October 11, 2023

Obituaries 10/11/2023

Rabbi Eric B. Wisnia

Rabbi Eric B. Wisnia passed away on Friday, September 29, 2023.

He was the devoted husband of Judith Glassburg Wisnia for 52 years, and is survived by his children, Sara and Avi Wisnia; siblings Karen Wisnia (Kirk Wattles), Jana Dickstein (I. Lee Dickstein), Michael Wisnia (Misa Wisnia), Michele Glassburg (Eldred Bullard), and Sandra Sloane (Bruce Solomon). He was also the father of the late Dov Benjamin Wisnia. He is remembered and loved by all of his many family members and countless friends, colleagues, and congregants.

Eric was born on November 6, 1949 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Cantor David and Dr. Hope Wisnia, and was raised in Levittown, PA. He raised his own family in East Windsor, NJ, and later resided in Yardley and Dresher, PA.

Rabbi Wisnia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Thought from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1970. He received a Master of Hebrew Letters and was ordained at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH, in May 1974. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1999. He served as assistant Rabbi at Congregation Shomer Emunim in Toledo, OH, from 1974 to 1977 before joining Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction, NJ. Rabbi Wisnia served Congregation Beth Chaim as Senior Rabbi from June 1977 until his retirement in February 2019, when he was named Rabbi Emeritus.

Rabbi Wisnia will be remembered for his exuberance, intelligence, guidance, and humor. He was a prominent religious and community leader who cared deeply about Judaism, Israel, ethics, and education. Over his four decades of leadership at Congregation Beth Chaim, he helped the synagogue grow from 160 to 600 families with comparable growth in the Preschool to 12th-grade religious school. During his tenure, the physical structure of the synagogue was rebuilt and expanded twice. A social action program, a cantor, and a volunteer congregational choir were added to enhance the ritual experience. He taught many classes at Beth Chaim, for both students and adults, while also officiating well over 4,000 important life cycle events for families all over the country. With his colleagues in the area, he organized and instituted many initiatives and programs that helped nurture a thriving Jewish community and fostered deep interfaith connections. His strong vocal support for the building of the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton in West Windsor led the mosque to honor him with a Community Service Award in December 2014. He operated with the philosophy that “we are all brothers and sisters, and when any of our rights are diminished, all of our rights are diminished.”

During his rabbinic career, Rabbi Wisnia served as President of the Mercer County Board of Rabbis, President of the New Jersey Association of Reform Rabbis, President of the Shore Area Board of Rabbis, and President of the Hightstown Area Ministerium. At the Medical Center at Princeton, he was on the Institutional Review Board for Medical Ethics, was a longtime Chaplaincy Committee member, and was past Chair of the Committee on Religious Ministries. He served the Jewish Committee on Scouting for the Central New Jersey Council Boy Scouts of America. He was also a past chairman of the Board of Directors of the Family Service Agency of Princeton and served on the Board of The National Brain Tumor Association. At the time of his passing, he was working on a book of Jewish Philosophy.

Rabbi Wisnia’s family is grateful that he was able to be a tissue donor and give the gift of life to others.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, October 1, at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia.

Rabbi Wisnia had many famous sayings, but one he loved to espouse the most was this: “Prayers don’t change things. Prayers change people, and people change things.” He will be dearly missed by the many souls he brought comfort to in times of need and by everyone he made feel welcome with open arms and a joke for every occasion. His teachings, his words of wisdom, and his puns will live on in all of the lives he touched.

Donations in Rabbi Wisnia’s memory can be made to the National Brain Tumor Society – please designate those donations to “Team Dov” (https://tinyurl.com/TeamDov2023).

For condolences, please visit OrlandsMemorialChapel.com/rabbi-eric-wisnia.

Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel.

———

Charles S. Ganoe

Charles S. Ganoe, a retired banker and consultant, passed away in Princeton Hospital at age 94 on October 3, 2023. The cause of his death was heart failure according to his family. 

Born in Abington, PA, to Robert L. Ganoe and Leonette Rehfuss Ganoe, Charlie grew up in Philadelphia attending William Penn Charter School for 12 years, graduating from Princeton University and receiving an MBA from the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1952, Charlie joined the Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company (later known as Fidelity Bank) as a trainee, rising to Senior Executive Vice President and Director of the bank and its holding company. During much of this period, Charlie managed the bank’s fast growing International Department, opening an international banking office in New York and establishing 10 offices and subsidiaries overseas. During this time, he also served as President of the Washington-based trade association for international banking, Bankers Association for Foreign Trade, was on the Board of the Export-Import Bank and was an informal advisor on international finance to several government agencies.

Charlie moved to Princeton in 1979 to take senior executive positions successively with The New York Bank for Savings, American Express International Bank, and The First American Bank of New York. In 1995, he opened his own consulting office, Ganoe Associates, in Princeton which he maintained until 2019 providing marketing advice for investment managers and, in later years, clubs and associations.

During the course of his career, Charlie was an officer and/or a board member of a number of companies and organizations. This included President of the Wharton Graduate School Alumni Association, the Princeton University Class of 1951, the Philadelphia Council for International Visitors, the Philadelphia Chapter of the Robert Morris Associates (now Risk Management Associates), and Princeton’s Constitution Hill Property Association. He also was Secretary Treasurer of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Philadelphia Committee on Foreign Relations.

Charlie enjoyed writing. He was co-author of two books on international banking, won several awards for the dozens of pieces written for professional journals, and wrote a number of articles for general U.S. and European publications ranging from The New York Times to the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

Charlie traveled to Europe more than 100 times and flew around the world four times. All told, he visited more than 100 countries in all parts of the world. In addition to business, he was an adventurous personal traveler; he was one of the first Americans to visit the Soviet Union after the death of Stalin, and his travels in the recent years prior to his death took him to such places as Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Tibet, and North Korea. He and his wife loved good food and they always tried to eat at the top restaurants in the countries they visited. They were proud that, at one point in time, they had eaten at every Michelin 3-star restaurant in New York, London, Paris, and the Riviera, as well as the Spanish El Bulli, long rated the No. 1 restaurant in the world.

Captain of his high school baseball team, Charlie was an avid sports follower, especially Princeton football and basketball. He took up road racing at age 50; by the time he ran his final 10k race at age 76, he had competed in over 500 races including 12 marathons in the U.S. and Europe and over 40 half-marathons.

Charlie was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations for more than 45 years. He was also a member of the Delta Psi Fraternity (St. Anthony Hall), the Ausable Club, Princeton Club of New York, Merion Cricket Club, Nassau Club, and the Old Guard of Princeton. He and his family own a cottage on the grounds of the Ausable Club in the high peaks region of the Adirondacks where he spent his summer vacations and occasional holiday weekends in the winter. He and his wife also regularly vacationed in St. Barths in January.

Charlie was predeceased in 2009 by his wife, the former Frances-Sue “Susie” Williams, a prize-winning gardener who was the daughter of R. Norris Williams II, a survivor of the Titanic and winner of two U.S. singles titles, five U.S. doubles, one Wimbledon doubles, and one Olympic doubles title. He is survived by two daughters, Hemsley Ganoe Hughes (James) of NYC and Leyden, MA, and Alice Ganoe of Larchmont, NY, plus five grandchildren: William, Cate, Kurt, James, and John.

Burial is strictly private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Princeton University Class of 1951 Annual Giving, PO Box 5357, Princeton, NJ 08543.

———

Nancy “Hilary” Hays

Nancy “Hilary” Hays, of Princeton, NJ, and Brewster, MA, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2023, in Princeton surrounded by her family. Hilary, originally from East Liverpool, OH, settled in Princeton in 1971 after residing in Cambridge, MA.  She navigated the challenges of single motherhood, raising four teenagers as she pursued her education, earning both an MSW and a PhD in social work while working full-time. 

Hilary’s commitment to helping others led her to work at the Rutgers Community Mental Health Center and later at the Counseling Center at Princeton University. Her dedication to her field continued even after her retirement from Princeton, as she maintained a private practice until 2022. Along the way, she made many friends who appreciated her love, generosity, and kindness, and knew that a friendship with her was a friendship for life.

In 1983, Hilary brought her vision to life with the design and construction of her dream house in Princeton.  Her Master Gardener experience was put to work as she passionately created many beautiful gardens in her yard and people often asked her advice for their gardens.  With her gardening skills, she created many beautiful flower arrangements and she was asked to do the flower arrangements for weddings.

She loved the outdoors and was an avid walker as well as a runner. She ran the Marine Corp Marathon and was a member of the Carnegie Lake Crew team.  She also was an enthusiastic practitioner of yoga, sharing sessions with her “mat mates.”

Later in life Hilary resumed her piano talent from her childhood by taking up piano lessons.  She cherished the time spent with her family and friends at her home in Cape Cod with many celebrations and games on the beach.  She had a deep love for the dogs she had over the years that kept her both active and in good company.

In 1996, Hilary married her longtime friend, Tony Cline, and together, they created a life filled with adventures, entertaining, and world travels until he passed in 2016.

Hilary is survived by her children Robert “Bob” Ogilvie of Princeton, William “Bill” Ogilvie (Alice) of Austin, TX, Bradley Ogilvie (Qianmo) of Winfield, IL, and Beth Ogilvie-Freda (Mark) of Princeton; her step-children Lynn Cline (Kyle) of Santa Fe, NM, and Hugh Cline (Richard) of Long Beach, CA; and her beloved grandchildren, Rebecca Freda and Alex Freda. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary Ann Davidson and Sue Hays, nieces, and her dear family friend, Ellyn Geller.

A memorial service to celebrate Hilary’s life will be held on a date to be announced.

Contributions in her honor may be made to Princeton Senior Resource Center (101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton, NJ 08540) and SAVE (1010 Route 601 Skillman, NJ 08558).

October 4, 2023

Obituaries 10/3/2023

Eleanor (Pellichero) Aanonsen

Eleanor Aanonsen, 86, of Griggstown, passed away peacefully at home on September 27, 2023, after a long illness.

She was born on November 10, 1936, in New York, NY, and was a lifelong resident of Franklin Township. Eleanor attended Franklin Township public schools, and graduated from Princeton High School in 1954.

While raising her family, she worked for Boekhout Bus Service, driving a school bus throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

In her later years, she enjoyed social activities at the Sunset Hill “Country Club,” cocktails and conversation with friends, and sharing stories with her family.

She was predeceased by her parents Bert and Ethel Pellichero, brother Arthur, daughter Diane Kaarstad, and beloved husband Arnie (Arnold). She is survived by son Arthur Kaarstad and his wife Jennetta of San Antonio, TX; favorite uncle John Pellichero of Milltown, NJ; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge the many family members, neighbors, and church members that assisted in Eleanor’s care over the last many months.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 28, 10 a.m., at the Bunker Hill Lutheran Church. A short graveside service will follow at the Griggstown Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of the M.J. Murphy Funeral Home, Monmouth Junction, NJ.

September 27, 2023

Obituaries 9/27

Philip Harry Gallo

Philip Harry Gallo, a resident of the Princeton area for more than 40 years, died September 19, 2023 after living with dementia for several years. He was 93.

A loving father and grandfather, Phil was a sports car enthusiast, sailor, and avid sports fan, proud of his Air Force service and work at the forefront of the computer industry from the 1960s into the 1990s. He loved building and fixing things, from renovating houses to working on musical
instruments.

Born in Longview, Wash., to Domnick and Arline [Fancher] Gallo on November 22, 1929, Phil grew up in West Linn, Ore., and graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Ore., before joining the Air Force where he was trained as a navigator and bombardier.

In the 1950s, he was heavily involved in sportscar rallies, developing a fondness for MGs, Austin-Healeys, and Porsches. He met his future wife, Jean Soracy, in New Jersey, and they lived in Morristown, Concord, Mass., Seattle, Chatsworth, Calif., Princeton, and London, raising their three children. He lost Jean to cancer in 1985.

Soon after moving to Princeton in 1976, he became a regular at New York Jets football games and Princeton Tigers basketball games. He was also a longtime fan of the UCLA Bruins and any team with Bill Walton in the lineup. 

While living in Chatsworth and Princeton, he was active in community organizations, and environmental and veterans’ groups. Princeton Elks Lodge named him Man of the Year in 2014.

After marrying Gale De Wispelaere in 1991 and retiring in 1992, he filled his days investing in the stock market. He became a sailor, boating in the waters around Barnegat Bay, N.J., as well as the Caribbean. Well-traveled in the U.S., England and Europe, he became a regular on cruise ships later in life.

He also had a longtime interest in food and loved a Beefeater martini followed by a good bottle of wine; he was as comfortable in fine dining establishments in New York City, California, and Europe as he was at his favorite local joint, the Tiger’s Tale.  

Phil spent his 90th birthday with friends and family at Windrows, where he resided from 2015 until 2022 before moving to Waterstone memory care in Stamford, Conn. 

He is survived by his three children and their spouses: Philip Jr. and Betsy Bergman of Stamford, Conn., Paul and Lori Gallo of Brooklin, Maine, and Leslie and Myrton Graham of Springfield, Vt.; five grandchildren and their families — Monica Gallo of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Laura Gallo of Phoenix, Ariz., Andrew and Stephanie Graham of Lake Worth, Fla., Derek and Lila Graham of Springfield, Vt., and Erin and Ryan Hobson of Waterboro, Maine — plus two great-grandchildren, Dominic Gallo and Claire Graham, and a special niece, Susan Best of Redondo Beach, Calif. He was predeceased by his wives, Jean Gallo (1928-1985) and Gale Gallo (1941-2014).

———

Victor W. Laurie

Victor W. Laurie, 88, died on September 13, 2023. He was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on June 1, 1935, son of Victor H. Laurie and Kathleen Rice Laurie.

In 1950, at age 15, he entered the University of South Carolina in Columbia and graduated with a A.B. in  mathematics in 1953 and a B.S. in chemistry in 1954. During his time at the University of South Carolina, he received a number of awards and honors, including election to Phi Beta Kappa and selection for the Outstanding Senior Award. He was also active in several service organizations and served as president of the social fraternity Phi Kappa Sigma.

As a National Science Foundation Fellow, he studied at Harvard University and obtained his Ph.D. in physical chemistry for his research in the molecular spectroscopy group. For two years following, he joined the molecular spectroscopy laboratory at the National Bureau of Standards as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow. In 1960, he joined the faculty of the chemistry department at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, as an assistant professor. In 1966, he went to the chemistry department of Princeton University in Princeton, NJ, as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 1971.

Through his research, he made numerous contributions to the use of spectroscopy to determine molecular structure and pioneered the use of microwave spectroscopy to make molecular
polarizability measurements.

He was a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He was also an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow in 1963-1967 and a John Simon Guggenhelm Fellow in 1971. He served terms as an editor for the Annual Review of Physical Chemistry and for the Journal of Chemical Physics.

In his later years, he was very active in computer education. He wrote many articles aimed at helping the average person to be a safer and more knowledgeable user of personal computers. He also created and ran several well-known websites containing his articles. For five years he wrote a column with computer tips at the very popular website called Gizmo’s Freeware. He was particularly interested in helping senior citizens make better use of computers. His many lectures to senior citizen groups were very popular and for some years he was a volunteer teacher of computer courses at a local senior center. His contributions to computer education for senior citizens received citations from the national organization SeniorNet and from the local government.

