Edith (Edie) Esther Kelman Jeffrey

Edith (Edie) Esther Kelman Jeffrey b. October 10, 1932 d. February 1, 2025. Beloved mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, and friend to many people near and far of all ages.

A remarkable woman, born in Boston, MA, daughter of immigrants (beloved Abraham and Miriam Kelman), Edith attended Brandeis University and later went back to school for her Master’s Degree in History from Princeton University.  She met and married a Dorchester boy Richard C. Jeffrey, and traveled the world with him, starting a family in Palo Alto, CA, when he was an assistant professor of Philosophy at Stanford and then moving with two young children across the country to Princeton, NJ, where she lived for the rest of her life.

A political activist, Edith was blacklisted and lost an important job opportunity as a young woman based on her attendance at student political events. Community and community organizations were important to Edith. She was active in the League of Women Voters, Community Without Walls (House 2), and the Evergreen Forum and was a founding member and first president of Princeton Research Forum.

Edith was an intrepid traveler and experiencer of life, an artist, and a poet, she had a curiosity about and interest in all people, places, and things and was a lifelong learner. She was our family historian and story teller. After the untimely death of her beloved husband, our father Richard Jeffrey, she continued to live a rich, full, and active life in her community and beyond.

We are grateful to Edith’s many dear friends who enriched her life until the end, in particular for the love and companionship of Paul Benacerraf in her later years, a longtime family friend and honorary family member, who we sadly lost in January.

We were thankful to be able to carry out Edith’s wishes for end of life (her goals of care) in consultation with her doctor David Barile, to whom we are incredibly grateful. Our hearts are broken yet warmed by the love we all shared. She will live on in us forever.

Edith is survived by her son Daniel Jeffrey, daughter Pamela Jeffrey and her husband Sean O’Connor, granddaughters Sophie Jeffrey O’Connor and her husband David Lonergan and Juliet Jeffrey O’Connor and her fiancé Ben Klein, sister Bernice Kelman, nephew Dan McCormack, and grandniece Heather McCormack. Edith loved all and was loved by all.

Finally, we are so grateful to Hannah Aryeetey for the care she provided, that enabled Edith to live independently in her own home despite her physical challenges. Hannah was a bright light in Edith’s life. Thank you Hannah.

Burial was held on February 3, 2025 at 1 p.m. at Princeton Cemetery.

A celebration of Edith’s life is being planned.

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

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Carol M. Kahny

A significant amount of kindness and light went out of the world on January 27 when Carol Mary Kahny passed from it, leaving it a little colder and darker, but vastly better for her having been here.

Carol was born September 30, 1935 in Princeton, NJ, to Harry J. and Mary A. (O’Kane) Kahny. She was the fifth of six sisters, Helen, Margaret, Rosemary, Jean, and Mary Louise, each of whom preceded her in death.

She is survived by 20 nieces and nephews and their many children, all of whom she treasured and doted upon.

Slight of body but large of heart, Carol had a calm, generous, easy-going personality and a thoughtfulness that everyone who interacted with her experienced and benefited from. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Trenton State Teachers College, specializing in Kindergarten-Primary grades, and taught in Lawrence Township. She received her Master of Science from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, and continued to teach in the Syracuse City School District, notably developing and running a ground-breaking program for children with special needs, as well as managing an after-school drama program for all ages. Everything she undertook when working with others was always done with patience and humor.

If there is anything that could accurately showcase the selfless, beautiful soul that was Carol Kahny, it is the role of caretaker she calmly and easily undertook for every member of her family, from her grandmother to her parents to her sisters. The Kahny family was a significant part of early twentieth-century Princeton — Carol’s father was a city engineer who insisted his six daughters would each attend college, and each of them did, most of them to the Master level, including Carol. Over the years, as her parents, followed by her sisters, began to succumb to illness, Carol was their steadfast protector, even as her own vigor eventually began to decline.

Throughout her life, Carol shared an incredible relationship with her youngest sister, Mary Louise Sweeney. They traveled extensively and nurtured friendships with a few women that have endured through today. Mary Louise had one child, Meghan, and Carol was extremely involved in her upbringing, ultimately blessed to become a very hands-on Great Aunt to Meghan’s two children, interacting with them through the final day of her life.

