John F. “Jack” Petrone Sr.

John F. “Jack” Petrone Sr., 95, of Princeton passed away on July 19, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at Penn Medicine in Plainsboro.

He was born and raised in Princeton, NJ. The son of Frank and Alice Rousseau Petrone, Jack lived his entire life in Princeton attending school at St Paul’s and graduating from Princeton High School and was a member of the Princeton High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Jack finished his education with a post graduate year at the Pennington Prep School. Jack then enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corp and was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas from 1946 to 1948. Upon his discharge from the Army, he returned to Princeton and married his high school sweetheart Jean Mae Rowles in 1948. They shared their life and love over the next 70 years until Jean’s passing in 2018.

Jack served as a Princeton Township police officer from 1955 to 1992, retiring as the chief. Jack was also a member of Princeton Engine Company No. 1 volunteer fire department for over 60 years. Jack was the owner and proprietor of Center Sports sporting goods store in the Princeton Shopping Center for nearly 20 years.

Jack served his community of Princeton proudly in a number of ways. He touched the lives of a generation of Princeton youth through the programs he established and participated in. Most notably he established and put in place the PBA Little League baseball program in 1958 along with his favorite project, the Baseball School at Marquand Park on Saturday mornings for pre-little leaguers. He was one of a handful of men that started the PMFL youth football program in 1963. He was the ice safety director for skating at Carnegie Lake for over 20 years. He opened the Valley Road school gym on Saturday mornings for the local youth to play. Most of these programs predated the Princeton Rec. Department’s existence.

Jack received a number of awards recognizing his volunteer work with the youth of Princeton. He received a national distinguished achievement award from Pop Warner for youth football and was named to the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. He received a lifetime achievement award from Joint Effort of Princeton. Jack received the Town Topics Man of the Week award for his contributions to the youth of Princeton.

Jack was a longtime member of Springdale Golf Club, a member of Post 76 American Legion, The Princeton Social Club, The Squatters Club of Princeton, and St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church.

Jack and Jean’s greatest joy in life was spending time with their children and grandchildren who affectionately referred to them as Pop Pop and Grammy. Their grandchildren provided them with a lot of love and joy.

Predeceased by his loving wife Jean R. Petrone, a son John F. Petrone Jr., parents Frank and Alice (Rousseau) Petrone, two sisters and a brother-in-law Delores and Jim Vandergrift, and Shiela Zalvino.

John is survived by four sons and five daughters-in-law James and Carol Petrone, Jeff and Leigh Petrone, Judd and Ginger Petrone, Jason and Kathleen Petrone, Gail Petrone; a brother and sister-in-law Tom and Ellen Petrone; a sister and brother-in-law Sandy and Ronnie Towne; brother-in-law Frank Zalvino; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Carol Ann and Fred Ingram, Larry and Betty Rowles; grandchildren Jaclyn and Ryan Gardner, Jaime and Akira Yamamoto, Dean and Caroline Petrone, Kelsey and Bobby Warshaw, Chris and Nicole Petrone, Brent, Todd, Jillian, Jordan, Judd Jr., Eva Mae, James, Jaxon, Travis; six great-grandchildren; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, July 24, 2023, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Burial followed in Princeton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jack’s honor to: Princetonlittleleague.com or pjflnj.org.

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

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Marie T. Rickman

Marie T. Rickman, 64, of Princeton passed away on July 20, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and aunt. Marie was a pillar of strength in her home and community and will be remembered for her love of her family and friends, her festive parties, and her many beautiful gardens.

She was a dedicated volunteer Master Gardener of Mercer County, giving thousands of hours of her time. She served the organization as President from 2011–2012, becoming an Emeritus member in 2023. Marie received several awards from Rutgers Cooperative Extension including a State Award for the Native Plant Garden in 2012 and a State Team Award for past presidents in 2014.

She was born in Philadelphia, PA, and is a graduate of Cabrini College.

Predeceased by her father-in-law and mother-in-law Richard and Mary Rickman, and by her sister Susan Trotter.

Marie is survived by her loving husband of 32 years Rodney L. Rickman; a son Richard Rickman; a daughter and son-in-law Kathryn Rickman and Mark Inverso; parents Anthony William and Ann (Cooney) Trotter; a sister and brother-in-law Ann and Buddy Carroll; five brothers and four sisters-in-law Anthony and Christina Trotter, Christopher Trotter, Robert and Jennifer Trotter, Peter and Rosa Trotter, Brian and Lanise Trotter; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law Richard and Sharon Rickman; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Burial followed in Princeton Cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made. Please send checks made payable to Master Gardeners of Mercer County, c/o MGofMC, 1440 Parkside Avenue, Ewing Twp., NJ 08638. Add “Marie Rickman Memorial Fund” in the memo line.

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

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Maida Danos Pollock

August 1, 1922 – July 6, 2023

Friends and colleagues remember and loved Maida for her deep intelligence, grace, and grit.

Maida was born in Szombathely (“Some bow tie”!), Hungary, and lived in Princeton for 49 years and died in Kula, HI. During her early life, Maida participated fully in the cultural life of her town and in Budapest, where she studied piano at the Liszt Academy.