He was a generous contributor to numerous charities and endowed a variety of fellowships in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he served on the Board of Visitors for several years. He was designated Alumnus of the Month in March 2006.

He is survived by his wife of many years, Donna Komar Laurie, who is a former New York Times editor. He is also survived by a son William Laurie and a daughter Kathleen Kish from a previous marriage, a step-daughter Margaret Spicer, a step-son Charles Stempler, numerous grandchildren, step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren, a half-sister Betsy Sivec, and a nephew August Sivec.

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

———

Theodore L. Delbo

Theodore L. Delbo, 87, of Skillman passed away September 18 at the University Medical Center at Princeton. Born in Kulpmont, PA, he retired from the New Jersey State Museum where he was a carpenter for over 30 years. He was a member of St. Alphonsus RC Church in Hopewell where he was an usher, a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Hopewell Counsel 7103, and served in the Air Force.

Son of the late Theodore and Catherine Nemeth Delbo, husband of the late Joyce Delbo, he is survived by his children, Theodore W (Genevieve) Delbo, Anita (Mike) Christiansen, Joseph Delbo, and Lori Polakowski; two sisters, Valerie Slack and Eleanor Stout; grandchildren, Joseph (Ady) Delbo, Jaclyn Christiansen, Michaela Delbo, Rachael Delbo; and great-grandchildren, Holly Pyle and Lilly Pyle.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 27, 11 a.m. at St. Alphonsus RC Church, Hopewell.  The burial will be on Thursday at Kulpmont, PA. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests Mass Cards from St. Alphonsus Church (609) 466-0332 or the Knights of Columbus Hopewell Counsel 7103, PO Box 304, Hopewell, NJ 08525. Condolences are welcome at wilsonapple.com.

———

John Beidler

John Beidler, 78, died on August 25, 2023, a resident of Chapel Hill, NC. He was born in Biloxi, MS, and was the son of Henry and Pauline (Yerger) Beidler.

Prior to moving to Chapel Hill in 2022, John lived in Princeton for 65 years, attending Princeton Middle School, Princeton High School, and Princeton University, the latter of which he graduated from in 1976. While at Princeton, John was a member of the Ivy Club and a coxswain on the freshman crew team.

Soon after graduation, John enlisted in the Army for three years and rose in rank to First Lieutenant. He spent 12 months in Vietnam during which he was awarded various medals.

Upon leaving the Army, John attended Rutgers Law School earning his JD degree in 1973. He began his legal career as an associate with Smith Stratton and became a partner in the firm in 1978. While at the firm, John defended Johnson and Johnson on its N.J. products liability cases and in 1983, at the request of the General Counsel of J&J, he joined the legal department, where he was employed until his retirement.

John was a devoted husband to his wife, Marsha Wolf Beidler, whom he married in 1974; father to his two children, Dora and Evan, whom John and Marsha adopted from Bulgaria when the children were ages 5 and 3 respectively; and brother/brother-in-law to his sisters, Mary Hovik (Nils) and Susan Tabler (Brian), and Marsha’s siblings, Andrea Miller (Norm), Agnes Ross (Mike), and George Chillag (Diane). He also enjoyed being with his numerous nieces and nephew, Eliana Perrin, Suzanne Colman, Dana Gaines, Amy Chillag, and Thomas Ross.

John was a voluminous reader, reading mostly novels in his youth and texts on philosophy, religion, and politics in his adult years. He enjoyed gardening and bridge, but mostly he will be best remembered as the funniest person in the room, and we will all miss the laughter he brought to our lives.

John’s ashes will be interred in Princeton Cemetery and in Temple Judea Cemetery in Chapel Hill, NC. A gathering of friends and family will be held in both Princeton and Chapel Hill in the future.

September 20, 2023

Obituaries 9/20/2023

Nancy Swinski Deffeyes

Nancy Swinski Deffeyes, 86, of Princeton passed away on September 16, 2023, at Windsor Heathcare, Merwick in Plainsboro.

She was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1937. Nancy attended Holyoke High School, Class of 1955, and Smith College, Class of 1959. After college she moved to Houston, Texas, and worked at Shell Oil in the research library. At Shell Oil she met Kenneth Deffeyes, and they were married in 1962. Nancy and Kenneth lived briefly in St Paul, Minnesota, and Corvallis, Oregon, before settling in Princeton, New Jersey in 1967. Nancy worked as a Librarian at Westminster Choir College in Princeton until her retirement in 2018. In retirement she worked part-time at Orchard Farm Organics in Princeton.

Nancy loved the outdoors, gardening, mystery novels, fine art, and classical music.

Predeceased by her husband Kenneth Deffeyes, parents Walter and Lena (Dulkis) Swinski, and sister Kathryn Swinski.

Nancy is survived by a sister Joan (Swinski) Kaeble, son Stephen Deffeyes, daughter Sarah (Deffeyes) Domingo, nephew (godson) Christopher Kaeble, niece Gretchen (Kaeble) Hazlett, granddaughter Emma Domingo, and grandson Michael Domingo.

A gathering remembering Nancy will be held at Orchard Farm Organics at 1052 Cherry Hill Rd in Princeton, on Saturday October 14, at 2 p.m.

Nancy’s ashes are to be scattered in the Pardee Memorial Garden, Princeton Cemetery, and Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park.

Please consider making a donation in Nancy’s memory to Princeton Tigers Women’s Basketball.

———

Joseph J. Kohn

Joseph J. Kohn, professor emeritus of mathematics at Princeton University, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2023, in Princeton. Joe was born in Prague, in the former Czechoslovakia, on May 18, 1932, the only child to architect Otto Kohn and Ema (Schwarz) Kohn. From early childhood it was clear that there was something special about Joe. His mother worried that he was too cerebral and often tried to get him outside and away from his books and figures.

In 1939, after the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, Joe and 20-odd members of his family left for Ecuador aboard the Orbita, leaving behind the world they knew. The family lived in Quito and then Cuenca. In Ecuador, as news from Europe darkened, Joe’s father, a successful architect in Prague, struggled to find the strength and means to rebuild his architectural practice. In 1945, Joe and his immediate family emigrated again, this time to New York City, where his father and mother set up a furniture design business and Joe attended Brooklyn Technical High School (’50). To encourage integration into American society, new immigrants at the time were encouraged to join the Boy Scouts. Joe joined up, and although never the sporting type, he managed to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.   

Joe went on to study at MIT (’53) and then at Princeton University, where, under the tutelage of Donald Spencer, he earned his PhD in 1956. Joe then was a professor at Brandeis University for close to a decade before returning to Princeton in 1968 as tenured professor at Princeton University. He remained in the Princeton math department, serving three terms as Chair, until his retirement in 2008. Over the course of a long and distinguished career, he also was a visiting professor at many other universities, including Harvard University, the University of Mexico, the University of Buenos Aires, the University of Florence, the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques in Paris, and the Charles University in Prague. In 1990 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bologna.

Joe was a major figure in modern mathematical analysis, whose groundbreaking work on the interaction between partial differential equations and functions of several complex variables has dominated that area of mathematical research for over a half century. Joe was a devoted mentor to 16 PhD students at Princeton and at Brandeis and countless other graduate students and junior scholars.

Joe won the Steele Prize of the American Mathematical Society in 1979 and the Balzano Medal from the Czechoslovak Mathematics and Physics Society in 1990, and the Stefan Bergman Prize in analysis from the American Mathematical Society in 2004. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1966 and to the National Academy of Science in 1988. He served as editor of the Transactions of the American Mathematical Society and the Annals of Mathematics, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Mathematical Society and the Board of the Mathematical Sciences of the National Academy of Science.

In 1966 Joe married Anna Rosa Di Capua, of Quito, Ecuador. The Di Capua and the Kohn families had lived on the same street in Quito during the war and Joe’s first cousins (many of whom remained in Quito) arranged for the two to meet on one of Joe’s frequent visits to Ecuador.  It was evident to whomever met them that Joe and Anna Rosa shared a fundamental openness, kindness and a love for language, stories, food, art, music, and history. 

Joe was a devoted husband, father, and father-in-law (Lisa Stevenson), and nothing gave him more pleasure than to descend from his mathematical reveries on the third floor of their house on Sturges Way to tease, teach, and, most of all simply, to be near his three children — Eduardo, Emma, and Alicia. Years later he would do the same things with his two grandchildren, Benjamin and Milo. Together, the Kohn family liked to play chess, do puzzles, tell Jewish jokes and riddles, paint and — until the very end — to play Bananagrams. It’s no wonder that for over 50 years Joe and Anna Rosa’s Princeton home was a gathering place for mathematicians, family, friends, and anyone who liked good conversation about history, politics, or literature. 

Donations in memory of Joseph J. Kohn can be made to HIAS, the National Museum of Mathematics, and the Princeton Jewish Center.

September 13, 2023

Obituaries 9/13/2023

Setsuko Faith Yim

Setsuko Faith Yim of Princeton, NJ, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2023, at age 90.

Faith is survived by her four children and their spouses: Helene, Mark (Peter Hare), David (Linda Yim), and Leila (Richard Surratt); and five grandchildren: Leah, Michael, and Alex Surratt; Michael Yim; and Emi Hare-Yim. She is predeceased by her husband Michael, a research scientist at RCA’s David Sarnoff Research Center. She was a resident of Princeton for 60 years until her move to Atria Senior Living in Riverdale, NY, in March 2023.

Faith was born in Raymond, Alberta (Canada), on February 10, 1933, to Ishimatsu and Mitsue Sugimoto, who had emigrated from Nagoya, Japan. Growing up on her parents’ wheat farm, she attended the Bonnie View School, a one-room schoolhouse, and Raymond High School. It was at the University of Washington (Seattle) where she met her future husband, Woongsoon Michael Yim, graduating with a bachelor of fine arts degree. She later obtained a master of library science degree from Simmons College (Boston) and did graduate work in art history at Princeton University.

Faith worked as an illustrator in Boston and then as a substitute teacher in the Princeton Regional School system while raising her children. She returned to work full time at the Mercer County Library System in 1987, becoming head children’s librarian at the West Windsor branch before retiring in 2008. She spearheaded and commissioned the library’s large “Rain Forest Mural” by Ilya Spirin and was fond of creating programs that responded to the changing demographics of the region, including Chinese New Year and Diwali. Faith spoke with pride on seeing children from her reading and arts programs move on to high school and college; years later, they and their parents would see her around town and thank her. 

Faith enjoyed traveling, including several trips to Japan, Korea, and Canada. She was a lifelong lover of animals, especially her many cats over the years. She enjoyed printmaking and photography and enthusiastically used Facebook to connect with people from her past and present. Above all, Faith loved participating and sharing in the lives of her grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, at the Present Day Club, 72 Stockton Street, Princeton. All who knew Faith and would like to gather to remember her are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations by check to The Friends of the West Windsor Library, 333 N. Post Road, Princeton Junction, NJ, 08550 (memo line: Faith Yim Celebration) are kindly requested.

———

Janet Townsend

Longtime Princeton resident Janet Townsend passed away on September 7, 2023 with her three daughters by her side. Janet was born to Celestia (nee Davidson) and Edward R. Linner on September 13, 1932 in St. Paul, Minnesota, where her father was completing a PhD in Chemistry. The family moved to Poughkeepsie, NY, in 1935 when her father took a professorship at Vassar College. An only child, Janet grew up on the Vassar campus with a group of faculty children who enjoyed a carefree, unstructured childhood and remained close friends throughout their lives.

Janet graduated from Vassar College in 1954 with a B.A. in Art History and spent the following year studying in Marburg, Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship. On the boat over she met her future husband and fellow Fulbright Scholar, Charles Townsend. After completing her studies, she moved to Hawaii to take a job as a docent at the Honolulu Art Museum. In 1957 she and Charlie married and moved to Nuremberg, Germany, where Charlie completed his U.S. Army service and their first daughter Erica (1958) was born.

The young couple then settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Charlie earned a PhD in Slavic Languages and Linguistics at Harvard. They welcomed two more daughters, Sylvia (1961) and Louise (1964), and in 1966 moved to Princeton, where Charlie joined the faculty as a professor of Slavic Languages. In 1968 and again in 1971 the family spent a year in Prague, in what was then Czechoslovakia, where Janet skillfully navigated life behind the Iron Curtain, managing family life and their young daughters’ education and activities. Janet and Charlie developed a love of Czech culture, made many Czech friends, and continued to visit their adopted country for decades afterwards.

Over the years Janet welcomed the families of many visiting scholars and helped them integrate into the Princeton community. She was a warm and supportive presence in the lives of Charlie’s many graduate students. Janet also worked at the Princeton Art Association and the Princeton Packet and was an active and hands-on volunteer at Planned Parenthood, the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank in Trenton, and at Youth Employment
Services.

Janet loved playing tennis and was a daily runner for many years. She also enjoyed playing bridge and Scrabble, attending concerts and plays, going to museums, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was an avid lifelong reader whose friends admired the depth and breadth of her knowledge of literature. She also loved to travel, and she and Charlie enjoyed many trips throughout the U.S. and Europe as well as to Asia, Africa, and South America.

Janet provided endless support and love to her husband, her daughters, and their families. She was predeceased by her husband and is survived by her daughters Erica Appel (Charles), Sylvia Townsend (Charles Cowens), and Louise Townsend (Ben Schmidt). She leaves behind her five beloved grandchildren, Rose Cowens (Paul Koutsoukis), Alice Cowens, Justine and Stephen Appel, and Isabel Schmidt, and her nephews Ross Adler (Pam) and James Townsend (Jenny), and nieces Sara Poumerol (Gilles) and Laura McWright (Glen), and their children. She especially cherished her two great-grandsons, Alexandros and Nikolaus Koutsoukis.

A memorial service will be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mercer Street Friends, the ASPCA, Planned Parenthood, or another nonprofit of your choice.

———

Tomoko Shimura

Tomoko Shimura, 63, of New York, NY, died on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 following complications arising from a stroke. Tomoko was born on May 1, 1960 in Japan. She grew up in Princeton, NJ, as the elder of two children and graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1982.

For many years, Tomoko worked as an editor at Abaris Books where her focus was on Western European art history. In 2008, she assisted her father, Goro, in editing and producing all photographic images for his book on her parents’ Japanese porcelain collection, The Story of Imari.

In the summers, Tomoko enjoyed spending time with her family at their mountain home in Nagano, Japan. She will be remembered as a great music lover and delighted in the many opportunities to attend the Metropolitan Opera with friends and family enjoying performances by famed singers such as Placido Domingo.

Tomoko is survived by her brother, Haru. She was predeceased by her parents, Goro and Chikako. A memorial gathering to celebrate Tomoko’s life will be held at a future date.

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Anthony D. Nini II

Anthony D. Nini II, age 71, passed away peacefully Monday morning, September 11, 2023, with his loving children and longtime companion Assumpta at his bedside.

Anthony grew up in Princeton and resided in Somerset, NJ. He was an adoring father and grandfather. He was incredibly proud of his children and grandsons and was looking forward to the arrival of his first granddaughter in November. Family was his priority and greatest joy.