As her health became more fragile, she lived with Mary Louise and her husband of more than 50 years, Edward. For the past several years, all three were lovingly supported and cared for by Meghan, her husband Bucky and their children. Mary Louise passed away just two weeks before Carol did, cementing forever in Heaven the close and loving bond they had always shared.

To the children and grandchildren of the Kahny family, there is little surprise that once her last sister passed away, Carol followed. Her work on Earth was done.

There will be a viewing on Thursday, February 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue, Princeton, NJ.

The funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Paul Parish, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ, on Friday, February 7 at 10 a.m., with the burial immediately following in St. Paul Parish Cemetery.

All are cordially welcome to attend, as Carol would have wanted.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

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Anna Kost

Anna Kost of Kingston, New Jersey, passed away on January 28, four days before her 97th birthday.

Anna, was born in Lindenhurst, New York, to Jennie and Frank Frole on February, 2, 1928. She was 18 when she met Tom Kost in church while Tom was home on leave from the Navy. They were married six weeks later.

The short courtship turned into a long union with the pair married for over 50 years. During that time, Anna enjoyed her post as First Lady of Lindenhurst while Tom served as Lindenhurst Mayor, population 33,000, for 17 years.

The couple welcomed a daughter, Jeanne, in 1950. Three years later in 1953 they welcomed a second daughter, Lynn.

Anna volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital. She had a passion for food. Italian pastries on Sunday and delicious homemade meatballs were staples in their home on South 7th Street. Anna and Tom had a wide circle of friends of all ages.

In 1994 Anna and Tom moved to Kingston, New Jersey, to be closer to their daughters.

She enjoyed the occasional trip to Atlantic City and was known for her strong will and warm sense of humor. Her house was always pristine.
She is survived by her daughter Jeanne Kost Cook, son-in-law John Cook, and daughter Lynn Susan Kost. She is also survived by five grandchildren and their spouses, Emily Cook and Jonathon Smith, Hilary Cook and Mike Engström, Jack and Liz Cook, Robin and Jon McConaughy, and Mike and Meredith Cook, along with eight great-grandchildren.

There will be a service for Anna on March 3 at 11 a.m. at Breslau Cemetery in Lindenhurst, where she will be laid to rest with Tom, followed by a reception at Belfast Gastropub.

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Eugenia “Jean” Procyk

Jean Procyk, 92, of Princeton, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Jean was a proud, deeply rooted New Yorker. She was a woman with a sharp mind and quick tongue and would deliver the classic zinger at the perfect time of a conversation. Jean lived her life to the fullest and did not let social parameters limit her ability to do so. As such, being a woman ahead of her time, Jean was employed with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company as their first female agent. She retired from MetLife after over 30 years of service. Knowledge and education was extremely important to Jean. Despite not having the opportunity to attend college in her youth, Jean earned her Associates Degree from Kingsborough Community College while in her 70s.

She resided in New York City for most of her life, and had an additional residence in Bucks County, PA. She ultimately moved to Princeton to be closer to her family during her golden years. Jean was never one to have idle time on her hands, so following her retirement, she kept a busy social and philanthropic calendar to ensure she always had something to look forward to in the days ahead. She loved to play cards, especially bridge. Jean thoroughly enjoyed sharing her fondness for art and culture with her family and friends with regular outings to all of the local theaters, playhouses, and museums. As a founding member and benefactor of St. Anna’s Greek Orthodox Church in Flemington, NJ, her faith and heritage was her pride and joy. Jean also enjoyed being a volunteer Grand-Pal, reading books to kindergarten students at the Princeton Public Schools. She also loved to travel, with Greece being one of her top destinations.

Predeceased by her parents, Michael and Anna Manicatakis; her husband, Michael Procyk; her mother-in-law, Anna Procyk; her sister, Mary Manicatakis; and her nephew-in-law, Michael B. Zapantis. She is survived by her niece, Victoria Zapantis (Michael B. Zapantis); her great-nephew’s family, Michael J. Zapantis and Cortney T. Gray and their daughter, her great-great-niece, Olive Jean Zapantis (who bears her namesake); her great-nephew, Kristofer A. Zapantis; and her great-niece, Melanie N. Zapantis.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at St. Anna’s Greek Orthodox Church, 85 Voorhees Corner Road, Flemington, New Jersey.