Speaking foreign languages was part of daily life in her family. All that was interrupted when Hungary entered WWII: Maida’s cherished father was killed in Auschwitz; she and her mother were forced into labor in a German munitions factory where they remained for several months. Finally, they were rescued by a group of American soldiers. Because Maida spoke fluent English and could drive a car, she was employed by the army at a hospital.

Maida never wanted to return to Hungary because she felt betrayed by the government. When an opportunity came about to emigrate to the United States, Maida, her mother, and Maida’s husband arranged to sail here. In 1946 they arrived in New York, three weeks before the birth of Robert, brother to John, born later.

A difficult divorce in the ’60s forced Maida to move away from Long Island, and to the great benefit of Princeton, she moved to Princeton. A childhood friend, living in Princeton, suggested that Maida apply for a job in the Department of Music at the University. She was hired to work with such notables as Roger Sessions and Milton Babbitt. Maida became Director of Princeton University Concerts (PUC). A tribute announced by the PUC says it all: “In her 22-year tenure directing the series (1964-1986), Maida shaped its legacy in everlasting ways.”

In 2014, Maida moved to Kula where her entire family resides. Living in a guest cottage on John’s farm (he is an organic farmer) and close to Robert (a composer and pianist) and his family, Maida was surrounded by a landscape and family she loved.

In 2020, the PUC asked Maida “to share some memories about her time in Princeton and to curate a playlist featuring some of her favorite artists and repertoire from her tenure. Her voice lives in these recollections and tracks; her voice will forever live on in PUC’s spirit.”

Maida is survived by Robert (Klazine) Pollock and John Pollock; granddaughter Esther (Norbert) Jongeneelen; and great-granddaughters Celeste and Beatrice Jongeneelen.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ebb and Flow Arts, 50 Malia-Ull Pi, Kula, HI 96790.

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Leroy Henry Hunninghake

Leroy Henry Hunninghake passed away peacefully on July 19, 2023 at RWJ University Hospital at Hamilton.

He was born and raised in Seneca, Kansas, where he graduated from Kelly High School where he was valedictorian and received his Doctor of Medicine and Surgery Degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He continued his internship and residency at Ann Arbor University of Michigan. He moved to Princeton, NJ, after and was the first Rheumatologist in New Jersey, opening practices at Princeton Rheumatology in Princeton and Monroe, NJ.

Leroy served as a medic for Public Service during the Vietnam War, where he received a plaque of honor from the President. He served as President of the NJ Medical Society for many years. He received many awards from the Medical Society, Princeton Hospital, and Robert Wood University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was also employed. He enjoyed presenting talks to the community about rheumatology and autoimmune diseases as well as throughout the Northeast.

Leroy was a member of St. Paul’s Parish, where he regularly volunteered. He had a passion for medicine, Michigan and Kansas football and basketball, his Kansas farm, and regularly taking his children to farms and mini golfing when they were younger. He enjoyed helping the community and the sick, but most of all spending time with his family. He especially enjoyed birthdays with his sons.

Predeceased by his parents Henry and Mary Hunninghake, and brother Donald Hunninghake.

Leroy is survived by six sons and one daughter Zachary Hunninghake, Trevor and Kyle Hunninghake (and their mother Susan Hunninghake), Leroy Hunninghake Jr, Lisa Hunninghake, Christopher Hunninghake, and Michael Hunninghake (and their mother Rosemarie Hunninghake); two sisters and brothers-in-law Mary Lee and Jim Smith and Alice and Ron Wurtz; one brother and sister-in-law Gary and Margie Hunninghake; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and colleagues.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2023 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with a funeral service at 8 p.m. at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.

Burial will be on Friday, August 4, 2023 at 11 a.m. in Princeton Cemetery.

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Sarah Louise Bennett Reichart

1931-2023

Sarah (Sally) died at her home in Princeton on Wednesday, July 12 in Hospice care. She was born in Chicago in 1931, soon moving to Boston where her father joined the faculty of MIT. In 1941, the family moved to Washington, DC, after her father joined the Navy. She graduated from the Holton Arms School in Washington, a life-rewarding experience for her.

Sally lived in the Washington area until she attended Vassar College from which she graduated in 1952 with a double major in Music and Geology. She worked briefly for General Electric in Schenectady, then taught Science at the Brierley School in New York City before marrying Richard Benjamin Reichart on September 25, 1954. They had two children, Phyllis (Angela) and Andrew in New York, moving to Wayne, New Jersey and finally to Princeton in 1982.

In New York, Sally developed her lifelong interest in music and music history through a Master’s degree in Music at Brooklyn College and a PhD in Musicology at CUNY Graduate Center. Her late husband said that she loved learning and went through life “by degrees.” She taught and performed on the recorder and was a member of the New York Recorder Society.

After moving to Princeton, she earned a Master’s in Library Science at Rutgers and worked in the Princeton Public Library. In her later years, she did much scholarly genealogical research, enduring gifts for her family and others.

She was predeceased by her husband Richard in 2020. She is survived by her daughter Angela (Phyllis) in Knoxville, TN; her granddaughter Lila in Massachusetts; her son Andrew and his wife Joy in Berkeley, CA; and her brother, Ralph Bennett, Jr. and his wife Carol in Silver Spring, MD.

Sally and her family are especially appreciative of the support and assistance of her neighbors and Jessica Almodovar. A memorial gathering will be organized for mid-August; details to follow. Contributions to the Princeton Public Library in Sally’s name are welcome.