Anthony attended Villanova University where he earned his bachelor’s degree and went on to get his MBA from New York University. Passionate about his work as a self-employed CPA, he was loved by all of his clients. Anthony had a smile that would light up a room and gave the best, most loving hugs. He was charismatic and made far reaching connections and friendships for life. His favorite hobbies included running, coaching, teaching, and networking.  He could be found at Starbucks enjoying coffee and a nap. He and Assumpta loved to go ballroom dancing and shopping.

Most importantly, Anthony was guided by his deep connection to his Catholic faith. He loved spending time at church and was known to attend many masses during the week. Anthony left a great impact on many people through his kindness, generosity, faith, and important tax advice. 

Anthony is predeceased by his parents Anthony D. and Joanne L. Nini, his son Anthony D. Nini III, and sister Kathleen Nini. He is survived by his children Melissa Nini (John Tenuto) and Andrew Nini; his longtime companion Assumpta Yau; grandsons Rocco and Westin Nini; sisters Janice Nini Weinberg (Fred), Lynda Petrocelli (Joe), and Patricia Biscardi (Tom); aunts Antoinette Nelson (Nils) and Gloria Hutchinson (Bob); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial gathering will be held at Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542 on Friday, September 15, 2023 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, September 16, 2023 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. with a memorial mass following at noon in St. Paul Parish, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Burial will be in Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic cancer research (Lustgarten.org)

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

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Katherine Marie (Webster) Dwight (“Kathie”)

Katherine Marie (Webster) Dwight (“Kathie”) passed away on May 19, 2023 at Riverwoods Exeter Retirement Community in Exeter, New Hampshire.

Kathie, born in Marion, Indiana, on April 15, 1936, was the eldest daughter of Jeanette and Lawrence Webster. She, however, grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, where her family moved when she was a small child. Kathie attended Pine Manor College and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in English. Following college, she moved to New York City where she met her husband-to-be Theodore W. Dwight, Jr. They were married on April 27, 1963 and moved to Tenafly, New Jersey, where, as a devout wife and mother, they raised their three children and lived for more than 35 years.

Kathie was active in the altar guild at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Englewood, NJ, and enjoyed recreating at the Englewood Field Club. Ever learning, she acquired a masters of Individual Studies in Art History from Sarah Lawrence College in 1987. She enjoyed annual visits to vacation homes on the coast of Georgia, near Savannah, and in Kennebunk, Maine.

Kathie is survived by her three children, Lawrence, his wife Julie and their two sons, Alexander and Ryan of Bethesda, MD; Charles, his wife Beata, their daughter Elisabeth, and son Benjamin of Toronto, Ontario; and Katherine (Katie) and her wife Meghan of Vacaville, CA; and by her sister Rosalind Webster Perry of Santa Barbara, CA.

A graveside service for family and friends will be held at Hope Cemetery in Kennebunk, Maine on September 16, 2023 at 11 am.

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Katherine’s Book of Memories Page at bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are in the care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.

September 6, 2023

Obituaries 8/6/2023

Kurt Henry Tazelaar

Kurt Henry Tazelaar, aged 64 and a lifelong Princeton resident, passed away peacefully at Princeton Hospital on August 15, 2023 after a courageous four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was with his loving wife Sally and his brothers Eric and John as he passed. He was born in Boston, MA, on October 27, 1958.

Kurt was a tour de force to anyone who knew him. He was intensely analytical, he was a voracious and indiscriminate reader, and could discuss virtually any topic at a scholar’s level. He had a devastating and unmatched sense of humor. He never stopped learning and growing intellectually.

He was massively creative and massively talented. He loved music his entire life and started playing guitar as a young teenager on an acoustic 12-string guitar. He never took a lesson, wrote all his own music, and never wanted to sound like anyone else. In 1994 Kurt put together a band called Duf Davis and the Book Club, with Chris Breetveld and Tim Korzun (“Duf Davis” came from family names on his mother’s side). They played locally and put out several CDs, including “Endless Mindless Violence” and “I Hate People, No Exceptions.” He also performed solo in town, using a guitar style that was all his own. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of 20th century American music, listening to thousands of hours (regardless of genre) while working at the Princeton Record Exchange for decades. In his last performance shortly before his death, he gave a stirring rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Summer Winds” at a friend’s party.

Kurt cared deeply about his role as a shepherd of the Earth. He became a vegetarian in his teens, recycled everything, and rode his bike whenever possible up until his last few months. In 2013, along with his wife, he was awarded a Sustainable Princeton Leadership Award. He was a relentless warrior against invasive species. He put in countless hours, even while on chemo, in Herrontown Woods, moving huge rocks by himself to improve the trails. A memorial bench for him will be placed in the woods.

He was a prolific abstract painter, producing hundreds of pieces. Kurt was entirely self-taught, never having an art lesson or ever painting in the style of anyone else. He never fell into any set pattern, using a multitude of techniques to produce stunning works. He met his soulmate Sally in the Ace Hardware store at the Princeton Shopping Center on June 10, 2012, where they struck up a conversation about building and painting birdhouses. They were married on March 13, 2015.

Growing up, Kurt spent part of each summer on Cape Cod and always loved its ambiance. While he was in remission, he went to the Cape with Eric, gorging on whole belly clams, biking, and dreaming of having a house there. A portion of his ashes will be taken to St. David’s Episcopal Church in West Dennis, where several relatives are interred.

In his 20s, Kurt volunteered at WPRB for several years as a host. He later volunteered at Princeton Community Television with Sally, where he worked with his good friend Adam Bierman.

He was a master of trivia, holding court at the Ivy Inn on Tuesday nights for many years with his team, Go Fact Yourself. Kurt had many great friends there, and would visit with other teams during breaks. After a long absence while he was on chemo, he and Sally returned and Kurt was greeted with a standing ovation, which meant the world to him. He was working on his own book of trivia, List Ten, at the time of his passing.

Kurt became the family genealogist, tracing the Tazelaar name back to an island in the Netherlands in the 1500s. He reached out to distant previously unknown relatives and shared the family history. He helped find grave markers in Princeton Cemetery for other families in search of relatives and would take wonderful photos for them.

Kurt hated buying anything new, throwing anything out, and doing anything before 2 p.m. He was a lover of cats, being a kind caretaker to Suzie, Joe, and the ever-charismatic George. He loved playing with his nieces, giving them rides and scaring them with his “powers.” He could make incredible noodle dishes, using a host of seasonings from Asian and Indian markets. He was a devoted son to his mother Doris.

Kurt leaves behind his wife Sally; his mother Doris; his brothers Eric and John; his sister-in-law Cecelia; his nieces Julia, Sophia, and Clara; his grand-nephew Winton; his stepchildren Paula, Matthew, and Philip; his step grandchild Derek; his aunt Frances; many cousins; and his cat George. His ashes will be buried in Princeton Cemetery, and he will be remembered at the Ivy Inn in the fall.

Dorothy Harweger Sams

Dorothy Harweger Sams, a resident of Princeton for over 50 years and a co-founder of the Lamplighter Bookstore (Nassau Street), peacefully went on to be with our Lord on March 20, 2023, at the age of 91 surrounded by family. She was born in Cisna Park, IL, in 1931. The day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, she recounted as the most important day of her life, as just prior to hearing the announcement she had listened to Rev. Fuller on the radio and had made the decision to put her trust in Jesus as her savior; that decision then guided all the following decisions of her life.

Dorothy received her B.S. in Education from Illinois State Normal University (1953), and her M.A. in Education from University of Illinois (1958). In 1956 she married Burnett, and his work in computer science moved them to Dartmouth College, MIT, Bethesda, and Cranberry, NJ, before settling in Princeton where they raised their two daughters.

Dorothy taught grades 1-6 for eight years, in Champaign, Bloomington, and Urbana, Illinois, as well as in Hanover, NH, and Plainsboro, NJ, before staying home to raise her daughters. She volunteered in the public school, and served at Nassau Presbyterian, Kingston Presbyterian, and Princeton Alliance churches in various capacities. She, her husband, and friends co-founded the Living Word nonprofit organization, under which the Lamplighter Christian Bookstore was founded and provided Christian books and ministry to the Princeton University community for 25 years. She was passionate about both people and sharing the truths of the Bible, and devoted much of her time to recruiting volunteers and running fundraising efforts over its 25 years.

She loved spending time with her family and hosting international students in their home. She also enjoyed leading neighborhood Bible studies for 11 years, square dancing, dramatic readings, university lectures, and traveling to Europe, China, and Japan. Each Easter she thoughtfully created scavenger hunts with rhyming clues for her grandchildren.

In her later years she worked as a receptionist at Gund Investment Co. and taught at the Mercer Christian Academy in Ewing, NJ, for 10 years. She adored teaching and served as a Sunday School teacher at Princeton Alliance Church throughout her 70s. She will be remembered for how freely she gave to others in need, particularly in providing opportunities for people to hear the Bible taught and respond in faith to Jesus Christ.

Dorothy was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Burnett. She is survived by her two daughters, Barbara Becker of CO, and Deborah Smith of NJ; their husbands Gordon and John; and seven grandchildren, Cassandra (and Joshua), Kyle (and Karyn), Davidson, and Evelyne Becker and Daniel, JoAnna, and Jacqueline Smith. Dorothy spent her last five years living with Deborah’s family in NJ.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Burnett H. and Dorothy F. Sams Visiting Professor of Preaching Fund at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 130 Essex Street, South Hamilton, MA, 01982. A private family memorial will be held. Condolences can be sent to Barbara.X.Becker@gmail.com.

August 30, 2023

Obituaries 8/30/2023

Samuel Goldfarb

Samuel Goldfarb, a longtime resident of Princeton, NJ, and a loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 21, 2023 at the age of 98 years.

Sam (also known as Stan) will be remembered for his devotion and generosity to the causes and people who mattered most to him, including his surviving wife of 72 years Irene (Dale) Goldfarb; his children Ruth Koizim, David A. Goldfarb, Sally Goldfarb (Joseph Straus), and Judy Goldfarb; his three grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. Sam was predeceased by his parents Max and Fannie Sams Goldfarb; his siblings Ruth Goldfarb, Jean Goldfarb Sherres, and Fred Goldfarb; and his son-in-law Harvey Koizim.

Born and raised in Jersey City, NJ, Sam was a proud graduate of Rutgers University. There, in addition to meeting Irene, the love of his life, on a blind date, he earned two bachelor’s degrees in engineering. He later earned a master’s degree in engineering from NJ Institute of Technology. Sam’s dedicated service to his undergraduate alma mater was recognized when he was named a Loyal Son of Rutgers, the highest award for service conferred by the Rutgers Alumni Organization.

After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946, Sam held a variety of engineering positions at RCA, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and other companies. His expertise and professional experience were wide-ranging, and he was sought after as a consultant into his 80s. From the days when he built model airplanes and ham radios as a boy, through his years working on innovative projects ranging from communication satellites to heart pacemakers to fusion energy, he remained fascinated by engineering, science, and technology for his entire life.

Since their arrival in Princeton in 1963, The Jewish Center of Princeton held a special place in Sam and Irene’s lives. For decades, they faithfully attended weekly Shabbat services together, always sitting in their favorite seats. Sam also served in multiple volunteer leadership positions at The Jewish Center.

Sam’s talents and passions were not limited to engineering. Whether piloting a single-engine plane with his future wife as a passenger on their second date, bodysurfing at the Jersey Shore, carrying a kid fireman-style upstairs to bed, or telling a funny story, Sam lived every day to the fullest. He had a vivid personality and leaves an unforgettable legacy.

Funeral services were held August 23 at The Jewish Center of Princeton with burial at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, NJ.

Contributions in memory of Samuel Goldfarb may be made to The Jewish Center of Princeton, Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County, or a charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences, please visit the obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

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Harriet Teweles

Harriet Pakula Teweles of Princeton, NJ, passed away on Monday, August 21, 2023 at the age of 84.

Harriet — “Hatch” to her close friends — was born on February 8, 1939 in New York City. After spending the war years on a chicken farm in Connecticut, she grew up in Queens where she attended Forrest Hills High and Queens College. She studied for her post-graduate degree in U.S. History at the University of Wisconsin and stopped short of her Ph.D. to become a full-time mother.

She later went back to school at Trenton State to become a certified teacher of American Sign Language (ASL) and taught until her retirement at the Marie Katzebach School for the Deaf in Trenton.

She loved playing tennis and swimming, cheered for the Yankees, was a voracious reader and major patron of the arts. When she wasn’t traveling across the globe exploring different cultures, she enjoyed working as a docent at the Princeton Art Museum.

Harriet was committed to serving those in need and was dedicated to numerous causes and organizations, including local groups the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Greenwood House, and HomeFront.

Mother of the late Jenny Rebecca Teweles, she is survived by her sons Joshua Teweles and Benjamin Teweles, and their families including grandchildren Tosh Teweles, Jacob Teweles, Genevieve Teweles, Eleanor Teweles, and Michaela Teweles.

Funeral services and burial were held on August 25 at Floral Park Cemetery in South Brunswick, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are respectfully requested to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.

Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences, please visit the obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

August 23, 2023

Obituaries 8/23/2023

John Earl Yates
1935 – 2023

A Short Story of a Long Life

A familiar short story of a long, full life for friends and family. An introduction to an extraordinary man for those who didn’t have the pleasure of meeting, we invite you.

June 21, 1935, on the summer solstice, the first day of summer a son was born to Earl Yates and Mary Gertrude Pamplin Yates. John Earl Yates came into this world in a bedroom of the family’s home in Kansas City, Missouri. Four years later, Marilyn Elizabeth Yates Porterfield, his dear sister, was born.

His father had exceptional patience and musical ability that he passed on to his children. He worked as a baggage handler for the Railway Express and as an expert car mechanic. Mary Yates, a loving and involved mother, was a seamstress known for making quality custom curtains for those in the area. Earl Yates spent those early years building his family a small house on a dirt road in the town of Barry, Missouri. Water was hauled from a spring across the street, and it wasn’t until the early 1950s that an indoor bathroom and running water was added. 

Summertime was spent working on their large garden and playing in the vast area around their home. As a young boy, John would drive a tractor, helping on the farm. It’s unknown if John turned over the tractor in a ditch before or after the neighbor’s dog, Pete, sadly became peg leg Pete. Even with his early questionable driving skills, he went on to teach his sister how to drive the tractor. When time allowed, fishing, squirrel hunting, learning how to play the guitar given to him by his father and building custom balsa wood airplanes filled those long, hot midwestern days. These were early signs of what would become his lifelong passions.

As the days shortened and became cooler, the potatoes and onions were put up in the tater house.  John and his sister were responsible for catching and hanging the chickens on the clothesline for “processing.”  The beans and tomatoes were canned, and favorite dill and sweet pickles were made. The grape vines produced enough for homemade jelly. His mother’s cooking, especially her peach cobbler, has not yet been matched. School began during these last days of summer. Just down the road there was a two-room school house with four grades in each of two classrooms. John excelled in school, especially in math, skipping fifth grade and graduating high school at 16. During this time, he earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout. He shared many stories of his scout experiences and was very proud of his God and County badge. It would take him about a year to earn this coveted badge. By now he had learned the guitar well enough to play in local honkytonks with a band that he and his friends put together. They would sneak in until they were able to get special permission to play legally. The band had entered a talent show in which the winners would go on to perform at the Grand Old Opry; they came in second. It was then that he decided to change direction from music to focus on a college degree.

