Town Topics

Karl D. Uitti

Karl D. Uitti, 69, of Princeton, died November 11. He was the John Woodhull Professor of Modern Languages and a member of the Princeton University faculty for 44 years.

He joined the Princeton faculty in 1959 after earning his bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California Berkeley. From 1972 to 1978 he served as chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.

A specialist in French medieval literature, Prof. Uitti was known for a broad range of Romance language scholarship and for using modern technologies to enhance the study of medieval languages. He taught French and Italian.

"He had a deep familiarity with the languages, literatures, and history of all the peoples that speak and write in the Romance languages," said Lionel Gossman, the M. Taylor Pyne Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures Emeritus at Princeton. "Though he was thoroughly trained in Romance philology, he was also an expert in late 19th- and early 20th-century literature, and had a lively interest in contemporary Latin American and Latino culture as well."

Prof. Uitti was the author of several books and monographs as well as dozens of articles and reviews. The main focus of his research was in medieval Romance studies, but his published work covered late 19th- and early 20th-century French literature, modern literature, history and theory of literary criticism and analysis, and theory and history of philology. For the past several years, he had been dedicated to developing computer-assisted research and pedagogy in his field by leading the "Charette Project," which involves the computerization of the medieval Lancelot manuscript tradition. The online resources created through this project are frequently used by researchers around the world.

Among his many professional activities, he was the general editor of the Edward C. Armstrong Monographs on Medieval Literature, and a member of the editorial boards of French Forum and Romance Philology. The French government conferred upon him the ranks of Chevalier and Officier of the Palmes Acad=E9miques in honor of his teaching and his work in promoting French culture. He was also a member of the Codrington Club of Oxford, England, and co-president of the Association des Amis de Remy de Gourmont.

In addition to his teaching, Prof. Uitti directed to completion approximately 40 doctoral dissertations. Many of his former students have become faculty members at universities around the world.

He is survived by his wife, Michelle A. Freeman; a daughter, Maria Elizabeth McCabe; two sons, David and Jacob; a sister, Elizabeth Meltzer; and five grandchildren.

The funeral was held on November 16 at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Crawford House, P.O. Box 255, Skillman 08558.

Jeffrey D. Tignor

Jeffrey David Tignor, 35, only son of Robert and Marian Tignor of Princeton, died November 11 at his home in Primos, Pa. The cause of death has not been determined.

Mr. Tignor grew up in Princeton, but because of his father's extended research trips spent time in Nairobi, Kenya, attended Cairo American College, Egypt, and spent a year at Chiswick Middle School near London, U.K.

He graduated from Princeton High School in 1987. He then attended Bard College before earning an associate's degree with honors from Delaware County Community College, majoring in General Studies. At the time of his death, he was enrolled at West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

He was active in several organizations. He earned a black belt in Akido, belonged to a games club and a science fiction book club, and completed a 500-hour course in Shiatsu massage therapy. An avid reader, he also played the piano and guitar.

He attended the Unitarian Universalist Congregation and an earth-based spiritual group. He was an active member of the "Just Friends" social group, dedicated to fellowship and mutual support.

He is survived by his parents and two sisters, Sandra Tignor Selby of Princeton and Laura Cobb of Yardley, Pa.

A remembrance celebration of David's life will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, November 23, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, Cherry Hill Road at Route 206.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to "Just Friends," c/o NAMI Mercer, NJ, Inc., 88 Lakedale Drive, Lawrenceville 08648.

Alice B. Shannon

Alice Bishop Shannon, 90, of Hightstown, died November 15 at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton following a brief illness. She had lived in Princeton from 1953 to 1994 before moving to Meadow Lakes in Hightstown.

Born in Columbus, she was the daughter of the late John V. Bishop and the late Helen B. Garrison.

She attended the Fermata School, Aiken, S.C.

An amateur gardener, she also enjoyed travel, cultural events, and shopping in the Princeton area.

