Dorothy Stevens Fleming French
Dorothy “Dosky” F. French, 94, of Princeton, NJ, passed away at home on August 22, 2024. Always elegant, extraordinarily generous, intelligent, curious, and widely-read, she loved both poetry and politics. She was both admired and loved by all who knew her.
Born in New York City in 1930, Dosky had been a resident of Princeton since 1932, when her parents, Dorothy Stevens Fleming and Matthew Corry Fleming, Jr. built a house on North Road for her and her younger sister, Angie. She graduated Miss Fine’s School in 1948, and married her first husband, Edward M. Gorman – also of Princeton – in 1949, with whom she had two children, Kathy and Steve.
Although primarily a homemaker, Dosky volunteered extensively for numerous organizations, especially for the Red Cross and the Princeton Hospital, which she also supported with significant financial contributions. Her other charitable contributions were numerous and varied. Both financially savvy and stylish, she was a co-owner of a women’s dress shop in Pennington, “Reynolds,” in the 1970s.
Dosky loved art and poetry all her life, and became an accomplished poet in her later years. She was particularly fond of horses, and once had her own, Frost, a dappled-gray.
Dosky was divorced from Edward Gorman in 1964, and married Bruce French, a local attorney, in 1969; she and Mr. French were divorced in 1985.
Dosky was proud of her New Jersey roots, which go back through many family generations to John Stevens, who arrived in New York/New Jersey at the end of the 17th century. The Stevens family included many leading figures of colonial America such as Col. John Stevens, an early Treasurer of the State of New Jersey and noted steam and railroad pioneer, whose son, Robert, designed the T-rail system that trains still roll on today. Other Stevens family members included John Cox Stevens, first Commodore of the New York Yacht Club and owner of the yacht America, after which the cup is named; and Dosky’s great-grandfather, Edwin Augustus Stevens, who founded the eponymous Stevens Institute of Technology.
Dosky is survived by her children, Kathleen Colket and her husband, Meredith, of Avon, CT; and Stephen Gorman and his wife, Rosalie, of Whitefish, MT; five grown grandchildren: Alex, Laura, and Caroline Colket; and Brian and Kevin Gorman; and four great-grandchildren, Solan and Nova Colket-Jacobs; and Declan and Ainsley Gorman. She is also survived by two special nieces, Vicki Austin-Smith and Franny Gorman, both of Princeton, as well as many other nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services for Dosky will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Red Cross or an animal humane organization.
David John Suomi
June 30, 1973 – August 27, 2024
David John Suomi, age 51, of Princeton, NJ, passed away unexpectedly on August 27, 2024.
David was born on June 30, 1973 in Naples, FL. He attended schools in West Windsor, NJ, and graduated from Princeton Day School in 1991. At PDS, he was a member of the varsity tennis and soccer teams. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, where he was also a member of SAE fraternity.
David had an extended career in Finance, working as an Equity Sales Trader and Equity Analyst in New York, Los Angeles, and London. He was active in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC youth mentoring program.
He is survived by his mother Barbara, his father Marvin, and his brother Peter (Elizabeth) and his sister Amanda Gorrie (Robert). David deeply loved his four nephews and niece, Noah, Isla, and Leo Gorrie and Finn and Price Suomi. He is also survived by his half-siblings Josh, Jacob, and Grace Suomi. David was predeceased by his grandparents Henry and Sonia Kaufman of Naples, FL, and William and Hulda Suomi of Wakefield, MI.
David was a caring big brother and a loyal friend to so many. He loved to spend time in warm weather, sitting on the beach, and traveling. He was a competitive tennis player in his youth, and he also enjoyed music, gardening, and all sports, but most of all, Michigan football.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton on Friday, September 20, followed by a reception at the church. All are welcome. Private burial services will be held at the Princeton Cemetery for family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in David’s honor to the following organizations: Motts Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI, or the Princeton Tennis Program. More information on services and donations can be found at matherhodge.com.
Condolences and memories of David can be shared on his tribute wall at matherhodge.com.
Midway through the last week of August, in the aftermath of a Democratic National Convention about saving America, baseball fans are looking ahead to the do-or-die last month of the regular season, while the jazz world celebrates Lester Young, born August 27, 1909, and Charlie Parker, born August 29, 1920.