Again, John entered into a competition with first place receiving a scholarship to college. He came in second and decided to attend a local junior college, Metropolitan College, which was just down the road. He would attend school during the day and had progressed to playing gigs in Kansas City as a member of the Musician Union to earn money to pay for his education. Two years later, he was accepted to the University of Kansas. He commuted from home in an old car his father put together. All was well until the seat fell through the bottom of the rusted car. He found a wooden box to sit on and continued driving to and from school and his gigs.

In 1955, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and joined Midwest Research Institute in Kansas City. He would be an invaluable employee for seven years while working towards his Masters. In 1959, he received his Masters in Applied Mathematics from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. John’s father sold two acres of the farm to help pay for the last year of graduate school.  His manager and mentor at Midwestern Research Institute encouraged John to pursue his doctorate. With a new wife, Letha Gail Warren and three young children, he entered Stanford University in California earning his Doctorate in Aeronautical Sciences in 1966.

Dr. John E. Yates accepted a position with Aeronautical Research Associates of Princeton, NJ. He left Stanford with his family and embarked on a six week cross-county trip. The family visited many National Parks along the way, especially seeking out waterfalls, which were loved by John. The family settled in Princeton, NJ, in the summer of 1966.

John’s professional career would span six decades. The accolades and accomplishments increased in number and importance.  Some of the most notable projects would be his work on panel designs for the Saturn V rocket and other projects for NASA, the Navy, and the Air Force. He completed analysis of Fin Flutter on a currently flying supersonic missile. His most advance concept, the “DILLET” was tested on the model of the SEAWOLF class nuclear powered submarines. The “DILLET” was a device shown experimentally to reduce the intensity of the necklace interference vorticity.  His work was used in the analysis or design in over 260 vehicles. These included all of the current U.S. submarines, torpedoes, the Large Scale Vehicle, 75 towed vehicles, and 75 plus sonar vehicles. He would spend endless hours intently writing on his countless pads of graph paper. His children kindly referred to his work as “hieroglyphics,” which eventually filled 44 banker boxes of handwritten work. There was no need for his level of security clearance at home as we had no clue what it all meant. And yet, as brilliant as he was, John was unable to teach his children the classic freight train problem!

His intense professional work was balanced with his love of Barbershop singing. For 54 years he was fully invested with the society, as an active member with the Princeton Garden Statesmen, Hunterdon Harmonizers, Brothers’ in Harmony, and singing in several quartets. John’s contributions included being an assistant director, director, singing coach, and song arranger.

Later in life, John chose to stop performing due to the rigor of standing on risers for long periods of time. He would continue to support his chapters by traveling to Barbershop shows and
international competitions as moral support. In January of 2023, the Garden Statesmen inducted John into their Hall of Fame.

After his three children moved out and off the payroll, he immersed himself in new hobbies. These included windsurfing and restoring an 18th century home that he named The Vinca Farmstead at Ten Mile Run, an homage to his early years. He referred to his farm as his pre-Mozart home. Albeit a gentlemen’s farm, there was no garden or hanging chickens. Vinca Farmstead was a wonderful gathering place for friends and family. He would indulge his guests with his love of cooking, especially traditional Chinese cuisine, one of his many culinary explorations. He was, however, never able to convince his children that squirrel head soup and dumplings was delicious.

After retiring at the age of 75, he devoted his time to working on the farmstead. He would fully restore his 18th century home to last another 300 years. He would take pride in the park-like grounds that he reclaimed from being an overgrown horse pasture. Towards the later years of his life, John reignited his love of jazz guitar relearning his favorite jazz songs.

Family gatherings would include an awesome evening of working out songs to play with his son on bass and sons-in-law on sax and drums. He treasured these times with his family, as get-togethers with all three children were infrequent since they lived throughout the East Coast.

One of John admirable traits was his belief in giving. He contributed yearly to over 62 charities such as St. Jude’s, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, Feed the Children, and many, many more. He knew he was fortunate and wanted to give back.

June 13, 2023, eight days shy of the summer solstice, the first day of summer, and John Earl Yates’ 88th birthday, he closed his eyes for the final time. Although he is no longer with us physically, the friendships he forged over the years will not be forgotten. Moreover, the values he instilled in his children of patience, kindness and humility will live on indefinitely.

John was pre-deceased by his parents Earl and Mary Yates and his ex-wife Gail Yates. He is survived by his sister Marilyn Porterfield and husband Larry of Missouri; his children, daughter Christine Young, husband Robert, and their daughter Dr. Jessica Young MD of Connecticut; daughter Karen Yates-King, husband Thomas, and their daughter Emily Rodriguez, husband Johan, and son Dr. Colin King MD, of Georgia; son John Yates, wife Stasia, and their son Jack and daughter Katie of Connecticut. Nephew Mark Carder and niece Brenda Kerrick-Gage, and three great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to Penn Medicine and Princeton Medical Group for their kind care.

​A Celebration of Life will be held at Vinca Farmstead on September 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you plan to attend, please let us know by sending an email to johnyatescelebrationoflife@gmail.com.

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Priscilla Mary Katzeman Linsley

Priscilla Mary Katzeman Linsley, born in Girard, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1934, passed away peacefully Monday morning July 10, 2023 with family by her side in her home in Sun City, Florida. Priscilla forged many paths ahead of her time, including earning a Master’s in Library Science from Northern Illinois University in 1965. 

Priscilla was passionate and devoted to helping others personally and professionally, inspiring a career as a librarian and later as a grant writer for nonprofits. She was consistently involved in projects and programs that impacted many lives all over the world, some examples of which include: working on literacy in prisons, volunteering after Hurricane Katrina, serving on mission trips to Mexico and Nicaragua, planting olive trees in Palestine, and assisting more than 50 nonprofit agencies and working on special needs housing projects in her beloved city of Denver, Colorado. Priscilla was an avid traveler, establishing deep connections with the people and cultures of the places she went, while also being a self-proclaimed “I” (introvert) that loved playing bridge and hosting meals with family and friends.

Priscilla is survived by her loving daughters, granddaughters, and their husbands whom she loved dearly — Karen and David Miller, Lisa and Rick Little, Amy and Peter Gretsch, Anneliese and Bladimir Martinez, and Sarah Gretsch. She is preceded in death by her parents John and Charlotte Katzeman and her brother John Read Katzeman.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at Sun City Methodist Church on Saturday, November 4 at 1 p.m. with an option to attend virtually. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Centurion Ministries, Sun City Methodist Church, or Friends of Sabeel-Colorado (mailed to Friends of Sabeel Colorado, P.O. Box 102504, Denver, Colorado 80250).

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Deborah (Debbie) Young Cook

Deborah (Debbie) Young Cook passed away peacefully at Gilchrist Hospice Center, Towson, MD, on August 15, 2023, where she was surrounded by family. She was predeceased by her parents Otto T. Young and Eleanor P. Young (Parke), her beloved husband of 51 years Theodore W. Cook, and her cherished son, Scott W. Cook. She was 73 years old. 

Debbie was born in Princeton, NJ, on July 30, 1950, and was raised in Rocky Hill, NJ, surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins and loved living in a small town. She believed that you could take the girl out of the small town, but you can’t take the small town out of the girl. She met her one true love, Ted, in this town one hot August day when they were 14 years old. Memories of her childhood and attendance at a two-room schoolhouse provided the values for her life and basis for her educational philosophy years later. Debbie attended Princeton High School (1968), received her BS from The College of New Jersey (1972), and MA from Rider University (1991) where she was awarded the Robert L. Foose Annual Graduate Award in Educational Administration.

A dedicated and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, she is survived by her son, Peter T. Cook and his wife Cathy, of Frankfort, IL; her daughter Dr. Kristin D. Cook, DDS and her husband, Adam Boozer of Elkridge, MD; her precious grandchildren and joys of her life, Hannah, Eleanor, Koal, Declan, Liam, Kaitlin; and her great-grandson Oliver. Also left to mourn her are those like daughters Heather Ireland of Stevenson, MD, and Kim Lant of Newark, NJ. Upon her retirement, Ted and Debbie relocated to Maryland to be nearer to Kristin (Adam) and her youngest grandchildren and a convenient airport where they could easily travel to visit Peter and his family in Illinois.

Missing her also are her sisters and brothers-in-law Beverly (Robert) Cramer, Carolyn (Ben) Foose; sister-in-law Maureen Cook; brothers-in-law Richard (Trish) Cook, Stephen (Cindy) Cook; a special niece Melissa Cramer Fetterolf (MD); and special nephews Larry Embry (WA) and David Cramer (NJ), who spent many hours with her in their childhoods.

Debbie was a valued member of the independent school community and began her educational career at a one-room schoolhouse where she affirmed her calling to education. Her commitment to education then led her to The Pennington School serving as teacher, Dean of the Middle School, Academic Dean, Assistant Head of School, and Interim Head of School from 1978 through 1993 before moving to Maryland where she served as the Head of School at St. Timothy’s School from 1993-2002. She then was Head of School at Lake Ridge Academy (OH), and finally Head of School at Chesapeake Academy (VA) from 2007-2017. She also served on committees of regional independent school associations and particularly enjoyed visiting schools as Chair of Accreditation Committees. She had a special gift for seeing what needed to be done to allow the schools to reach their fullest potential. Debbie retired after a successful 45-year career in education. She loved the interaction with students, faculty, and parents and thrived in meeting the challenges of being a school leader. Throughout her long career as educator and Head of Schools, she influenced many lives and was a natural mentor and school leader.

In her retirement Debbie wanted to spend as much time as possible with the people she loved. She spent precious time caring for her mother. She would bring her grandchildren to their piano lessons, soccer practices, et cetera just to get that special time in the car to catch up with them. She would talk daily with her friends and family to stay connected and let them know how loved they were. Debbie was a loyal friend. Those lucky enough to be able to call her a friend knew that she would do anything in her power to make their lives better, easier, or more fulfilling. She gave 100 percent to everything she believed in. She did not get as much time in retirement as we all wished for her, but she made the most of every day.

Debbie will be remembered as a compassionate, well-spoken, hardworking, honest, steadfast, fearless woman ahead of her time that still delighted in the small things. We are sad to lose such an amazing woman, but we are all better for the love she showed each of us through the years.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her memorial service at 1 p.m. on October 8, in the United Methodist Church in Pennington, NJ, 60 S. Main Street, with a reception to follow in the Silva Gallery of Art at The Pennington School.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in Debbie’s memory to The Pennington School, 112 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington, NJ 08534; St. Timothy’s School, 8400 Greenspring Ave., Stevenson, MD 21153; Chesapeake Academy, P.O. Box 8, Irvington, VA 22480; The Maryland Food Bank; or a charity of your choosing.

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Fioralba Procaccini

Fioralba “Alba” Rossi Procaccini, 99, passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center of Plainsboro, NJ. She was surrounded by her family when she closed her eyes and peacefully entered God’s Kingdom. She was a strong-willed, determined woman that led a simple life. She took pride in entertaining her family, especially her grandson and his friends, with overflowing tables of food. Everyone will miss her meatballs and sauce. Fioralba was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church all her adult life. She had a deep faith in God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was born January 8, 1924 in Pettoranello, Italy, to Ernest and Cristina Rossi. She married Anthony Procaccini in 1948 and immigrated to the U.S. and resided in Princeton until her death.

She was one of 12 children. She is preceded in death by her parents Ernesto and Cristina Rossi, her husband Anthony, her son-in-law Wayne Storie, and seven of her siblings. She is survived by her daughter Sina Storie, her beloved grandson Wayne Steven Storie and his wife Christine, and great-grandchildren Isabella, Christina, and Jack Anthony Storie. She is also survived by her brother Alfredo, sisters Rita and Rosina, all in Argentina, and Mafalda, who lives in Australia. She leaves behind many cousins, nephews, and nieces in the U.S., Italy, Argentina, and Australia.

Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, August 25, 2023 at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. Funeral will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 9 a.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Steet, Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Church Cemetery.

The family wants to thank Anthony and Lisa Montrone and Mary Bliss for bringing Holy Communion weekly to Fioralba. We also extend thanks and gratitude to Dr. Toby Fisch and the medical staff at Penn Medicine ER and the ACE unit on the 5th floor of the hospital for the care given and treatment of Fioralba during her brief stay.

———

Emily Frances (Vanderstucken) Spencer

Emily Frances (Vanderstucken) Spencer lost her courageous battle against lung cancer on August 16, 2023 at the age of 82.

Born in 1940 to Frances (Robinson) of New York City and Emile Felix Vanderstucken of Sutton County, TX. She grew up in Princeton, NJ, and spent her summers with family in Sonora, TX. Emily graduated from Miss Fine’s School (now Princeton Day School) in 1958 and subsequently graduated from Wheelock College, becoming a First Grade Teacher.

In 1965 she met Richard “Dick” Spencer (d 2003), and they were married in 1966. Emily and Dick spent several years chartering ski trips to Switzerland and France before settling down and starting a small family in Chester, NH, where they lived for 30+ years and made many lifelong friends. Summers were spent at Kennebunk Beach, ME, until 1998 when they moved to Kennebunk permanently.

Emily loved watching Red Sox games, taking train trips, watching Jeopardy (what is “she always had the answers?”), marathon cribbage games with her husband Dick and hosting their annual summer lobster bakes at the beach. She had a great sense of style when it came to designing the home they built together where she enjoyed playing the piano and flower gardening. Emily was a voracious reader and took great joy in mother daughter dates to Red Sox games and musicals at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Her life was filled with love by serving God in the Episcopal faith and generosity to many charities.

Surviving are her loving and devoted daughter Polly; sister-in-law Hillary; nieces Kristen, Kim and Linda; nephews Wyatt and Trip; great-nephews Ivan and Sasha; great-niece Olivia; a great-great-nephew and two great-great-nieces; two grand bunnies; and four grand dogs who will miss her treats and loving pats whenever they came to visit.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 26 at Trinity Episcopal Chapel (4 Woodland Avenue, Kennebunk, ME). In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity that promotes literacy or supports lung cancer research.

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Emily’s Book of Memories Page at bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.

August 16, 2023

Obituaries 8/16/2023

Stan Waterman

Stan Waterman died on August 10, 2023 at home in Lawrenceville, NJ, with his wife of 73 years, Susy Waterman, close by. Stan was 100 years old.

One of the first pioneers of diving in America, his career spanned eight decades. Its unlikely beginning after Naval service in WW2 was in a frigid glacial pond in Maine but one which took him eventually across most of the world’s oceans. His gift as a writer and raconteur started with his studies under poet Robert Frost at Dartmouth College.

He taught himself photography and filmmaking, built his own underwater camera housings, and had the first dive boat operation in the Bahamas aboard his custom built Zingaro where he made one of diving’s earliest films, Water World, in 1954.

He traveled the backroads of America on the “gumshoe circuit” — long before television — showing his early, hand-spliced films, which he narrated live while managing music on a small tape recorder. When the projector on occasion stalled and his films caught fire, his skills of amusing anecdote, well-sprinkled with poetic reference, were called upon to complete the evening.

Among his many other films, the most successful was The Call of the Running Tide in which he packed his entire family off with him to Tahiti for a year. It became a National Geographic favorite and later, in 1992, the Discovery Channel featured Stan and his family in a two-hour special, aptly named The Man Who Loved Sharks. The September 2005 issue of Sports Illustrated featured a profile of Stan, also recalling his first appearance on its January 1958 cover.

