Joanne Elliott

Born in Providence, RI, in 1925, Joanne Elliott of Princeton, NJ, passed away March 5, 2023 in Titusville, NJ.

She received her Ph.D. in mathematics in 1950 from Cornell University with a thesis entitled “On Some Singular Integral Equations of the Cauchy Type.” This was at a time when women mathematicians were a rarity. Her distinguished career began with one year at Swarthmore College followed by an assistant professorship at Mount Holyoke College where she wrote the 1956 paper “Stochastic Processes Connected With Harmonic Functions,” with William Feller. In the same year she relocated to Barnard College, teaching at Columbia University. By 1964, she had arrived at Douglass College of Rutgers University, and was Professor of Mathematics from 1965 until her retirement in 1991. She supervised five Ph.D. theses during 1967-1978.

Joanne was an inveterate reader who loved and supported music and the arts. She traveled extensively with her close friend, mathematician and photographer, Natascha Artin Brunswick. An avid birdwatcher, she and her friends Tanya and Milton Moss frequented the vicinity of the Atlantic flyway and visited other countries specifically to go birding.

On retiring from Rutgers, Joanne volunteered for many years interpreting mathematical texts at Reading for the Blind, (now Learning Ally). Throughout her life she supported numerous charities and derived much pleasure from so doing.

She was predeceased by her parents John Sanderson and Martha Hester (Robertson) Elliott, a brother Robert G. Elliott, and a nephew John S. Elliott.

Joanne is survived by her niece Debbie Reed, a cousin Julie Monson, and many dear friends.

Burial will be private at the Princeton Cemetery. A commemoration of Joanne’s life will be planned for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, the Mercer County (NJ) Wildlife Center, or Doctors Without Borders.

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

———

Louise Flippin

Louise Ferdon Flippin died at home in East Brunswick, New Jersey, on February 19 at age 88. A former Princeton resident, Louise — known as “Cookie” growing up — was born and raised in Montclair, NJ. She attended Montclair High School, where she dated her future husband and love of her life, Royce N. Flippin Jr. She went on to Delaware University, graduating in 1956 and marrying several weeks later. Vivacious, outgoing, and ever-cheerful, she was an unwavering companion to her husband as he carved a standout career as a nationally known athlete at Princeton University, a businessman, and then athletic director for Princeton and later MIT. At the same time, she blazed her own path with her engaging presence, keen intelligence and sense of humor, and powerful empathy for others.

After giving birth in her twenties to three children, Diane, Royce 3rd, and Robert, Louise shepherded them through childhood with attentiveness and affection, navigating the family’s numerous moves as her husband completed his military service, attended business school, and pursued his career. Louise was a warm and supportive mother-in-law to her children’s spouses, Arthur Nole, Alexis Lipsitz Flippin, and Patricia Ginter Flippin, and a loving grandmother to Brian Nole, Robert Flippin Jr., Michael Flippin, Ryan Flippin, Christopher Flippin, and Lily (Maisie) Flippin. Louise cherished her extended family as well, including her parents, Albert Ferdon and Elisabeth Ruprecht Ferdon, her three older sisters, Maryli, Betty Jane, and Nancy and their families, and Royce Jr.’s family.

A loyal friend, Louise stayed in lifelong touch with her good pals from high school, her and Royce’s tight-knit Princeton circle, numerous close friends from church, work, and the communities in which she lived, and the dedicated caregivers who watched over her in the last years of her life. She also maintained strong roots in Silver Bay, New York, where she spent time virtually every summer as a youth and adult and was known for her long morning swims in Lake George.

In addition to her many personal ties, Louise loved teaching, music, and dance, and all things related to summer and gardening. After teaching elementary school early in her marriage, she returned to graduate school to earn a master’s degree in special education from Queens College. Motivated by a heartfelt desire to help children overcome their learning disabilities, she went on to teach special education in White Plains, New York; Lawrence and Hightstown, New Jersey; and Reading, Massachusetts. She also studied dance with Martha Graham as a young adult, and lit up scores of dance floors over the years jitterbugging with her husband. Louise loved to sing as well; in her final months, though confined to her bed, she could still be heard singing along to recordings of Frank Sinatra.

Above all, Louise had a deep religious faith that sustained her both in day-to-day life and as a committed church member, and was an active parishioner at Holy Trinity Church in South River for the past 30 years.

Louise was predeceased by her dear daughter Diane, Diane’s husband Art, her three sisters, and her beloved husband. She is survived by her two remaining children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed for her love of life, the warm connections she made with everyone she met, and her steadfast devotion to those things that truly matter.

Donations can be made in Louise’s memory to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 90 Leonardine Avenue, South River, NJ 08882.

———

Gun-Marie Hedman McLean

Gun-Marie Hedman McLean was born on August 23, 1938 and passed away on March 8, 2023 surrounded by family in Scottsdale, Arizona. She was born in Gavle, Sweden. She came to Princeton, NJ, in 1958 where she raised her two daughters with their father, Albert Kren.

She was predeceased by her husband of 17 years, Wallace W. McLean of Scarsdale, NY.

Marie was a kind, gentle, and generous woman. She was an avid animal lover who enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading, and watching true crime stories. She traveled annually with her family to Cabo San Lucas and loved the ocean.

She is survived by her two daughters, Mary Ann Kren of Scottsdale, AZ, and Susan Kren of Princeton, NJ.; three granddaughters, Adriana Tonachio of Peoria, AZ, Victoria Jackson of Princeton, NJ, and Julia Jackson of Scottsdale, AZ; one great-grandson, Desmond Tonachio; one sister Ing-Marie Segura of Columbus, NJ; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She will she greatly missed by all who knew her.

A private family service will be held in Scottsdale, AZ.