Elizabeth Ann Fillo

Liz immersed herself in music all her life. As a child growing up on Long Island, she sang and performed in school and in church, but she aspired to be a concert pianist. By the time she got to Cornell University, though, she had discovered the joy of singing jazz. She performed throughout college and eventually recorded an album with her soon-to-be husband and fellow Cornelian and bassist, Steve Fillo. Liz and Steve performed together for decades.

Through the ’60s they lived at various times in Monterey, CA; New Bedford, NY; London, England; Westport, CT; and Cambridge, MA; where Steve enrolled in the MBA program at the Harvard Business School. Liz found work in the office of the Dean of Admissions, while performing in musicals with the undergraduates. She also created a repertoire of one-woman shows there. In 1971, a change in Steve’s career brought them to Princeton and Liz began performing at the McCarter Theatre. She also joined the highly successful Inn Cabaret, a staple of Princeton entertainment for many years. With her friend, Roo Brown, Liz started a duo cabaret act. Together they played many clubs, including some in New York.   

In the ’80s, she appeared in several national commercials and on various soap operas. Then in the early ’90s Liz became a trustee of McCarter, eventually serving for several years as president of the board. Liz and Steve divorced in 1995, which opened the door in 1998 to re-connecting with Christopher Coucill, with whom she had performed 18 years earlier. They married in 2001, filling their lives with love and music and theatre. Liz enjoyed nothing more than singing for Chris and their friends. She was also a superb cook as well as an avid gardener who planted many beautiful scapes, including the lush fairyland she and Chris created out of 3 1/2 acres on a rocky, wooded slope of Princeton Ridge. (Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives — https://sova.si.edu/details/AAG.GCA?s=0&n=10&t=C&q=#ref20204).

Liz is survived by Steve Fillo; her husband, Chris Coucill; her brother, Robert Fuchs; her sons, Chris and Andy; and her four beloved grandchildren, Benny, Graham, Henry, and Eliza. Donations in Liz’s name will be gratefully accepted by Young Audiences of New Jersey and The Nature Conservancy.

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

———

Ruth (Caplan) Bonin

Ruth (Caplan) Bonin 94, formerly of Princeton, New Jersey, passed away peacefully in Galloway on Sunday, November 7, 2021.

Ruth was born and raised in Princeton. After graduating from high school, she went on to work for Princeton University Library. A few years later with her husband, Alvin, they took over her family business, Princeton Army Navy Store on Witherspoon Street. After taking time to raise her family, she found her way back into the library system to share her love of reading with all that wished to hear at Community Park School and later on to the Princeton Public Library as a volunteer.

Ruth was an intelligent, kind hearted person who loved reading, gardening, traveling, and being in the sun. During her younger years she was an avid bowler, winning many awards. She enjoyed playing cards in various community groups around the area. She was an amazing mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family most of all.

Preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Alvin Bonin, as well as her parents Stella and Joseph Caplan, brother Harold and sister Jean. She is survived by her daughter Michele (Steven) Schlitzer of Galloway, son Michael (Ellen) Bonin of Princeton, and daughter Jill (Bill) Chavis of Florida; grandchildren Jennifer (Joseph) DiLuzio, Rachel (Greg) Luty, Samantha (Dan) Casaletto, Sarah (Bill) Becher, and Alexis Bonin (Sydney Marquez); great-grandchildren Hailey Meighan, Cole, Bryce and Ethan DiLuzio and Olivia Casaletto; as well as many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

Funeral services were held on November 9, 2021 at Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, with burial at People of Truth Cemetery, Hamilton Township, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request memorial contributions to be made in Ruth’s name to Grace Healthcare Services, 105 Fieldcrest Avenue, Suite #402, Edison, NJ 08837, without whose care none of us would have made it this far, or memorial contributions can be made to either the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.