His 1968 collaboration with Peter Gimbel on the extraordinary documentary epic, Blue Water, White Death, was released in 1971 after nearly two years of filming. It was some of the first great white shark footage ever presented and was unforgettable. He was also co-director of underwater photography for The Deep, a book and screenplay written by his close friend Peter Benchley with whom he went on to do many years of television production.

Arranged along his bookshelves are many awards and plaques, now covered in layers of dust. Nearby, an old Seibe Gorman diving helmet is surrounded by rare shells, stuffed shark toys, cigar boxes, and his much loved copy of Kenneth Graham’s Wind In The Willows, from which he often quoted.

Stan’s later years were spent hosting dive trips around the world where he continued pursuing mantis shrimps and entertaining his guests aboard with nightly “bijou entertainment.” When he finally hung up his fins at 90 years old he retired to his office where he smoked cigars, wrote, and published his two anecdotal books: Sea Salt and More Salt, reminiscing of his adventures as a father, a filmmaker, and a poet philosopher.

His children were lucky enough to have a father who took them with him on many of his adventures, and those shared memories have proved lasting ones that bind them to this day.

He leaves behind a wrecking yard of flooded camera housings as well as a host of good friends and loving family. Some of their kind thoughts have been included here verbatim as their eloquence could hardly be improved upon. A charismatic, engaging person, Stan was always self-effacing and had requested long ago that there be no flowers sent or donations to worthy causes, just a glass to be raised when next you’re gathered with family and friends.

He wished his epitaph to be his favorite lines from Masefield’s Sea Fever:

“I must go down to the sea again,
for the call of the running tide is a wild call
And a clear call that cannot be denied.”

He is survived by his wife Susanna; three children, Gordy, Susannah, and Gar; as well as six grandsons and two great-granddaughters.

———

Ed Lloyd

An environmental litigator, activist, and scholar, Edward Lungren Lloyd III, passed away Saturday morning, August 5, 2023 just nine days shy of his 75th birthday (1948-2023). Ed was the director of the Environmental Law Clinic at Columbia University Law School from 2000 to 2022, and was the Evan M. Frankel Professor of Environmental Law there. He taught and trained hundreds of law students in the Clinic, giving them real-life experience representing nonprofit clients advocating for clean water and air, wetlands preservation, endangered species, “smart growth,” contaminated site remediation, and better transit options in the National Environmental Policy Act process. Professor Lloyd was also a member of Columbia University’s Earth Institute’s Practice Committee.

Before joining the Columbia Law School faculty, Ed served for 15 years as the founding director of the Rutgers University Law School Environmental Law Clinic in Newark, where he also supervised students on leading edge cases, establishing several administrative and environmental law precedents. He was previously staff attorney and executive director of the N.J. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). Ed Lloyd was often invited to testify before Congress and the State Legislature on environmental bills and enforcement matters. His numerous affiliations include being appointed by Governor McGreevey to serve on the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, where he outlasted attempts to replace him for stands taken against incursions to the Pinelands’ pristine aquifers; Litigation Review Committee of the Environmental Defense Fund; board member of the Fund for New Jersey; co-founder and co-director of the Eastern Environmental Law Center, the sole public interest environmental law firm in New Jersey; chair of the board of Environmental Endowment, a grant-making institution; and member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Environmental Litigation (appointed by then Chief Justice Robert Wilentz). He taught environmental law at Judicial College for state court judges.

Prepared at Gilman School in Baltimore, where he won the Princeton Area Alumni math prize, and graduated from Princeton University in 1970 with a degree in chemistry, Ed then attended law school at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Ed returned to New Jersey and was admitted to the bar in 1974, at which he practiced for almost 50 years.

Ed’s love for Princeton University was unbounded. Until the last decade, he rarely missed a Princeton home basketball game, where his father Ed Lloyd, Jr. (Class of 1942) had been captain of the team. He never missed a reunion until 2022. Ed was proud to march in the P-rade (with son Alexander in the “pede”), then relax with classmates and family including sister Pamela Lloyd Coulter (Class of 1972), and before her untimely passing, cousin Barbara Price Krumland (Class of 1975), at Cloister Inn, where Ed lived as an undergrad and was treasurer.

Ed leaves his wife of 41 years, Janine G. Bauer, and two children, son Alexander Edward Lloyd, who graduated from Columbia Law School in 2019 and is a member of the New Jersey and New York bars, and daughter Abigail Elizabeth Lloyd, a social worker at Bellevue Hospital and Northwell Hospital in New York, sister Pamela Lloyd Coulter, Princeton University Class of 1972 (John V. Coulter), sister-in-law Sherry Ziegenbalg, brother-in-law Bruce Bauer (Frances), brother-in-law Jamie D. Bauer, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews of the expended Lloyd, Fanget, Driver, Price, Bovino, Wert, and Bauer families for whom he tried to be a role model, and succeeded. Ed was predeceased by his parents, Edward L. Lloyd, Jr. and Catherine Fanget Lloyd, and his brother, Robert G. Lloyd of Baltimore.

Ed will be sorely missed.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at the Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton.

Burial in Princeton Cemetery was private.

———

Yngve Lennart Gustafsson

Yngve Lennart “Len” Gustafsson — our beloved husband, father, grandfather — passed away peacefully on August 4 in Princeton after a short illness. 

Born and educated in Sweden, Len considered himself a citizen of the world at an early age. During summer vacations as a teen, he took hire on Swedish ships delivering goods to foreign ports, exploring most of Europe. These voyages opened his eyes to new lands and fed his lust for travel and exploration. They also reinforced his national and cultural pride in Sweden and his hometown.

After earning degrees in engineering and economics he started his career with the Swedish-based Sandvik Steel, an international company with subsidiaries in many countries. His strong ambition and desire to grow his experience led him to push for a foreign post, and soon he was destined for a position in Dusseldorf, Germany, working and traveling all over Europe. This opened up further international opportunities, and he soon was on his way to the United States, settling in Glenrock, NJ, with his young family. He loved the freedom and non-bureaucracy of working in the American market and his initial three-year appointment turned into a lifetime in the States. Working closely with both Sweden and the USA, he traveled extensively.

Len had a lifelong passion for serving his hometown and his home country to the extent that in 1978 the Swedish Government appointed him Swedish Trade Commissioner and Vice Consul to the USA, based in Detroit, Michigan. Having one foot in both countries suited him well and gave him the opportunity to bring Swedish know-how to the auto industry and other industries. His experience and interest in both marketing and mergers and acquisitions came in handy to help many Swedish companies get a foothold in the United States. It also gave him a deep sense of satisfaction to serve and support the Swedish organizations in the Detroit/Bloomfield Hills area.

Len was always interested in what was in the forefront in business and joined the new exciting robotics industry, heading up a new Industrial Robotics Division for ASEA Inc. in Michigan.

After retirement from his corporate business adventures, he started his own consulting business.

Len was very civic minded and was a member of several organizations such as Odd Fellows, Rotary International, and served as president of the Princeton Rotary Club. He co-founded a Swedish supplementary school in New Jersey and served as its first president; he was a member of the Royal Roundtable of the Swedish Council of America; board member and lifetime member of the American-Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia, PA; Ambassador of Lidkoping (his hometown); an active member of Leif Ericson Viking Ship Organization; and sailed and worked on a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel tall ship in Wilmington, DE, combining his interest in history and boating.

Len was an avid sailor and was never as happy as when he was behind the steering wheel sailing one of his boats. He even planned to take his boat Makulu on a world tour but was stopped by Superstorm Sandy, which left his boat battered and piled up among many other boats in the harbor of Atlantic Highlands. Undaunted, he worked on repairing and lovingly restoring the boat over the next several years. During that same time, he worked with a team of young sailors who were interested in taking the boat on an educational world tour on which Len planned to partake.

Len loved sports and staying active. In his youth he played Bandy (a fast sport on skates) in his hometown, he had a mean backhand in tennis, he enjoyed ice sailing and downhill skiing, and he frequently played golf and once had a hole-in-one. In his later years he kept active with swimming, visits to his gym, and long walks with his wife.

Len looked forward every year to spending summers at his childhood summer house on a small island in lake Vänern, Sweden. There he could jump into his sailboat for a day trip or spend hours cruising around the archipelago. He topped it off each evening by watching the sunset right outside the dining room window.

Len is survived by his loving wife Elly; his three sons and their families: Bjorn and Tammy of Atlanta, GA, Erik and Debbie of Naperville, IL, Carl and Stephanie of Manhattan and his grandchildren Anna and Alexander; and friends and family in both Sweden and the Americas.

Len will be laid to rest at the church closest to his beloved summer home in Sweden.

A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date.

Donations in his memory may be made to the American-Swedish Historical Museum, 1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145.

———

James Adler Levy

James Adler Levy, 82, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, died at his home there on August 14 after a battle with several ailments.

Known as Jim or Jimmy, he was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1940. His family moved to Yardley in 1944 to a street called Alton Road, and with few gaps in time over the next 78 years, he lived his entire life on that street — first at his parents Charles and Elinor Levy’s house with his brother Paul, and then raised his own family at the house his parents built next door to his childhood home.

He was the son of Charles Levy, a businessman in Trenton and an owner of S.P. Dunham and Co. department stores, and his mother Elinor, an artist.

His wife of 37 years, Rebecca “Becky” Deitz Levy, pre-deceased him in 2004. She was his first love and a woman he not only idolized but who he called “the person with the most common sense of anyone he had ever known.” Becky and Jimmy built a wonderful life together in their community and loved playing golf and traveling together, and truly just being together. Becky was his rock and emotional head of what became his own family with his two loving and devoted children, Jonny and Rachel.

Jim attended Newtown Friends School, The Lawrenceville School, and graduated from Proctor Academy in Andover, New Hampshire. He graduated from The University of Pennsylvania in 1963. He started his career at Sears Roebuck as a young business trainee. He then joined his father at Dunham’s where he worked for many years. He learned how to be a businessman from his father who, along with Jim’s own brother, Paul, were his role models in life. Jim served in the Air National Guard.

At the age of 40, Jim set forth on a new career as an investment advisor at Smith Barney where he worked for 36 years. He was on the Board of Directors at Greenwood House for the Jewish Aged in Trenton, a Board Member of Har Sinai Temple of Trenton, and he served on The Newtown Friends School Board.

Jim was lucky in love not once, but twice. Jim’s daughter Rachel set him up on a blind date with Carol Sole of Michigan and Florida and Carol was Jim’s devoted companion since 2015. Jim and Carol shared much in common — love for travel, the arts, and for their own children and grandchildren.

Jim leaves behind a son Jonathan “Jonny” Levy and his wife Jill Nusbaum of Princeton, NJ, and a daughter Rachel Levy Lesser, and her husband Neil Lesser of Newtown. Jim was the proud grandfather to three adoring young adults, Joseph “Joey” Lesser, Rebecca Lesser, and Max Levy.

Jim is also survived by his brother, The Honorable Paul Levy and his wife Linda Levy of Lawrenceville, NJ,  his sister-in-law, Joanne Hochman of Savannah, GA. and many loving nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are Wednesday, August 16 at 11 a.m. at Har Sinai Temple, 2421 Pennington Road, Pennington, New Jersey.

Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, 1800 Hamilton Avenue, Hamilton, New Jersey.

Shiva will be observed at the Lesser residence  in Newtown, PA, immediately following the burial, and from 5:30–9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16 and on Thursday, August 17 with minyans at 6:30 pm.

The family respectfully requests memorial contributions in his memory be offered to Greenwood House, Har Sinai Temple, Mill Hill Child & Family Development Center, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences please visit OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

———

Anne Cowin Fahey

Anne Cowin Fahey, 64, a longtime Princeton resident, died peacefully at home on August 4.

Anne will be remembered for her remarkable selflessness, her knack for nailing the little things, her humor, and her resilience. She took a stoic, glass-half-full approach to life through the tragic death of her husband, Kevin, in a car accident in 2006 and through her courageous three-year battle with ALS. Although her life was marked by deep lows, she chose to live a life filled with gratitude for the gifts life presented her: her children, her family, her friends, travel, and the arts. Behind a modest demeanor, Anne was exuberant, loyal, and loving, and determined to make the most of life. She will be deeply missed.

Born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, to Margaret and Lawrence Cowin, Anne studied French at the University of Michigan and graphic design at Pratt Institute. She lived in Detroit and New York City before settling in Princeton, New Jersey. In 1988, Anne married her high school sweetheart, Kevin, after an epic, 11-year long-distance relationship. She had met Kev at age 10, when they were castmates in a Cleveland Play House Youth Theater production. Nineteen years later, they returned to the Play House for their wedding. They had two children, Eamon and Byrne.

A talented graphic designer, Anne worked at Pentagram and later established herself as a self-employed designer, working with organizations including the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, 101: Fund, and Sustainable Princeton. Anne also brought her designer’s eye to thoughtful event invitations and inventive birthday cards for friends and family. In 2022, Anne’s design was proudly featured nationwide on the ALS Association’s Walk to Defeat ALS shirts.

After living in Aix-en-Provence for a year during college, Anne kept up her French language through conversation groups and later took up Spanish. Anne delighted in theater, music, good quality television, and travel. She would insist on taking a photo of her tour guide following any cultural tour. She loved food and cooking and nurtured this passion through relentless study and experimentation.

Anne is survived by her children, Eamon and Byrne; her mother Margaret Cowin; her sister Elizabeth Roth (George Roth); her brothers Tom Cowin and James Cowin; and niece Olivia Anne Roth; as well as her Fahey siblings-in-law and her partner David Myers. A memorial will be held at 12 p.m., Sunday, September 10 at Eno Terra in Kingston, NJ.

———

Molly Sullivan

Molly Sullivan, 84, died on Friday, July 14, 2023 at the Princeton Care Center, in Princeton, NJ. Born in Abilene, Texas, on April 27, 1939, she will be remembered for her wit, her rebellious and mischievous spirit, and her love of music and cats.

Molly took up violin from an early age and played in her high school orchestra, where she excelled in Latin, was a member of the Classics Club, and was a cheerleader. After graduating from San Angelo High School, she attended San Angelo College where she got her B.A, and started teaching Latin at the high school level. As a teacher, she was known for her quirky and distinctive teaching style, however she underestimated the popular rejection of the theory of evolution (this was West Texas in the 1950s) which led her to move on from this job to graduate school at University of Texas Austin.

There she met and married Henry Wood in 1964, moved with him to Rochester and Brooklyn, NY, then to Princeton, NJ. Together they had four boys. After Henry passed away in 1979, Molly married Carl Faith who turned out to be the love of her life. They loved traveling and spent many summers (and winters and falls) in Barcelona.

Molly taught Latin for many years at Steinert, Hamilton, Rutgers Prep, Flemington, and Ewing High Schools. Her love of the language continued after her retirement with her participation in a Latin translation group, taking on translation of previously untranslated classics, and translating English works into Latin. She was a longtime member of a local reading orchestra, and in retirement tutored young children in reading in the Grand Pals program.

Molly was a longtime dancer. For decades she studied dance in many styles: flamenco, belly dancing, and ballet, as well as practicing yoga and aerobics. In retirement she drove friends to exercise classes.

