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Vol. LXV, No. 28
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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Vol. LXV, No. 28
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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Edison Gregory Ruef, 6, died suddenly on July 9. In his first year, he went through more than many will in a lifetime. He spent his first eight months in the hospital where he was loved by the doctors and nurses at RWJ and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. At birth he weighed two pounds, but quickly proved that he was a fighter.
He loved living in Princeton and greeted everyone he knew with a smile. His family jokingly referred to him as the mayor of Princeton because he had friends all over town: Hulit’s Shoes, Tiger Noodles, or you might have mistaken him for a local UPS man as that was his Halloween costume two years in a row. (Sorry UPS, FedEx won out last year).
He loved going to school. He attended pre-K at Littlebrook, Johnson Park, U-League, and finally at Riverside. His parents were bursting with pride that he would be entering kindergarten this fall at Riverside.
Above all, he loved family, and boy did his family love him. He will be so missed by his Mommy and Daddy, Jennifer and Martin Ruef, and by his brother, Donovan. He took on the role of protector, nurturer, guardian, and teacher of his two-year-old brother, “Baby D”. He loved his Ma and Pa, and they will miss their 6 a.m. wake up call whenever they come to visit. He loved his Opa and going to visit “Opa’s cabin” in Austria. He will be missed by his Uncle David, Aunt Katy, Uncle Michael, Aunt Monika and Uncle Tyson, as well as his cousins, Nye, Ruby, Elyse, and Mina. He will also be missed by his “friends”: Sock Monkey, Froggy, and Dinky bear.
There are so many people who played a huge part in his life: therapists, teachers, Nassau pediatrics (a special thank you to Dr. Mandelbaum and Dr. Dorfman), and the list goes on. All along it seemed that they were teaching him, but Edison was doing some teaching of his own. He never complained, was never without a smile, always had something kind and funny to say, and simply loved life. For him, every day was “The best day ever!”
The family will have a service/visitation in their backyard on Wednesday, July 13 at noon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation, Lockbox #1352, P.O. Box 8500, Philadelphia, Pa. 19178.
Eleftherios “Danny” Fikaris, 66, of Princeton Junction, died July 12 at home.
He was the owner of Danny’s Painting, Zorba’s Grill, and Zorba’s Brother Restaurant in Princeton.
Born in Chios, Greece, he immigrated to the United States in 1970. Before moving to the U.S. he graduated from culinary school in Chios, Greece, and spent 10 years traveling the world as a merchant seaman.
He was a member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Hamilton and the Order of Ahepa.
The son of the late Ioannis and Aphrodite Economou Fikaris; and two late brothers named George Fikaris; he is survived by his wife of 33 years, Anne Barberides Fikaris; his four daughters, Elena, Joanna, and Diana Fikaris, and Aphrodite Antinoro; three brothers, Dimitrios Fikaris, Nicholas Fikaris, and Panayiotis Fikaris; and two sisters, Sophia Fiste and Patra Kalamakis.
He left a legacy of strength, courage, and unwavering devotion to his family.
Greek Orthodox funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, Klockner Road, Hamilton.
Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton Avenue, Hamilton.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, July 15, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, July 16 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Hamilton Brenna-Cellini Funeral Home, 2365 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton.
Trisaghion services will be held July 15 at 8 p.m. at the funeral home, with Father Bill Gikas officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Fifth District Ahepa Cancer Foundation, 22 Pine Street, Morristown, N.J. 07965; or to PUMC Kwame Joyce Fund, 7 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, N.J. 08540.
Gerlinde Ord, 53, died July 3 at her home after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Bielefeld, Germany, in 1958, she graduated from the University of Muenster, Germany, with a degree in English. In 1984 she moved to New Jersey.
Passionate about languages, she started a private tutoring service for those interested in learning German. In 2001, she began what she described as her “dream job”, working as an Assistant Professor of German at Rider University’s Westminster Choir College, teaching students the necessary language to fully appreciate and master many of classical music’s famous works.
She enjoyed so much of what the Princeton area has to offer, including frequenting a great variety of shows at McCarter Theatre and participating in the adult volleyball league for many years. She established a wide and diverse circle of friends, which was a true reflection of her interest in all that life has to offer. She exuded strength and vitality, and had a ready laugh, helping to remind us all to enjoy the good times when we can.
Before leaving Germany, she met Nick Ord, originally from Great Britain. They married in 1984. She became a U.S. citizen in 1984.
She is survived by her husband, Nick; her daughter, Helena; and her sister, Susanne.
Services are private. A memorial will be held at a time and place to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Westminster Choir College, 101 Walnut Lane, Princeton, N.J. 08540, in support of the Gerlinde Ord German Book Award. Checks may be made payable to “Westminster of Rider University” with Gerlinde Ord Book Award on the memo line. Call Meaghan Crawford at 896-5000 extension 7508 for questions.
Please visit TheKimbleFuneralHome.com to extend condolences or share memories in the guest book.
Peggy Cross, 95, died June 30 at her home in North Branford, Conn.
She grew up in Bryn Mawr, Pa., and graduated from Hollins College in 1939, the same year she married her husband, Dr. Richard (“Dick”) Cross. Together they moved to Princeton in 1965 so he could help start Rutgers Medical School (now UMDNJ). After his death in 2003, she moved from their home on Elm Road to North Branford to be closer to two of her children.
She had a longtime love of geology and soon after moving to Princeton, she began to volunteer at the Geology Department at Princeton University every morning. After many years, they insisted on paying her but when forced to retire at age 70, she went back to volunteering. She was also a committed volunteer at the Nearly New Shop for decades and has a scholarship at Princeton Day School in her name.
Predeceased by her husband, Dick; and her daughter, Lee Cross, who died in 1999; she is survived by four children, Jim Cross, Alan Cross, Anne Cross, and Jane Cross; 10 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in North Branford on July 15.
For more information, contact Jane at (413) 552-6380. Donations may be made to Planned Parenthood.
June M. Kishi, 88, formerly of Princeton, died June 3 at Morristown Medical Center.
Born in Napa, California on November 12, 1922 to Frank J. and Yone Matsuda, she grew up in San Francisco.
In 1942, during her second year at San Francisco Junior College, she and her family were relocated to an internment camp with 120,000 other residents of Japanese ancestry under an executive order by President Roosevelt. After being confined for one and a half years in Topaz, Utah, she was released and relocated to New York City where she attended McDowell School of Design. She worked for fashion designer, Kiviette, for many years.
She married Hajime James Kishi in 1949 and moved to Huntington Station, N.Y., then to Princeton for 44 years until her final move to Fellowship Village in 2005.
Predeceased by her brother, Ken Matsuda; she is survived by her husband of 62 years; her son, Ken Kishi; two daughters, Karen Powers and Donna Abbott; and four grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service at 2 p.m. on July 23 at Fellowship Village, 8000 Fellowship Road, Basking Ridge, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to The New York Buddhist Church, 331 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10025-3421.