Town Topics — Princeton's Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946.
Vol. LXV, No. 31
Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Obituaries

Joan H. H. Orr

Michael M. Hersh

Nicholas M. Rosso

Susannah S. Arnould

Jack Bales

Alessandra Mazzucato


Joan H. H. Orr

Joan Helms Hunter Orr died July 24 at Cathedral Village retirement community in Philadelphia.

The eldest of four daughters of George A. and Anna Moore Helms, of St. David’s, Pa., she was born in New York City. She was a graduate of the Radnor public schools in Wayne, Pa., and attended Colby Junior College in New London, N.H. and Harcum Junior College in Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Throughout her life she was an active community volunteer. She had a career in editing, beginning as a reader for the old Saturday Evening Post in Philadelphia. After she retired as Senior Editor of Peterson’s Guides, in Princeton, she was a freelance copy editor of more than twenty scholarly books for Princeton University Press.

She was a former member of the boards of the Junior Leagues of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Cleveland, and was a current member of the Philadelphia Junior League and the National Society of the Colonial Dames in America.

A lifelong Episcopalian, she was on the Alter Guilds of St. David’s Church in Wayne, Pa., and of Trinity Church in Princeton. At Trinity Church, she was among the second group of women to serve on the formerly all-male vestry, to be a lay reader and chalice bearer, and to be on the board of the Trinity Counseling Service. She was a former member of the Merion Cricket and Philadelphia Cricket Clubs. She enjoyed reading, bridge, music, water coloring, and many sports, including tennis and archery. At the age of thirteen, she was women’s archery champion of Philadelphia.

She was married to Thomas Peirce Hunter in 1945, until his death in 1997. Together they had four children.

She was married a second time to Robert Austin Orr, in 2003, until his death in 2008.

Predeceased by two sisters, Patricia Helms Horsey and Georgeann Helms; she is survived by her four children, Ashley Hunter, Mary White, Thomas Hunter, and Ann Hunter Greene; two stepchildren, Duncan Orr and Cynthia Orr; five grandchildren; seven step grandchildren; and her sister, Carol Helms Lippincott.

A memorial service will be held at St. David’s Church, 763 S. Valley Forge Road, Wayne, Pa. on August 4 at 11 a.m.

A reception will follow the service at Cathedral Village, 600 E. Cathedral Road, Philadelphia, Pa. at 1 p.m.

Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of the following charities: Autism Speaks, St. David’s Church, WHYY, or Episcopal Community Services.


Michael M. Hersh

Michael M. Hersh, 60, died July 30 after a long battle with colon cancer.

Born in Belle Harbor, N.Y., he was raised in Valley Stream, Long Island. He has resided in Pennington since 1978.

He graduated from Florida State University and was hired by Concord Fabrics as a Textile Sales Rep. He had the honor of working 35 years for Robert Kaufman Company and helped expand the business into cotton prints. During those years, the company developed into one of the largest fabric companies in the industry, and he enjoyed being part of the journey. He also represented Andover Fabrics, Henry Glass, Michael Miller Fabrics, and Oriole Textiles.

Predeceased by his parents, Nathan and Pearl Hersh; he is survived by his wife, Alice (Alie) Verbeyst Hersh; his sons, Matthew and Phillip; and his brothers, Markam and Jeffrey.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m. on August 7 at Princeton Marriot at Forrestal Village, 100 College Road East, Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org.

Nicholas M. Rosso

Nicholas M. Rosso, 93, of Princeton, died at the Princeton Care Center on July 26 after a brief illness.

A lifelong resident of Princeton, he retired in 1989 from the Princeton Post Office, where he was employed for 46 years. He was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Princeton. In his leisure time, he enjoyed horse racing.

Predeceased by his wife, Anne Tash Rosso in 1972; he is survived by his son, William Rosso; his daughter, Jacqueline A. Rosso; four grandchildren; and three great granddaughters.

Visitation was held on July 29 at the Kimble Funeral Home, Princeton. Burial followed in the family plot at Princeton Cemetery.

To extend condolences or share memories, please visit TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

Susannah S. Arnould

Susannah Steele Arnould, 91, of Princeton, died July 30 at University Medical Center at Princeton.

Born in Chicago, Ill., she has been a resident of Princeton since 1971.

She was a member of the Unitarian Church of Princeton, and a volunteer for many years for the Red Cross, and Meals on Wheels. She was also an avid Quilter and Knitter.

Daughter of the late Charles Danford and Meda Zarbell Steele; she is survived by her husband of 69 years, Howard Lahman Arnould; her son, Eric Arnould; her daughter, Katie Arnould; and four grandchildren.

The visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on August 3 at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Jack Bales

A memorial service for Jack Bales will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, at Meadow Lakes, 300 Meadow Lakes, East Windsor, N.J.

Alessandra Mazzucato

A memorial service for Alessandra Mazzucato will be held on Saturday, August 6 at 10 a.m. at the Princeton University Chapel. Following the service will be a reception at Dorothea’s House, 120 John Street.






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