Left to honor Molly and remember her love are her four children, Zeno (Jill Dowling) Wood, Japheth (Mariel Fiori) Wood, Malachi (Jhilam Iqbal) Wood, and Ezra (Simi Hoque) Wood; and 10 grandchildren, Indrid Griffin Wood, Leila Rae Yorek Sundin, Tarquin Wood, Maya Wood, Doria Iqbal Sharif, Daphne Wood-Fiori, Lihuel Wood-Fiori, Vesper Woodhoque, Esme Woodhoque, and Quinn Woodhoque. Molly was predeceased by her husband Carl Clifton Faith and her parents Denny and Dorothy Sullivan. She had many, many cats over the years, among them Gray Cat, Black Cat, Chichen Itza, Rambam, Avicenna, Ms. Moo, Puddin, Kit Lee, and Tiger and Mischief.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, September 3 at Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. There will be a gathering for guests from 10 to 11 a.m. with speakers beginning at 11 a.m. Afterwards, attendees and other friends and family are invited to join us for a reception at 199 Longview Drive. 

The family would like to extend our gratitude to all the kind and caring staff at the Princeton Care Center and Ennoble Care Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU in Molly Sullivan’s name.

August 9, 2023

Obituaries 8/9/2023

Michele Ryan

Michele Marie McCluskey Ryan, affectionately known as “Mickey,” departed this life on August 7, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was 80 years old. Born on January 2, 1943, at Princeton Hospital, she was a lifelong Princeton resident.

Mickey was a 1960 graduate of Princeton High School and received her diploma from Newport Hospital School of Nursing in 1963. After two years at Newport Hospital, she returned home in 1965 where she began her storied career at Princeton Medical Center. She returned to school while working full-time and raising her children to obtain her bachelor’s degree in 1991 at the age of 48 and her master’s degree in 1993 at the age of 50. Her career at Princeton Medical Center spanned 35 years, beginning as a staff nurse, and ascending the ranks to Executive Director of Nursing.

One of the highlights of her distinguished career was overseeing the Department of Redesign, a position created specifically for her. Her invaluable contribution to this position brought, in part, what is known today as Fast Track in the ER — created specifically to expedite less serious illnesses while treating all patients in the most efficient manner. She was a tireless advocate for patient care. She was known as no-nonsense but fair, which won her the respect and admiration of all who knew and worked with her. After her retirement in 2000 she was integral in growing the Ivy Inn from her brother’s vision to present day. Her guidance at her beloved Ivy during these years was invaluable. Mickey also had a home in Naples, Florida, where she enjoyed being a snowbird for many years.

Mickey was a recipient of the YWCA’s Tribute to Women in Industry award in 1998. She was a proud member and past president of the Ladies Auxiliary of Princeton Engine Company No. 1.

Mickey was predeceased by her parents Leo G. and Marion A. McCluskey, her brother L. Richard “Dickey” McCluskey, and her mother-in-law Kae Ryan. She is survived by her son, Richard Ryan, daughter, Kelly Ryan, and grandchildren Alexa Trani and Nicolas Trani. She is also survived by Cathy Levens and her children Jacie and Kenneth.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, August 10 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Burial will follow at Princeton Cemetery. A celebration of a life well lived will follow the burial at Ivy Inn, 248 Nassau Street. Visiting hours will be private for the family.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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

———

Norman McNatt

Norman McNatt of Princeton Junction, NJ, died at home on July 26, 2023, after a short illness.

In his working life Norman taught English and European history at Wagner College, and served in administrative capacities at Rutgers University, the Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton, and Princeton University.

He was a self-taught, gifted cabinetmaker, an avid fly fisherman, and an energetic and accomplished restorer of his 100-year-old home in Princeton Junction, where he lived with his wife, Susanne McNatt, for 50 years. He and Susanne were high school sweethearts, and enjoyed more than 60 years as homemakers, travel mates, and helpmates. Susanne survives him.

For those who knew him, he wanted them to know how much he enjoyed all the happy hours with his tennis and fishing companions, and how grateful he was for all the friendship and kindness of friends over the years, and for treasured family members who enriched his life, especially his fellow Arsenal F.C. fan and best bud, Evan.

If anyone wishes to make a donation in his name, please consider Isles, Inc., of Trenton, (isles.org, 609-341-4700) or the Fund for Irish Studies (fis.princeton.edu, 609-258-4840).

Cremation arrangements are under the direction and care of Aftercare Cremation Service, 729 State Route 18, East Brunswick, NJ 08816. To share condolences with the family please visit aftercarecremations.com.

———

Jane Taggart Whittaker

Jane Taggart Whittaker, 92, of Pennington, New Jersey, formerly of Brigantine, passed away peacefully at her residence on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

Jane was born to the late John and Marjorie Taggart in St. Petersburg, Florida, on May 24, 1931. She spent her childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and her summers in Beach Haven, New Jersey. Jane graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1948 and received a BA degree from Hood College, Frederick, Maryland in 1952. Jane taught English and Literature to middle and high school students for several years in the Philadelphia area prior to her marriage in 1955 to Frank L. Whittaker. Jane and Frank raised their family in East Brunswick and Princeton, New Jersey. They retired together to their summer home in Brigantine, New Jersey.

Jane is survived by her children: Susan Ferguson and her husband John, Carol Ann Berry and her husband Rick, Margie Robinson and her husband Dave, Sally Wood, William Whittaker and his wife Eliza, Frank Whittaker, Jr. (predeceased in 2016) and his wife Jeanne. Jane was also predeceased by her loving husband, Frank in 2009 and her little daughter, Elizabeth in 1960. Jane is also survived by 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Jane will be remembered as a warm and loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She was proud of her family and loved spending time with them as much as possible. Jane brought joy and unconditional love to everyone she met. Jane was a longtime devotee of Self-Realization Fellowship. She attended, hosted, and often led services with the Princeton and Atlantic City SRF chapters.

Jane looked forward to the day she would be joined with her guru, Paramahansa Yogananda.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the viewing for Jane at Keates-Plum Funeral Home, 3112 Brigantine Avenue, Brigantine, NJ on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 from 5-7 p.m. A Life Celebration Funeral Service will be held at the Community Presbyterian Church, 1501 W. Brigantine Avenue, Brigantine on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 11 a.m. The interment will be held privately at Laurel Memorial Park in Egg Harbor Township.

To share your fondest memory of Jane, please visit keatesplum.com.

———

Marie Edelman Berman

Marie Edelman Berman, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, died at her Sea Girt, New Jersey, home on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at the age of 90.

A longtime resident of Princeton, N.J., Marie was born on December 13, 1932 in Trenton, N.J., to Minnie (nee Kahn) and Jack Edelman. She was the youngest of four siblings, all of whom predeceased her: sister Ruth, brothers Milton and Aaron, and sister-in-law Evelyn. At Trenton High School she met her future husband of 65 years, Ronald Berman, who passed away in August 2018.

Marie attended Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey, where she earned a BA in education. She worked as a public school teacher for a time before retiring to focus her energies on her growing family.

Marie and Ron were ardent and steadfast supporters of the community, generously donating their time and resources to myriad local organizations. They were also mainstays at Trenton Titans games, where, Marie in particular, cheered on her team vociferously from the owner’s box.

Marie is survived by the loving family to whom she devoted her life: sons Michael, Geoffrey, and Daniel; daughters-in-law Victoria, Joanne, and Karen; and seven loving grandchildren who were the great joys of her life: Zachary, Jeremy, Alexander, Harrison, Charles, Matthew, and Elisabeth. She was a beloved aunt to Milton Edelman, Paula Rosenzweig, and their families.

Always a proud Trentonian, Marie cherished her summers at the shore, and spent her last days at the beach surrounded by her family.

Funeral services were held on August 8 at Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Road, Ewing Township. The family respectfully requests memorial contributions to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Shiva will be observed at the Berman residence in Princeton on Wednesday, August 9, from 5:30–8 p.m.

For condolences please visit OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

August 2, 2023

Obituaries 8/2/2023

John Sheldon Chatham

John Sheldon Chatham of Princeton and Stone Harbor, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Born on December 24, 1934 and raised in Haverford Township, PA, he was the son of the late Walter E. Chatham and Jane M. Buckley Chatham.

John graduated from Haverford High School and Pennsylvania State University where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and the Army R.O.T.C. Program. He served his country in the United States Army for five years and was stationed in Augsburg, Germany, where he rose to the rank of Captain. Immediately following the Military, John joined Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, where he spent his entire career of 38 years.

The various assignments John held with Ethicon took him to many locations in the U.S. as well as Europe, South America, and Asia. While working in the Chicago area, he and his family became avid skiers with their frequent trips to Vail in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. After retiring in 2002, he volunteered his time working with Habitat for Humanity, serving as president of the Trenton-area organization.

John was a member of the Nassau Club, where he served on the Board of Trustees, a member of Springdale Golf Club, Nassau Gun Club, The Old Guard of Princeton, Princeton Officer’s Society, and the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and sons, playing golf, running, and tennis. One of his most favorite and memorable trips was taking his three sons to play golf on several of the great courses of Ireland. He especially enjoyed the many summers spent at his home and on the beach in Stone Harbor where he could often be found with a good novel and an abundance of sunscreen by his side.

During his retirement years, John looked forward to his weekly rounds of golf at Springdale, as well as having lunch with friends on a regular basis at the Nassau Club. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he especially cherished the time he spent with family, including visits with his young grandsons.

In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his brother, Walter E. Chatham, Jr., sister-in-law Julia Chatham, and nephew Gregory Chatham; his sister Rosemary C. Forrey and brother-in-law Robert C. Forrey. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Barbara Mylowe Chatham, and their three sons, John Jr. of Sacramento, CA; Craig and his wife Louise of Stow, MA; and Mark and his wife Sarah and their sons, Barrett and Henry Chatham of Darien, CT. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Dr. Eugene Mylowe and his wife Valerie of Scottsdale, AZ, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held on Friday, August 4, 2023 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Paul R.C. Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2023. Interment at Princeton Cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Central New Jersey, 530 Route 38 East, Maple Shade, NJ 08052 or to a charity of choice.

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

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Judith Paulovic

It’s with great sadness to announce that Judith Paulovic passed away on hospice at home on July 3, 2023, aged 85 years old.

Judy was born in Philadelphia, PA, on March 15, 1938, daughter of Dudley Winter and Doris (Yearsley). She grew up on a farm with her four brothers and sisters in Bedminster Township, PA, and graduated from Pennridge High School.

Her passion for music led her to study at Westminster Choir College, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.

Judy married the love of her life, David Paulovic, in Abington, PA, in 1965 and later settled in Kingston, NJ, where they started a family together and resided for 26 years.

Shortly after having their three children, Greg, Tanya and Nola, she opened a private piano business, teaching children in and around the Princeton area for the next 30 years.

She was an active member of All Saints’ Church and loved singing in choir. In addition to her love for her children and music, Judy lived a well-rounded life and enjoyed many hobbies, such as baking, sewing, and gardening.

Judy is survived by her loving and devoted partner of 10 years, Richard Polizzotti; and her children, Greg Paulovic, Tanya Twiggs, Nola Paulovic and their life partners, Vicky Vydra, Matthew Twiggs, and Oscar Romero; her grandchildren, Mckayla, Lucas, Lyla, and Brayden; a sister, Dorothy Schmidt; and brother, Dudley Winter Jr. She was predeceased by Marilyn Bowers and Thomas Winter. Proud aunt to 11 nieces and nephews, and 10 great-nieces and nephews. 

Private memorial services for close family and friends will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11 a.m. in All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the All Saints’ Episcopal Church music fund.

———

John Joseph Balestrieri

John Joseph Balestrieri, 89, born in Princeton, NJ, on November 23, 1933, as the first American-born child of parents newly immigrated from the Isle of Ischia, passed away under hospice care in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 29, 2023, surrounded by his friends, family, caregiver, and beagle, Penny.

1930s: Raised in a duplex house on Birch Avenue. Son to Salvatore and Maria; brother to Sal, Louis, Dominick, Mary, and Fanny.

Always adventuring with his brothers and their scrappy gang of friends. His first job is with a traveling circus, picking up after elephants, along with his friends, in exchange for show tickets. Later, becomes a four-time marbles champion whose prize is a ticket to his first major league game.

1940s: In high school, he’s talented in baseball, football, basketball, and golf; known as Choo-choo on the football team, Deuce on the basketball team. Also in the marching band until his coaches make him choose. He wins a tournament between caddies with an impossible shot and is offered a pro-golf apprenticeship, but can’t persuade his mother.

Always a craftsman, he soon becomes a skilled wood carver, furniture maker, and draftsman; his student work is shipped to Chicago and displayed nationally. He has ambitions to be an architect after graduation but is guided by his parents to learn a trade.

1950s: Graduates high school and apprentices as a glazier; soon decides that being suspended by a rope from high buildings is not for him. Then apprentices with a notable area builder; learns how to build houses, and is never one to take shortcuts with his craft. From a job site rooftop, he watches Albert Einstein walk down to the brook and back each day; they wave to each other.

On weekends, he drives tanks in the New Jersey National Guard.

1960s: Starts his own contractor business; builds a furnished house in Princeton for his parents and sisters, and then a house for himself on the Jersey shore. He takes his youngest sister, Fanny, for cancer treatments in New York City; she passes away soon after graduating high school.

Works around Princeton and eventually in the home of a retired policeman and his wife; he meets and falls in love with their daughter, Louise. After many closely-supervised dates, they marry at St. Paul’s Cathedral on September 11, 1970.

1970s: First and only child, John Jr., is born. Their home and apartment building burn down; no one’s injured, but everything’s lost. They move in with his in-laws until he finishes the home he’s started in Skillman, NJ. Soon, the basement of their new home begins to fill with bowling trophies.

He opens a workshop and hardware store on Witherspoon Street but is forced to shutter it after a few years due to back-to-back economic recessions; he always regrets opening the store instead of accepting an offer to take over a successful cabinet shop business. He sells the shore house.

1980s: Joins the Princeton Elks Lodge and works hard with new friends to raise money and provide equipment for special-needs children; he runs weekly bingo and other fundraisers. Summers are spent camping, or at the beach, with his family.

Always a parent who supports his son in whatever he pursues, he continues working as a contractor-carpenter from his new home workshop. He saves money, along with his wife who runs a secretarial business, to surprise their son with his first computer, securing his future career.

1990s: A proud father attends his son’s college graduation.

2000s: Growing older but still possesses the energy of a younger man. His father-in-law passes, leaving the family to handle his house and possessions. Opens a nearly-new and furniture repair shop behind the Princeton Elks; he enjoys restoring and repairing pieces in the back while listening to Yankees games and entertaining visitors.

2010s: Takes care of his wife as she battles, and succumbs, to lung cancer over three short years. His grown son’s business allows him to spend more time with him; together they raise a puppy, Penny, plant a garden, and grow figs.

2020s: Sudden heart failure, but has the strength and the will to fight; he undergoes procedures, rehab, and eventually makes a full recovery. During the pandemic, his son and daughter-in-law live with him, managing his care and keeping him safe.

Moves into assisted living at Brandywine, Princeton to spend time with his last living sibling, Mary, before she passes away. He finds new friends, community, and the dance floor. After two broken hips (not related to dancing), he makes further speedy recoveries, and is dancing again.