Private interment will be held at St. Michael’s Cemetery, East Elmhurst, NY 11370.

Visitation for family and friends was held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at A.S. Cole Son & Company, 22 North Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.

Eugenia’s family is asking that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Eugenia’s memory to St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, (For donations by check, please note the memo for the Mortgage Fund), 85 Voorhees Corner Road, Flemington, NJ 08822. Donations can also be made on their website at stannagoc.org. (For the website donations, please mark the memorial request for the Mortgage Tray.)

Saulfuneralhomes.com.

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John Tiebout, Jr.

When John Tiebout was born on August 6, 1925, he was welcomed by his parents, John Tiebout, Sr. and Irene Walmsley Lynch, and his sisters, Anna and Mary. Young John grew up in Larchmont, NY, and upon graduation from New Rochelle High School, enrolled in the Admiral Ballard Academy. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, beginning officer’s training school at Yale. John served as a Lieutenant JG on the LST 1020 in the Pacific during WWII. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to Yale to finish his studies, graduating with the Class of ’48.

Through mutual friends, he was introduced to Patricia Peck. Their 72-year marriage began in 1949. John worked at W & J Tiebout, a marine hardware business that had been established in 1853 by his ancestors in New York. John and Patty lived in Levittown, LI, where they welcomed their son, John Tiebout III, and daughter, Janet. After a move to Dobbs Ferry, NY, their daughter Mary was born.

In 1957, the family moved to Hastings-on-Hudson, where John’s long career of community service began. He joined the Riverview Manor Hose Co., #3, serving as Captain in the ’60s. At the same time, he served as Deacon at the South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry, and he was elected for two terms as a Trustee of the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson.

Following the sale of W & J Tiebout, John worked for the Campbell Chain Co., first as a Territory Sales Manager. With his warm sense of humor and thoughtful interactions, he was loved by his customers and deeply appreciated by younger team members whom he mentored. In 1979, John and Patty moved to Seattle, WA, where John became the company’s Regional Sales Manager for the Pacific Northwest. While preparing to move back East, and having enjoyed the university community in Seattle, they chose to live in Princeton, moving here in 1982.

John continued to work for several more years, and when he retired he brought his warm and cheerful spirit to the Medical Center at Princeton (the old hospital) where he contributed 1,626 hours volunteering on the menus team. He also served as an usher at Nassau Presbyterian Church, and on the Board of the Newgrange School. He was a member of The Old Guard of Princeton.

John was a fan of the NY Yankees and was in the stands in October of 1956 when Don Larsen pitched that perfect game. Along with watching his kids play sports, and hours of playing catch, John enjoyed boating, waterskiing, and playing paddle tennis. After he retired, he was able to join a group of friends at the Princeton Country Club. In golf, as in life, he followed this good advice: Try not to make too many unforced errors.

“Poppy” brought joy to his grandchildren, Jack and James Tiebout, Meredith and Christopher Hanson, and Johanna and Eli Evans. He enjoyed the company of his son- and daughters-in-law, Nato Evans, Wendy Satin and Barbara Johnson. His great-grandchildren, Finn, Eleanor, Thea, Henry, Penelope, and those to follow, will delight in memories and stories about him.

Throughout his life John spent vacation time with his high school buddies, Jim Huntington, Howard Snider, Fred Yarrington and Ferris Conklin, and their families. Among his many friends in Hastings were “The Piggers,” a group connected to the firehouse, most of whom were Patty’s high school friends. They got together often, a couple of times to roast a pig, but most often to roast a hamburger while all the kids ran around in the backyard. Gatherings with John’s sisters and their families, the Vosburghs and Reismans, brimmed with laughter and love.

Patty was the love of John’s life, and when he began to show signs of dementia, she showed her great strength and devotion by doing all she could to help him at home. Following her death in 2022, at age 98, John was able to stay at home with the help and companionship of his three children. A bit of luck led to the discovery of Town Square, an adult activities center near Princeton. For nearly two years, John brought joy to the other members and to the staff, in particular, Shannon and Nicole, who, with unlimited goodness and humor, have created a delightful community of friends.

