The Reverend Robert E. Sanders

The Reverend Robert E. Sanders, Pastor Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, at the age of 96 on July 16, 2020, from complications of pneumonia, not related to Covid-19.

Born on June 26, 1924, in Steubenville, Ohio, Bob was the son of Frederick P. and Lucille H. (McCoy) Sanders, and is predeceased by brothers, Maurice and Frederick. He was educated in the Steubenville public school system, received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1947, and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1955.

Bob was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and following Seminary he served as the assistant minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Englewood, New Jersey. He was called to serve as Assistant to the President of Princeton Theological Seminary, under the Rev. Dr. John A Mackay, and subsequently under Seminary President James I. McCord.

In the early 1960s, Bob worked for the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. serving as the Eastern Area Director for the division of radio and television. In 1964, he was called as the senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church, Utica, New York, and in 1969, the First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan, called him as the senior minister, a position he held until 1978. He subsequently served as the senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church, Greenwich, Connecticut. In 1981, he returned to Princeton
Theological Seminary as Pastor to the Seminary, a position he held until his retirement in 1989.

Bob was a passionate amateur astronomer and built an observatory to house a large telescope that he enjoyed for many years, and shared his interest in American history as a volunteer tour guide for the Princeton Historical Society.  Bob retired in 1989, and realized his dream of living in Vermont full-time, after spending almost every summer vacation of his married life there. In the early years of his 30-year retirement in Waterbury, Vermont, Bob enjoyed working as an on-air host for WEZF
Radio Station in Burlington, Vermont. He also served as the interim minister of the Second Congregational Church (UCC) in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, the College Street Congregational Church (UCC) in Burlington, Vermont, and the First Congregational Church (UCC) in Morrisville, Vermont.  He was also frequently invited to lead services of worship at the Stowe Community Church in Stowe, Vermont.

Bob was a devoted husband of Isabelle Peck Sanders for 57 years. He is survived by his wife, Belle, sons Mark and David, and daughter-in-law Bronwen Sanders.

A memorial service will be held at Miller Chapel on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary at a future date to be determined. A private interment service will be at Princeton Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Robert E. Sanders to: Princeton Theological Seminary, Office of Scholarship Support, P.O. Box 821, Princeton, NJ  08542.

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Albert C. Barclay, Jr.

Albert C. Barclay, Jr., 88, of East Lansing, Michigan, a resident of Princeton for nearly 50 years, died July 17th in East Lansing.

Born in Trenton, N.J., in 1932 to Albert and Marion Barclay, Ace (as he was known to his friends) was raised in Cranbury. He was a graduate of The Peddie School, Yale University, and Harvard Law School. He also earned a Master of Taxation degree from the NYU Law School.

Ace was a local attorney for over 50 years, operating a law office in Princeton and then in Kingston. Ace’s passions were photography, computers, cars, and motorcycles. He also had a love for all things outdoors — including hiking, canoeing, bicycling, and running. In his mountain climbing years, Ace summited the Grand Teton, Mount Rainer, Mount Whitney, and Monte Rosa (in Italy). 

He is also fondly remembered by his kids and their friends as a dedicated sports coach (baseball, soccer). An avid traveler, Ace and his wife Marge took their kids and their extended family on trips to expose them to the broader world.

Ace had a lifelong love of Chautauqua Institution, and the ideals it embodies – the arts, community, justice, religion, and service.  In his later years, he served as the honorary ambassador for the community table at the Athenaeum hotel – sharing a meal and a glass of wine with any and all looking for friendship and fellowship.

A lifelong Rotarian, Ace was a Past President of the Rotary Club of Princeton.  He was an Elder at Nassau Presbyterian Church, a long-standing member of the Nassau Club, and was also a Board Member at the local animal shelter SAVE.

Ace was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Margaret (Marge) Barclay. He is survived by three children: Albert Barclay III (Meredith) of Atlanta, GA; Lee Reimann (Christopher) of East Lansing, MI; and Elizabeth Livingston of New York City; his sister Florence Winston of Raleigh, NC; and seven grandchildren – Clay, Parker, Burke, Lain, Lila, Carter, and Robert.

He will be remembered at a graveside service in Chautauqua, NY, in October of this year.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Chautauqua Fund, P.O. Box 28, Chautauqua, N.Y. 14722 or https://giving.chq.org/apply-my-annual-gift-wherever-it-is-needed-most.