Undergoes dialysis three times a week to stay alive; it drains his energy, until he can no longer find the strength to continue. He desires to leave the hospitals and return to his home at Brandywine, “a place where I was happy,” surrounded by his family, friends, trusted caregiver, and Penny. We are able to fulfill his dying wish.

Dad, you are greatly loved and will be missed by many. You were always there for your family and friends; generous with your spirit and quick with a joke or humorous remark. Wherever you are, I hope there’s a dance floor and I hope you’re still the first one out there. We love you.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023, from 12 to 1 p.m., with a memorial service at 1 p.m. at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

July 26, 2023

Obituaries 7/26/2023

John F. “Jack” Petrone Sr.

John F. “Jack” Petrone Sr., 95, of Princeton passed away on July 19, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at Penn Medicine in Plainsboro.

He was born and raised in Princeton, NJ. The son of Frank and Alice Rousseau Petrone, Jack lived his entire life in Princeton attending school at St Paul’s and graduating from Princeton High School and was a member of the Princeton High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Jack finished his education with a post graduate year at the Pennington Prep School. Jack then enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corp and was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas from 1946 to 1948. Upon his discharge from the Army, he returned to Princeton and married his high school sweetheart Jean Mae Rowles in 1948. They shared their life and love over the next 70 years until Jean’s passing in 2018.

Jack served as a Princeton Township police officer from 1955 to 1992, retiring as the chief. Jack was also a member of Princeton Engine Company No. 1 volunteer fire department for over 60 years. Jack was the owner and proprietor of Center Sports sporting goods store in the Princeton Shopping Center for nearly 20 years.

Jack served his community of Princeton proudly in a number of ways. He touched the lives of a generation of Princeton youth through the programs he established and participated in. Most notably he established and put in place the PBA Little League baseball program in 1958 along with his favorite project, the Baseball School at Marquand Park on Saturday mornings for pre-little leaguers. He was one of a handful of men that started the PMFL youth football program in 1963. He was the ice safety director for skating at Carnegie Lake for over 20 years. He opened the Valley Road school gym on Saturday mornings for the local youth to play. Most of these programs predated the Princeton Rec. Department’s existence.

Jack received a number of awards recognizing his volunteer work with the youth of Princeton. He received a national distinguished achievement award from Pop Warner for youth football and was named to the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. He received a lifetime achievement award from Joint Effort of Princeton. Jack received the Town Topics Man of the Week award for his contributions to the youth of Princeton.

Jack was a longtime member of Springdale Golf Club, a member of Post 76 American Legion, The Princeton Social Club, The Squatters Club of Princeton, and St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church.

Jack and Jean’s greatest joy in life was spending time with their children and grandchildren who affectionately referred to them as Pop Pop and Grammy. Their grandchildren provided them with a lot of love and joy.

Predeceased by his loving wife Jean R. Petrone, a son John F. Petrone Jr., parents Frank and Alice (Rousseau) Petrone, two sisters and a brother-in-law Delores and Jim Vandergrift, and Shiela Zalvino.

John is survived by four sons and five daughters-in-law James and Carol Petrone, Jeff and Leigh Petrone, Judd and Ginger Petrone, Jason and Kathleen Petrone, Gail Petrone; a brother and sister-in-law Tom and Ellen Petrone; a sister and brother-in-law Sandy and Ronnie Towne; brother-in-law Frank Zalvino; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Carol Ann and Fred Ingram, Larry and Betty Rowles; grandchildren Jaclyn and Ryan Gardner, Jaime and Akira Yamamoto, Dean and Caroline Petrone, Kelsey and Bobby Warshaw, Chris and Nicole Petrone, Brent, Todd, Jillian, Jordan, Judd Jr., Eva Mae, James, Jaxon, Travis; six great-grandchildren; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, July 24, 2023, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Burial followed in Princeton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jack’s honor to: Princetonlittleleague.com or pjflnj.org.

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

———

Marie T. Rickman

Marie T. Rickman, 64, of Princeton passed away on July 20, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and aunt. Marie was a pillar of strength in her home and community and will be remembered for her love of her family and friends, her festive parties, and her many beautiful gardens.

She was a dedicated volunteer Master Gardener of Mercer County, giving thousands of hours of her time. She served the organization as President from 2011–2012, becoming an Emeritus member in 2023. Marie received several awards from Rutgers Cooperative Extension including a State Award for the Native Plant Garden in 2012 and a State Team Award for past presidents in 2014.

She was born in Philadelphia, PA, and is a graduate of Cabrini College.

Predeceased by her father-in-law and mother-in-law Richard and Mary Rickman, and by her sister Susan Trotter.

Marie is survived by her loving husband of 32 years Rodney L. Rickman; a son Richard Rickman; a daughter and son-in-law Kathryn Rickman and Mark Inverso; parents Anthony William and Ann (Cooney) Trotter; a sister and brother-in-law Ann and Buddy Carroll; five brothers and four sisters-in-law Anthony and Christina Trotter, Christopher Trotter, Robert and Jennifer Trotter, Peter and Rosa Trotter, Brian and Lanise Trotter; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law Richard and Sharon Rickman; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Burial followed in Princeton Cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made. Please send checks made payable to Master Gardeners of Mercer County, c/o MGofMC, 1440 Parkside Avenue, Ewing Twp., NJ 08638. Add “Marie Rickman Memorial Fund” in the memo line.

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

———

Maida Danos Pollock

August 1, 1922 – July 6, 2023

Friends and colleagues remember and loved Maida for her deep intelligence, grace, and grit.

Maida was born in Szombathely (“Some bow tie”!), Hungary, and lived in Princeton for 49 years and died in Kula, HI. During her early life, Maida participated fully in the cultural life of her town and in Budapest, where she studied piano at the Liszt Academy.

Speaking foreign languages was part of daily life in her family. All that was interrupted when Hungary entered WWII: Maida’s cherished father was killed in Auschwitz; she and her mother were forced into labor in a German munitions factory where they remained for several months. Finally, they were rescued by a group of American soldiers. Because Maida spoke fluent English and could drive a car, she was employed by the army at a hospital.

Maida never wanted to return to Hungary because she felt betrayed by the government. When an opportunity came about to emigrate to the United States, Maida, her mother, and Maida’s husband arranged to sail here. In 1946 they arrived in New York, three weeks before the birth of Robert, brother to John, born later.

A difficult divorce in the ’60s forced Maida to move away from Long Island, and to the great benefit of Princeton, she moved to Princeton. A childhood friend, living in Princeton, suggested that Maida apply for a job in the Department of Music at the University. She was hired to work with such notables as Roger Sessions and Milton Babbitt. Maida became Director of Princeton University Concerts (PUC). A tribute announced by the PUC says it all: “In her 22-year tenure directing the series (1964-1986), Maida shaped its legacy in everlasting ways.”

In 2014, Maida moved to Kula where her entire family resides. Living in a guest cottage on John’s farm (he is an organic farmer) and close to Robert (a composer and pianist) and his family, Maida was surrounded by a landscape and family she loved.

In 2020, the PUC asked Maida “to share some memories about her time in Princeton and to curate a playlist featuring some of her favorite artists and repertoire from her tenure. Her voice lives in these recollections and tracks; her voice will forever live on in PUC’s spirit.”

Maida is survived by Robert (Klazine) Pollock and John Pollock; granddaughter Esther (Norbert) Jongeneelen; and great-granddaughters Celeste and Beatrice Jongeneelen.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ebb and Flow Arts, 50 Malia-Ull Pi, Kula, HI 96790.

———

Leroy Henry Hunninghake

Leroy Henry Hunninghake passed away peacefully on July 19, 2023 at RWJ University Hospital at Hamilton.

He was born and raised in Seneca, Kansas, where he graduated from Kelly High School where he was valedictorian and received his Doctor of Medicine and Surgery Degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He continued his internship and residency at Ann Arbor University of Michigan. He moved to Princeton, NJ, after and was the first Rheumatologist in New Jersey, opening practices at Princeton Rheumatology in Princeton and Monroe, NJ.

Leroy served as a medic for Public Service during the Vietnam War, where he received a plaque of honor from the President. He served as President of the NJ Medical Society for many years. He received many awards from the Medical Society, Princeton Hospital, and Robert Wood University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was also employed. He enjoyed presenting talks to the community about rheumatology and autoimmune diseases as well as throughout the Northeast.

Leroy was a member of St. Paul’s Parish, where he regularly volunteered. He had a passion for medicine, Michigan and Kansas football and basketball, his Kansas farm, and regularly taking his children to farms and mini golfing when they were younger. He enjoyed helping the community and the sick, but most of all spending time with his family. He especially enjoyed birthdays with his sons.

Predeceased by his parents Henry and Mary Hunninghake, and brother Donald Hunninghake.

Leroy is survived by six sons and one daughter Zachary Hunninghake, Trevor and Kyle Hunninghake (and their mother Susan Hunninghake), Leroy Hunninghake Jr, Lisa Hunninghake, Christopher Hunninghake, and Michael Hunninghake (and their mother Rosemarie Hunninghake); two sisters and brothers-in-law Mary Lee and Jim Smith and Alice and Ron Wurtz; one brother and sister-in-law Gary and Margie Hunninghake; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and colleagues.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2023 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with a funeral service at 8 p.m. at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.

Burial will be on Friday, August 4, 2023 at 11 a.m. in Princeton Cemetery.

———

Sarah Louise Bennett Reichart

1931-2023

Sarah (Sally) died at her home in Princeton on Wednesday, July 12 in Hospice care. She was born in Chicago in 1931, soon moving to Boston where her father joined the faculty of MIT. In 1941, the family moved to Washington, DC, after her father joined the Navy. She graduated from the Holton Arms School in Washington, a life-rewarding experience for her.

Sally lived in the Washington area until she attended Vassar College from which she graduated in 1952 with a double major in Music and Geology. She worked briefly for General Electric in Schenectady, then taught Science at the Brierley School in New York City before marrying Richard Benjamin Reichart on September 25, 1954. They had two children, Phyllis (Angela) and Andrew in New York, moving to Wayne, New Jersey and finally to Princeton in 1982.

In New York, Sally developed her lifelong interest in music and music history through a Master’s degree in Music at Brooklyn College and a PhD in Musicology at CUNY Graduate Center. Her late husband said that she loved learning and went through life “by degrees.” She taught and performed on the recorder and was a member of the New York Recorder Society.

After moving to Princeton, she earned a Master’s in Library Science at Rutgers and worked in the Princeton Public Library. In her later years, she did much scholarly genealogical research, enduring gifts for her family and others.

She was predeceased by her husband Richard in 2020. She is survived by her daughter Angela (Phyllis) in Knoxville, TN; her granddaughter Lila in Massachusetts; her son Andrew and his wife Joy in Berkeley, CA; and her brother, Ralph Bennett, Jr. and his wife Carol in Silver Spring, MD.

Sally and her family are especially appreciative of the support and assistance of her neighbors and Jessica Almodovar. A memorial gathering will be organized for mid-August; details to follow. Contributions to the Princeton Public Library in Sally’s name are welcome.

July 19, 2023

Obituaries 7/19/2023

Claire Matz Anderson
June 3, 1924 – July 10, 2023

Claire Matz (“Patty”) Anderson died peacefully at home in Princeton, New Jersey, on July 10, aged 99 years and 1 month. She was born in Evanston, Illinois, on June 3, 1924, daughter of Charles Henderson and Claire Dutton (McGregor) Matz. She grew up in Brookline and Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and attended the Beaver Country Day school. She was 17 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and she soon joined the war effort, working as a photographer’s assistant at the Harvard Underwater Sound Laboratory. Her father worked on a machine gun trainer at Polaroid Corporation, a top-secret project, and her mother drove a Red Cross ambulance and saw off troops leaving Boston for overseas assignments. Patty recalled unusually silent family dinners in those days in which no one was allowed to discuss their secret activities in support of the war effort.

In 1944 she met Major Harry Bennett Anderson of Memphis, Tennessee, who at the time was on leave from the Marines visiting his sister in Boston. Harry and Patty met at the U.S. National Doubles Tennis Championships at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, which perhaps accounts for their lifelong interest in following tennis championships. On February 10 of the following year, they were married during a heavy snowstorm in Boston and then had a brief honeymoon in Poland Springs, Maine. Within 10 years, they were the parents of four sons and had moved to the north shore of Long Island, Harry by then securing an executive position at Merrill Lynch in New York. In 1958 they settled in the village of Sands Point, where they built and later expanded their house overlooking Manhasset Bay.

Harry became Chairman of Merrill Lynch International, a position that put him in charge of all of Merrill Lynch’s international offices. In that capacity, both Harry and Patty were expected to visit all of the international offices on a regular basis and entertain the office managers and their spouses. It was a job perfectly suited for Patty, who loved traveling and meeting interesting people, and each visit would usually result in some funny incident that she would love to retell. They visited exotic places such as Beirut, Tehran, Johannesburg, Brasília, Buenos Aires, Beijing, and Moscow, as well as all the large financial centers of Europe and Asia. Patty made lifelong bonds with many of the managers and their families, and summers in Sands Point frequently included visits from their international friends passing through New York. A visit to Sands Point always included a relaxing environment, lots of good food cooked by Patty, and entertaining conversation.

Harry and Patty were very involved with the Family Service Association of Nassau County, an organization that helped families in need all over the county. They eventually became board members, retiring from the board only when they moved to Princeton in 1999, at which time FSA honored them at a black-tie banquet and presented them with an ornate plaque commemorating their years of service. In 1967 Patty came up with the idea of hosting a round-robin professional tennis tournament to raise money for FSA. The idea took off quickly and Patty was able to secure the Conolly Gynasium of C. W. Post College on Long Island (converted to an indoor tennis court) and she put together, according to The New York Times, “the biggest amateur indoor tennis event to be held on the island.” Patty was the Tournament Chair and headliners at the event included Billie Jean King, the then-current Wimbledon champion; Chuck McKinley, former Wimbledon title holder and Davis Cup player; Arthur Ashe, who at the time was the ranking amateur player in the country; and other top players. The event was played over two nights to a standing-room only crowd and was covered by the famous tennis journalist Allison Danzig in The New York Times. It was a big success for FSA, and the tournament was held again several times in subsequent years.

Patty and Harry were exceedingly devoted to their family, and they regularly organized extravagant family vacations to exciting places around the country, the Caribbean, and Mexico. They also often invited family on trips to Europe — France being their favorite country — and for more than 20 years they spent part of the summer in Basin Harbor, Vermont, where any family member could join them for a week relaxing on the lake or playing golf.

Patty was probably born 50 years too soon, as she had the executive qualities of organization, planning, and imagination. Given the opportunity, she would have been very successful in any business endeavor she set her mind to. Whenever she undertook a project, she did it with enthusiasm and energy, whether that be organizing a tennis tournament or putting on a sumptuous banquet for guests and family. She was the self-appointed family photographer, a task no one else wanted, but one for which we are eternally grateful when we look back through her beautiful photograph albums commemorating so many happy times. And her signature raspberry pie was so good that it has been adopted by the next generations and will adorn Thanksgiving tables for years to come. She was the glue that held the family together and she was the last surviving member of her generation. Her memory will be forever cherished.

