Town Topics

Cosmo Celli

Cosmo Celli, 76, of Princeton, died October 26 at home.

Born in Isernia, Italy, he lived in Princeton most of his life.

A master craftsman of woodworking, he spent a year in Rome doing work in Vatican City. He was also employed by Bailey Millwork, Trenton, and was responsible for carving the names in the pews at Princeton University Chapel. He also contributed to projects at Pennington and Lawrenceville preparatory schools.

He served in the Italian Army where he deciphered Morse Code.

He was a member of St. Paul's Church.

Son of the late Gaetano and Maria Celli, he is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dora; a daughter, Maria Celli Iacono of Lawrenceville; a son, Robert of New York City; a brother, Marcello; two sisters, Bianca Rossi of Princeton Junction and Ada Celli of Isernia; and three grandchildren.

A Mass of a Christian Burial was celebrated October 28 at St. Paul's Church. Burial was in Princeton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, Tenn. 38101-9929; or to St. Paul's Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton 08542; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Arrangements were by The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.

Alan Ebersole

Alan Ebersole, 20, of Vicksburg, Miss., a Princeton University sophomore and a member of the University's men's swimming and diving team, died October 29 in an accident while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.

Preliminary reports from the Broward County (Fla.) Sheriff's office said the cause was an accidental death by drowning.

Mr. Ebersole had been training with the men's and women's swimming and diving teams in Deerfield Beach, Fla., during the fall semester recess. He and some teammates left their hotel room around 10:30 p.m. for a late night swim in the ocean, sheriff's officials said. The other students, who emerged from the water approximately a half hour later, were unable to locate Mr. Ebersole. Public safety officials in Broward County found his body around 1 a.m. Saturday, approximately three-quarters of a mile from where the group was swimming, they said.

Mr. Ebersole, who lived in Butler College, competed in the 200- and 100-meter breaststroke. He was studying Spanish and politics, among other academic pursuits. In Vicksburg, he was salutatorian of his class of 2003 at St. Aloysius High School, where he was a member of the high school swim team coached by his father.

Princeton University president Shirley M. Tilghman expressed her sincere condolences to Mr. Ebersole's family, friends and teammates.

Survivors include Mr. Ebersole's parents, Bruce Alan and Story Stamm Ebersole, and two younger brothers, John B. and James S., all of Vicksburg.

A vigil for students and other community members will be held at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 7 in the Chancellor Green rotunda. Counselors from University Health Services and religious life deans will be available for students, faculty and staff during the gatherings.

Funeral and memorial service arrangements are pending.

Herbert J. Hall

Herbert J. Hall, 88, of Skillman, died October 20 at home.

Born in Springfield, Mass., he received a B.S. from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and a master's degree from the University of Michigan.

While working on his Ph.D., he was recruited to join the Radiation Lab at MIT. During World War II, he coordinated the development and positioning of radar systems in Europe to assist the Allied war effort. He also developed the triggering mechanism for one of the post-war H-bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.

After the war, he worked as director of research and development at Research-Cottrell, Inc., in the field of high voltage equipment and electrostatic precipitation. In the 1970s he became an independent consultant in the field of industrial pollution control, work he continued until his death.

An internationally recognized expert in the field of air pollution control, he published many papers and held many patents in the field.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; a daughter, Dr. Molly Hall; two sons, Stephen of Bethesda, Md. and John of New York, N.Y.; and seven grandchildren.

Private funeral services and burial were held October 23.

Arrangements were under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.

Anthony Nini

Anthony "Tony" Nini, 76, of Lawrenceville, died October 28 at home.

Born in Princeton, he retired from the Princeton Township Police Department in 1982 after serving 30 years as sergeant and head of the Traffic Bureau, which he helped establish. In the mid-1960s he became the first and only K-9 sergeant hired by Princeton Township to train and handle its K-9 attack dog. He later attended various courses furthering his education in the field of law enforcement.

He coached P.Y.B.A. youth baseball and football in Princeton for several years, fulfilling his desire to be a part of youth athletes' lives.

Son of the late Sebastian and Mariassunta Nini and son-in-law of the late Roger W. Yard, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sylvia (Yard) Nini; a daughter, Lisa Nini of Pennington; a son, Dana of Princeton; a sister, Eleanor Perone of Princeton; and one granddaughter.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated November 1 at St. Paul's Church. A private burial service was held in Harbourton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's School, 215 Nassau Street, Princeton 08542.

Arrangements were by The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.

Raymond J. Rodweller

Raymond J. "Bomber" Rodweller, 77, of Bay Head, formerly of Princeton, died October 28 at Laurelton Village Nursing Home in Brick.

Born in Princeton, he worked for 31 years as a lineman for PSE&G in Trenton before retiring in 1982.

He served in the Korean War with the U.S. Marines.

He was a member of the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad and Princeton Engine Company No. 1. In Bay Head, he was a member of American Legion Post No. 196 and VFW Post No. 4715, both in Point Pleasant Beach.

Predeceased by his wife Hilda in 1997, he is survived by two daughters, Martha Rodweller of Manchester by the Sea, Mass., and Hannah Helbig of Point Pleasant; a brother, William of Princeton; and two grandchildren.

A funeral service was held November 1 at Van Hise & Callagan Funeral Home in Point Pleasant Beach.

Memorial contributions may be made to Point Pleasant Beach First Aid, 611 Laurel Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach 08742; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

David H. Taylor

David Henry Taylor, 89, of Princeton, died October 22 in the Merwick Unit at the University Medical Center at Princeton.

Born in Princeton, he owned and operated David Taylor Hauling.

He attended Tuskegee Institute and Boston Conservatory of Music. He served during World War II in the U.S. Army.

Son of the late Elias Taylor and husband of the late Helen (Redding) Taylor, he is survived by a son, Mark of Skillman, and two grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, November 4, at 11:30 a.m. at Princeton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Princeton Hospice, 208 Bunn Drive, Princeton 08540.

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