Many thanks to Ana for bringing her magnificent smile and caring heart every Sunday afternoon for almost three years. Deepest thanks to neighbors who have offered their friendship, who have offered their help, and then their sincere condolences. We’re grateful to Dr. John Sierocki, and members of his staff, especially Allyn, for decades of skillful and kind-hearted care.

On January 7, John watched the funeral service for President Jimmy Carter, hearing the beautiful Navy Hymn just moments before he died. A brief celebration of John and Patty’s lives was held at Rowayton Union Cemetery, in Connecticut, where members of the Navy Honor Guard played Taps and presented the flag. Arrangements were made by Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, and the family is grateful for their guidance. We would also like to thank members of the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad and the Princeton Police Department, especially Patrolman Frank Pinelli, who provided assistance, information, and genuine humanity, somehow holding John’s beautiful spirit aloft in that moment. That was a gift.

The passing of John Tiebout leaves a great chasm in the lives of family members, neighbors, and friends, who loved John’s joy of living. If you knew John and wish to remember him, any act of warmth or kindness would honor his memory and brighten our world, and we would be most grateful.

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David Smith

David Smith, 86, a longtime resident of Princeton, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2024. Born in Palo Alto, CA, David was the second son of Earle Smith and Louise Silver. He was a devoted Son, a wonderful Brother, beloved Uncle, Cousin, and Great Friend, who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

David’s early years were spent enjoying time with his mother, father, and brother in Palo Alto, and for several years in Bisbee AZ, where his father worked as a rancher. Back in Palo Alto he enjoyed working with the family at Smith’s Sport Shop. In his teens, he attended Palo Alto High School, and later went on to attend Stanford University. After graduating he became a Chemical Engineer at FMC Corporation. Throughout his career, he was highly respected for his knowledge, and problem-solving skills, always enjoying working with his fellow engineers.

David enjoyed many hobbies, spending time at the Wooley Camp, flyfishing on the Klamath and Eel rivers. He also enjoyed hunting, riding horses, and working the machinery at the ranch in Paso Robles with his brother Derry. Later he was a tennis enthusiast; he also enjoyed skiing at Dodge Ridge and trout fishing in Pinecrest, where he spent many summers. He enjoyed hiking in the redwoods, educational seminars, and dining with his great friends. He was also an avid traveler.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earle and Louise; stepmothers Dottie and Dorothy; his brother Derry, his sister-in-law, Margaret. David is survived by his nephew Douglas, and cousins Suzy, Kalaine, and Vicky of Switzerland, as well as many dear friends.

David will be dearly missed by all who knew him, but his legacy will live on through his family and friends.

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Robert Kirby

Robert (Bob) Marvin Kirby, died pretty much as he always hoped to: efficiently and at home on January 13, 2025. He just did not quite reach 100 years but got pretty close at 96.

Now we will move forward and build on the smiles and good times he gave us.

Bob was an avid downhill skier, private pilot, sailor, software engineer, businessman, scuba diver, model airplane enthusiast, and kindly person (dogs and small children came right up to him).

He really learned to ski at Dartmouth when guys across the hall said “Hey, do you want to go skiing with us?”

With a week of experience using an illustrated book, he said “Sure!” and learned to keep up with them. They had been in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division during the war.

As a young man, he bought a small plane and learned to fly. As soon as he got his pilot certificate, folks at the airport joked “Now you can fly to the Caribbean.” He did, and on his way back, stopping for fuel, a guy said “You flew to the Caribbean in that!” and sold Bob a better airplane.

Bob was born in Phillipsburg, NJ, to Anna White Kirby and George Stanley Kirby on April 19, 1928 and was named Irwin Marvin Kirby. After several months, the family moved to New York City. Bob graduated from Bronx High School of Science in 1945. In the middle of his senior year, he was recruited into the Army where he served as a quartermaster in the last few months of WWII. While in the Army, he took courses at Clemson University and sometime after the Army discharge changed his first name to Robert. He entered Dartmouth College on the GI Bill as a sophomore in the class of 1950 and pursued a five-year program in engineering and business. After graduation he worked for some large companies, did coursework at Columbia, and then started his own company, Kirby Computers, later called Kirby Microprocessors. In the 1950s and ’60s, this was one of the first businesses that successfully harnessed the power of new-fandangled technology using building-size hardware that now fits on a chip inside a smartphone!

