project.

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Abby Robinson

Abby Robinson, 76, of New York, NY, passed away on July 13, 2024 at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in Princeton, NJ.

Born in Derby, Connecticut, to Herman and Bessie Glazer, Abby spent many years with her family and friends in Connecticut. After high school, Abby moved to NYC and received her Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College. She then completed a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.

Abby always had a passion for the Arts and in particular, photography. She established her career as a faculty member at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City in 1977 and taught there for 47 years. Throughout her time at SVA, Abby taught in the undergraduate program, Continuing Education, the Korean Photography Program, and the International Students Program. Over the course of her tenure at the school she touched the lives of hundreds of students. She encouraged them and challenged them with her special warmth, humor and great generosity.

An accomplished photographer and writer, Abby’s awards and honors include the Asian Cultural Council’s Fellowship Award; American Institute of Sri Lanka Studies Individual Photographer’s Fellowship, Aaron Siskind Foundation, Photo District News Photo Annual Book Award, and the Webby Award. In 1999, Abby was the recipient of the Fulbright Scholar Award Research Program to work for one year in Sri Lanka and India.

Abby’s work was exhibited nationally and internationally with one-person shows in New York, Houston, Portland, Oregon, Barcelona, and Hong Kong. Her photographs appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Newsweek, People, Asian Artnews, ART India, and Photographers International.

In addition to photography, Abby enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends.

Predeceased by her parents, Herman and Bessie (Goldstein) Glazer, she is survived by her sister, Dr. Joyce Glazer; her niece Hannah Theodat and her husband Billy, along with their children, Miles and Logan; and many caring and loving friends.

A celebration of Abby’s life is being planned for the fall in conjunction with the School of Visual Arts; details to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org/get-involved/other-ways-give) and/or the Visual Arts Foundation (pages.donately.com/visualartsfoundation/donate).