She was married to the late A. Ludlow Kramer, of Old Westbury, Long Island, who died in 1948. Their two children were Alissa K. Sutphin, of Princeton, and the late Audrey K. Spowart. She later remarried Arthur Vernon Shannon of Princeton in 1965, who predeceased her in 1992.

She is survived by her daughter, Ms. Sutphin; a brother, John Bishop, VI, of Gladwyne, Pa.; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 22, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Church, 33 Stockton Street. Interment will be at Princeton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Charles J. Sailliez

Charles J. Sailliez, 82, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., died October 31. He was a Princeton resident before moving to Fort Lauderdale 40 years ago.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy; a son, Charles S.; two daughters, Dorothy and Lynn; a sister, Victoria Casey of Princeton; and two grandchildren.

Funeral services were held November 4 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home North in Pompano Beach, Fla.

Gary C. Lott

Gary Cornelius Lott, 68, of Rocky Hill, died November 10 at home. Before retiring in 2000, he taught for 39 years at Princeton Country Day and Princeton Day School.

Born in Amsterdam, N.Y., he spent his childhood in Canajoharie, N.Y.

He graduated from Middlebury College and then studied set design at Carnegie Tech before obtaining a master's degree in history at Columbia University.

He was chairman of the history department at Princeton Day School for many years, where he was also involved in many aspects of PDS life, from coaching to theater to mock trials. He received several awards in recognition of his teaching excellence. After retiring from PDS, he worked as a substitute teacher at both PDS and South Brunswick High School. He also worked in the PDS summer camps and continued to coach mock trials.

He was an artist, athlete, and gardener. He had two shows of his water colors and clay sculptures in the Princeton area. He spent many summers designing and building additions and renovations to his house, and landscaping his garden. He ran six marathons and was the winner for his age group in two of them.

He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Joyce Greenberg Lott; a son, Carl of Palm Harbor, Fla.; a daughter, Sara Lott of Princeton; three step-children, Elizabeth Greenberg of Silver Spring, Md., Suzanne Greenberg of Long Beach, Calif., and Larry Greenberg of Newtown, Pa; one grandchild and six step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Princeton Day School on Sunday, November 23 at 4 p.m.

The family wishes to establish a permanent memorial in his honor as part of the new Arts Facility at Princeton Day School. Memorial contributions to the Gary Lott Memorial Fund may be made to the PDS Arts Center, P.O. Box 75, The Great Road, Princeton 08542.

Helen Y. Gray

Helen Young Gray, 98, of Fairfax, Va., died November 9. She was formerly a 20-year resident of Princeton.

Born in the American Consulate in Harput, Turkey, she lived all over the world while her father, Evan E. Young, held various State Department posts, including consul general to Turkey and the Dominican Republic.

She was a graduate of Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in library science.

With her husband, Kenneth E. Gray, she moved in retirement to the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts, then to Twining Village in Newtown, Pa. After her husband's death in 2000, she moved to a nursing home in Fairfax, Va., to be closer to her family.

Mrs. Gray was an avid reader who also enjoyed writing a family history, playing bridge, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and entertaining.

She is survived by a son, K. Evan, of Reston, Va.; four granddaughters; and five great-grandchildren.

The funeral service was November 14 at All Saints' Episcopal Church; interment was in the church cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Joseph A. Fluehr Ill Funeral Home, Richboro, Pa.

Freda E. Bowers

Freda Elizabeth Bowers, 97, of TidePointe, S.C., died November 11 at Hilton Head Regional Medical Center. She had been a lifelong Princeton resident before moving to TidePointe in 1998. She was a graduate of Smith College.

A music lover, she was a talented organist and pianist. She played the piano at TidePointe, and in Princeton on many occasions. She was also an avid gardener and nature lover.

Predeceased by her husband, George Bowers, she is survived by a son, Alfred G. of Southport, N.C.; a daughter, Bobbie Bard of Hilton Head Island, S.C. and Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 22 at 10.30 a.m. at Princeton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Providence Presbyterian Church, TidePointe Outreach Ministry, 171 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928.