Bob married Dorothy Bierman in 1957 and they divorced in 1979. He partnered for 14 years with Virginia (Ginny) Haase of Edison, NJ, and became a father figure to Ginny‘s daughter Amy.  Bob eventually partnered with Susana Schwarcz for 10 years until her death in 2011 and maintained a warm relationship with her family, including her son, Daniel and daughter Alicia Schwarcz and Alicia’s children, Liam, Tim, and Nicole.

Bob met his second wife (Marian) Brownlee McKee on the tennis courts and their first date was to fly a Cessna out of Princeton Airport.

They married four years later in September 2015. They had 14 adventurous and happy years together, including car camping across our continent and back.

People would often comment that they looked like newlyweds still, only to be told that they were, in fact, newlyweds. Even after 10 years, they could be seen dancing sweetly at a restaurant, town square, or just at home.

Bob was vivacious, athletic, curious, and tenacious, and had many interests: skiing at 91 years old, playing tennis until a month before his death, flying small airplanes, sailing his 34-foot Irwin, scuba diving, and traveling often to ski, to learn more Spanish or French in classes, and to see solar eclipses. He was an inspiration for many people in his life, in various ways. His zest for life, and disregard for the aging process was an attitude that Ann Taylor, Bob’s stepdaughter, and cousin Michelle Poulin aspire to.

Every year he drove to New England for Dartmouth class of 1950 annual reunions and to visit cousin Susan (Sue)  Poulin  and her husband Jim at Sebago Lake in Maine, often seeing their children Michelle Poulin with her son Rado, and Scott Poulin with wife Txiki (a Basque name) and son Ian.

Bob made sure to keep in touch with more distant cousins: Matt Spector and wife Lisa Griffin Vincent, Claire Spector and partner Charles Sepos, Marcia Schertz and her son Peter.

Bob was predeceased by his mother, Anna White Kirby, father George Stanley Kirby, first cousins Frederick W. Barten, Margaretta Barten Hommel, Debra Ann White Jackrel, his first wife Dorothy Bierman, and his partner Susana Schwarcz.

He is survived by his wife (Marian) Brownlee McKee, her two children Ann Dilys Taylor and Ben Taylor, Susana’s daughter Alicia Schwarcz and her three children, Timothy, Liam, and Nicole, and Virginia Haase and her daughter Amy Haase, cousins Susan Poulin and family, and cousin Sanford White with his wife Vicki and their children Lawrence and Jared and grandchildren.

Very satisfactory funeral arrangements were made by Mather-Hodge/Star of David Funeral Home including good coordination with Riverside Cemetery in Saddlebrook, NJ, where Bob was buried alongside his mother Anna White Kirby, her brother J. Gerald White, and J. Gerald’s wife Augusta White.

Funeral and burial were held on January 15, 2025.

Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Herrontown Woods (herrontownwoods.org) or the charity of your choice.

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Marcia F. Shissler

Marcia F. Shissler, of Princeton, NJ, former longtime Haddonfield resident, died on January 28, 2025, at age 84. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Ronald H. Shissler, Jr., and is survived by daughters Suzanne Roth and Janine Shissler; sons-in-law Lawrence Roth and David Bae; and three grandchildren, Ethan Roth, and Gus and Adelaide Bae. She is also survived by her brother, Neil Facchinetti of Storrs, CT.

Marcia grew up in Lansdowne, PA. After graduating from Lansdowne Aldan High School, she went on to Ursinus College, where she met her husband Ronald. She worked for many years as a reading teacher in South Jersey, then returned to school to obtain a J.D. from Temple Law School. During their later years, she and Ronald enjoyed visiting their daughters in California and New York City, spending time with grandchildren, and keeping up with the Eagles, Phillies, and international tennis.

Services for Marcia will be private. In celebration of her life and in honor of her long-time interest in early childhood education, memorial donations may be made to the Center for Family Services, centerffs.org, 500 Pine Street, Camden, NJ 08103, in support of their Mosaic Early Learning programs.