To send condolences to the family please visit Ruth’s obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

———

Nancy Rodgers Knipe

Nancy Rodgers Knipe, 93, died November 6, 2021 at Stonebridge at Montgomery in Skillman, NJ. A longtime Princeton and Skillman resident, in her early years Nancy lived predominantly in New York City and Southampton, NY. Born February 14, 1928 in New York City, NY, she was the oldest child of Oliver Rodgers and Clara Lee Rodgers. Fluent in multiple languages, she lived in France and Spain teaching English, prior to marrying Peter R. Knipe in 1970.

Nancy enjoyed spending time with her family, singing in her church choir, serving as a eucharistic minister or reader, watching her boys play hockey, and attending her monthly book club.

Nancy is survived by two sons, Peter of Robbinsville, NJ, and Daniel of Little Silver, NJ; four grandchildren,  Lauren, Casey, Summer, and Kylie; and was predeceased by her loving husband Peter R. Knipe and her brother, Livingston Rodgers.

A funeral mass celebrating her life will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Church on Thursday, November 11 starting at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in honor of Nancy R. Knipe to St. Charles Borromeo Church (borromeo.org).

———

Rafael Tegas Yngojo

Rafael Tegas Yngojo, 93, known as Ralph to family and friends, passed away peacefully on Sunday November 7, 2021, at Brandywine Living at Princeton. He was born on July 1, 1928, in San Francisco, California, where he was subsequently raised. A devoted son, brother, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother-in-law, and friend.

Ralph attended Galileo High School, City College of San Francisco, and Golden Gate University. At Golden Gate University, he earned his BS in Accounting and MS in Public Administration.

Ralph was an accountant by profession with a broad background in Fiscal Management, Fiscal Control Budgeting, and Program Cost Accounting. He held positions with the United States Post Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, State of California Industrial Relations, UCSF Langley Porter, and the Law Office of California Rural Legal Assistance. He taught Principles of Accounting at Cogswell College in San Francisco. He served as an enrolled agent for the IRS and started his own business in 1984, the RYTE Tax and Related Accounting Services.

Ralph was a sports enthusiast his entire life. He played high school football for Lowell, played basketball, and was a member of the Filipino American Mango Athletic Club championship team in 1948. He had a love and passion for tennis, not only as a player but as a coach and passed on his love for the game to Marcus and Leslie. He was a member and served as President of the Filipino Tennis Club of Northern California in the mid ’70s and was instrumental in raising the visibility of tennis among the Filipino Community. When it came to professional sports, Ralph loved all the San Francisco/Bay Area teams; a devoted and loyal fan to the 49ers, Giants, and Golden State Warriors.

Music was Ralph’s passion, he played piano by ear, and it was truly one of his precious moments. Ralph was also a jazz aficionado. He loved the likes of Miles, Coltrane, Monk, Billie, and Ella to name a few. Ralph was also a Frank Sinatra diehard and had the opportunity to see him perform live several times and visited Sinatra’s hometown of Hoboken, NJ, a true highlight for him. Family members appreciated the “Sounds of Sinatra” and Ralph’s vast collection of Sinatra albums, CD’s and books.

Ralph married the love of his life Virginia Robles also known as “Jeannie”; tying the knot in 1949 and shared a lifetime together of 73 years. They traveled to Mexico, Hawaii, London, Paris, and throughout the United States. Some of their most memorable moments were celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays with family and friends.

Ralph is predeceased by his parents, Rafael Sr. and Visitacion Yngojo; and his sisters, Dolores Kikuchi and Lourdes Hom. Ralph is survived by his wife Virginia Yngojo, son Marcus, daughter-in-law Lilia Amores, daughter Leslie Yngojo-Bowes, son-in-law Tommy Bowes, grandchildren Kyle and Kyra Bowes, brothers- and sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2021, from 1-3 p.m. at The Mather Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. A Funeral Ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment and Memorial Celebration of Life will held in his home town in California at a later date.  Arrangements under the direction of The Mather Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or to the American Kidney Fund in Ralph’s memory.