Harry died in 2006 and Patty lived her remaining years at the Windrows retirement community in Princeton. She is survived by sons Alexander M. Anderson (Rebecca), Joseph C. Anderson (Philippa), Jeffrey M. Anderson; daughter-in-law Joie A. Anderson (widow of son Harry, who died prematurely in 1990); grandchildren Claire M. M. Anderson, Elizabeth A. Ray (Neel), Alexander M. Anderson Jr. (Carmen), Christopher A. Anderson, Sara B. Anderson, Louise E. Anderson, and Stephanie M. Anderson; and great-grandchildren Harry Ray and Ella Anderson.

———

Filomena Procaccini

Filomena (Carnevale) Procaccini, 91, of Princeton passed away on July 10, 2023, at Penn Medicine in Plainsboro surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Pettoranello del Molise, Italy. Filomena immigrated to the United States in the 1960s. She started a cleaning service business in the Princeton area. Her customers became like family to her. Filomena had a passion for cooking and baking. She loved to spend time with her family sharing her homemade recipes. She was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church. Filomena was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her two grandchildren were her world.

Wife of the late Antonino M. Procaccini, daughter of the late Sebastiano and Ermelinda (Paolino) Carnevale, sister-in-law of the late Filomena Carnevale, Luigi Antenucci, Almerindo Sferra, and Gennaro Buono.

Filomena is survived by a daughter Maria A. Procaccini; two grandsons Francesco Montano and fiancée Erin Lortz, Anthony Montano and wife Candice; two brothers and a sister-in-law Raffaele Carnevale, Nicola and Bambina Carnevale; three sisters Annunziata Antenucci, Antonietta Sferra, Vincenza Buono; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members in Italy. 

A mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Monday, July 17, 2023 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Burial followed in Princeton Cemetery, 29 Greenview Avenue, Princeton, NJ.

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

July 12, 2023

Obituaries 7/12/2023

Eleanor Young

Eleanor Mary Parke Young, of Rocky Hill, NJ, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2023 in Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ, at that grand age of 96. Born December 30, 1926, she was daughter to Myrtle and William V. Parke of Princeton, NJ. Eleanor was the second oldest of five children.

A longtime resident of both Princeton, NJ, and Rocky Hill, NJ, Eleanor Young enjoyed her last 12 years residing in Irvington, VA, Elkridge, MD, and Ringoes, NJ, with loved ones.

While attending Princeton High School during the height of WWII, she began working as a Switchboard Operator on Nassau Street at Bell Telephone Company. On April 11, 1947, at the age of 20, Eleanor Parke married Otto T. Young Jr., her hometown sweetheart. Together, they shared a beautiful marriage of nearly 30 years before Otto’s
untimely passing.They were blessed with their three daughters and continued to reside in Rocky Hill.

Eleanor was an avid dancer. The family cherished her story of auditioning for the Radio City Rockettes, but she realized city life was not for her. Eleanor carried her talent for dance through life, quickly finding the dance floor to jitterbug, tap dancing in her basement, and in later years becoming a Philadelphia Mummer with The Happy Days String Band. She graced parades with elaborate feathered costumes and white gloved hands. She entertained with the best of them, and kept everyone on their toes with her endless energy. Given the opportunity when asked, Eleanor would always “Rather Be Dancing.”

While keeping an impeccable home, Eleanor dedicated much of her professional life to Mid Atlantic Hospital Association, as assistant convention manager, and to Church World Service CROP, where she managed the Rocky Hill office.She retired in 1997 and remained in her hometown of Rocky Hill, enjoying and maintaining her spectacular peony garden and beloved koi pond. She enjoyed winter trips to Florida, and “tootling” to Ringoes, Baltimore, and Phoenix to visit family.

Eleanor was a member of the Rocky Hill Reformed Church, Rocky Hill Fire Department Auxiliary, Eastern Star, Red Hat Society, and The Princeton Soroptimists Club. While living in Irvington, VA, Eleanor volunteered at the local food pantry and thrift shop. She took pride in the level of support she and her colleagues provided to the local community. She was a gifted letter writer and enjoyed putting pen to paper and sharing her heartfelt thoughts. She always remembered everyone’s birthday and prided herself by sending musical greeting cards to great-grandchildren and loved ones. She scripted beautiful letters adorned with a rose sticker by her signature making everyone feel loved. Christmas morning was not complete without her annual Christmas poem and lovingly decorated envelopes nestled in the Christmas tree.

Eleanor’s grandchildren have fond memories of playing dress up at her vanity, and enjoying sweet Lipton iced tea and Entenmann’s chocolate cake on her patio. It became a tradition for her to take grandchildren for their driver’s tests in her blue Buick Skylark, and give personalized handmade photo albums on their 18th birthdays. Eleanor’s sweet tooth was legendary. She perfected the peanut butter and jelly bean sandwich, always had Juicy Fruit gum in her handbag, taught her great-grandchildren to expect Dove chocolate on her bedside stand, and never turned down a piece of cake.

Eleanor is survived by her daughters Carolyn (Benjamin) Embrey-Foose of Show Low, AZ, Deborah (late Theodore) Cook of Elkridge, MD, and Beverly (Robert) Cramer of Ringoes, NJ; and grandchildren Larry (Leslie) Embrey of Tacoma, WA, Peter (Cathy) Cook of Frankfort, IL, Melissa (Aaron) Fetterolf of Millers, MD, David (Kellie) Cramer of Hopewell, NJ, and Kristin (Adam) Boozer of Elkridge, MD. She also leaves 14 great-grandchildren: Jackson, Bowen, Hannah, Eleanor, Rebecca, Tadd, Whitaker, Temperance, David, Austin, Koal, Declan, Liam, Kaitlyn; and great-great-grandchild Oliver.She was reunited in Heaven with her loving husband, Otto; grandson, Scott; brothers, William, Garrett, Allen; sister, Ruth; and son-in-law, Theodore Cook.

Eleanor wore many hats and adorned many titles. She was lovingly referred to as Mom, Mom-mom, Gigi, and Aunt Elle. She never closed a written letter or shared a personal greeting without a heartfelt hug and, “I love you a bushel and a peck.”It was Eleanor’s signature. She was truly a spectacular woman, and lived a beautiful, rewarding life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a gift or donation be given to a charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 11 a.m. in the Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue, Princeton, NJ. Calling hours will be held, preceding the service, beginning at 10 a.m. Burial at Rocky Hill Cemetery, Montgomery Avenue, Rocky Hill, NJ, immediately following.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

———

George W. Johnson

George W. Johnson, 78, of Princeton died Monday, July 3, 2023 at home. Born in Princeton, he was a lifelong Princeton resident. George was a graduate of St. Paul’s School, the Hun School of Princeton, and was a proud  student at  Lehigh University and was a member of the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity. George was an electrical contractor in the Princeton area his whole life. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Church, a life member of the Mercer Engine Company No. 3 Princeton Hook and Ladder, the Squatters Club, the Lion’s Club of Princeton, and the Harrison Athletic Club. George loved and was very active in flag football.

Son of the late Reuben and Cecelia (McCloskey) Johnson, brother of the late Thomas H. Johnson, brother-in-law of the late Martin F. Nestor, friend and brother-in-law of the late Jeff Lowe, he is survived by his wife of 57 years Catherine (Nestor) Johnson; a son George W. Johnson Jr.; a daughter Brooke A. Johnson; a sister and brother-in-law Margaret “Peggy” and Flavio Fener; three sisters-in-law Josephine Johnson, Lee Nestor, Marta Lowe; three cousins Missy Bruvik, Caroline Clancy, Sue Bruswitz; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by dear friends Noel Sabatino and Doug Hoffman.

A celebration of his life will be held in the spring of 2024.

In lieu of flowers, condolence cards can be sent to PO Box 288, Princeton, NJ 08540.

———

Arlo Dean Duba

Arlo Dean Duba died in Gunnison, CO, June 27, 2023, at the age of 93. He was born in 1929 in Platte, a Czech community in rural South Dakota.

Arlo met Doreen at the University of Dubuque where they were both studying. They were married in 1954. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1955. After completing his Ph.D. at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1960, he took a position at Westminster Choir College as Chaplain and Associate Professor of Religion. In 1968, he did post-doctoral research at the Liturgical Institute of Paris. In 1969, he was appointed Director of Daily Chapel Worship and taught worship and liturgical studies in Princeton Theological Seminary. In 1982 he was called to be the Professor of Worship in the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary where he was also the Dean. He was active in the North American Academy of Liturgy, Societas Liturgica, and the Association for Reformed & Liturgical Worship. Dr. Duba’s works continue to guide and renew the practice of worship and give voice to scripture in congregational singing.

Arlo is survived by his wife of 69 years, Doreen E. Duba; his children Paul (Karen) Duba, Bruce (Susan) Duba, John (Carrie) Duba, and Anne (Steven) Duba-Maack, and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Alvera Duba, and his siblings Ralph Duba and Eldora Duba Beeman. He donated his body to the CO State Anatomical Board.

Memorial contributions may be made toward the Arlo Duba Fund at Princeton Theological Seminary at giving.ptsem.edu or PO Box 821, 64 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08542.

———

John Ross Lasley

John Ross Lasley, aka “Big Bad John,” longtime resident of Princeton, NJ, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family. John had a long, happy, adventurous, and eventful life. His nickname BBJ was a result of his lifelong journey filled with endless humor and pranks amidst his deep love for his friends and family. He was a motorcyclist, a pilot, a skier, a scuba diver, a fisherman, and an avid reader of the New York Times. John had endless stories about his many adventures, some true.

Here are the facts: John was born in New Haven, CT, on April 15, 1927, the first child of Ross Art Lasley and Harriet May Kingsley Lasley. During his childhood, he lived in Boston, New York City, Westport, CT, and Pelham, NY. He attended Pelham Memorial High School before moving with his family to a Flemington, NJ, farm where John became proficient at milking the cows. That was a job he performed each morning before taking the bus to Somerville High School. After two years, he transferred to Valley Forge Military Academy, graduating in 1945. John then joined the Navy and served at Great Lakes and Corpus Christie, TX. Following his discharge from the Navy, he enrolled at Yale University, leaving after two years to join Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as a roustabout. According to John, his parents were delighted that he left Yale to join a circus. Such was the sarcasm of Big Bad John.

After his circus experience, he worked as a management consultant for his father’s company, R.A. Lasley Inc., in the Chrysler Building in NYC. There, John met Katharine Parker, of Onancock, Virginia, who was smitten because “his tie was askew.” They married and had four children: Janet, Martha, David, and Tom. During the early fifties, John commuted to NYC, returning home every night to build his house on Cherry Valley Road in Princeton. He and Katharine worked well past dusk many nights. The completed house was where John and Katharine lived for most of the 59 years of their marriage. It was where their children grew up and where BBJ passed away.

In 1956 John went to work for Opinion Research Corporation in Princeton and retired as senior vice-president 29 years later. At that point he opened an office in Princeton for the Wirthlin Group. Finally, in 1994 John really retired.

Through the years John was very active in the community, serving as Executive Director of the Princeton All-Star Fishing Team, Chairman of the Board of Nassau Savings and Loan, Nassau Club President, Rotary Club President, Executive Director of the Jaycee Football Classic, a Director of the Medical Center at Princeton, Chairman of the Princeton Borough Transportation Committee, member of the Elmo’s Eels, and much more. The Princeton Chamber of Commerce once named him Man of the Year. John enjoyed fishing, gardening, Dixieland jazz, fireworks, and cooking.

After Katharine died, John (at the age of 84!) went on match.com. That led to meeting Dottie Batho whom he married in 2013. They found much happiness and love together, and enjoyed entertaining and traveling, taking over 20 trips and cruises, along with many other adventures.

John outlived his first wife Katharine, his daughter Janet, his brothers, Bob and Jerry, and his sister-in-law, Anna. He is survived by his wife Dottie; his children Martha, David, and Tom (Meg); his son-in-law Marc (Sue); his stepchildren Emily, Peter, and John; his grandchildren Jake, Cory (Mike), Woody (Brittany), Caylin (Steve), Charlie, Q, Ever, Cage, and Tru; his great-grandchildren Edward, Archer, Serenity, and Ivy; his step-grandchildren Christina, Victoria, Amanda, and Lilly; his nieces and nephews Johnny, Sue, Roberta, Kate, Dan, Barbara, Susan, Alison, Beth, and Ross; his sisters-in-law Joan, Judy, and Elizabeth; his brother-in-law John; special friend Sam DeTuro; and many other great friends.

Facts are only part of BBJ’s story. It was his engaging personality, amazing adventures and deep relationships that tell the rest of the story. If you want to share a story about John or post a tribute, please go to aloiafuneral.com. When a date is determined, that website will announce the details for a Celebration of John’s Life. We hope you will join us.

If you wish to make a contribution in memory of John, please contribute to NAMI Mercer in Hamilton, NJ, namimercer.org, an organization which meant a great deal to John and his first wife Katharine.

———

Keith T. Larini

In loving memory of Keith T. Larini, who peacefully departed from this world on June 2, 2023, at the age of 70. He leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories.

Keith is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Jean Larini, who was not only his partner in life but also his source of strength and joy; his two children Todd and Michaela Larini and Jennifer and Jason Spencer; his grandchildren  Sophia, Vincent, and Anthony Larini, Finley and Barrette Spencer; as well as a brother Ken and Maggie Larini and sister Kim and Dom Sferra and nieces; and countless friends.

Keith was born in New Jersey and later became a resident of Princeton, where he established and successfully ran his own painting and construction company.

In 2001, Keith and Jean stumbled upon the enchanting island of St. Croix, USVI and instantly knew they had found their future home.

With determination and perseverance, they made their dream a reality and moved to St. Croix in 2015. Embracing the island life, Keith found solace in being near, in, and around the water. He quickly became an active member of the island community, forming lifelong friendships and cherishing every moment spent in paradise. Keith’s infectious joy was evident as he proudly showcased the beauty of St. Croix to visitors from the states and beyond.

Keith’s departure leaves a void that will be deeply felt, but his memory will forever reside in the hearts of his loved ones. He was a firm believer in celebrating life and always encouraged those around him to embrace each moment.

As Keith would often say, “Let’s get the party started.” Let us raise our glasses and toast to Keith, a remarkable individual who lived life to the fullest and brought immeasurable happiness to those fortunate enough to know him. Cheers to Keith.

———

Phyllis M. Chase

Phyllis M. Chase, 79, of Princeton, passed away on July 9, 2023, at home surrounded by her loving
family. 

Phyllis was born in Elyria, Ohio, but lived in Princeton for the past 48 years. She worked as the travel coordinator for Princeton University for 29 years and was active in Princeton University athletics, known to coaches and athletes through the years. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend. She was kind, thoughtful, and had a smile that would light up a room. She influenced many people in the community and was loved by all who knew her. 

Phyllis is survived by her loving husband Bryce S. Chase; four sons Cory Myers and partner Laura Marks, Kevin Myers, Mathew Myers, Bryce Chase Jr. and daughter-in-law Amy; and daughter and son-in-law Stephanie and Marshall Haegley. She had 10 grandchildren, Bryce M., Court, Mandisa, Irene, Chase, Sophia, Ashton, Amber, Alyssa, Arianna; sister Gail Barney and her partner Sonny Erb; nieces Erin Carpenter and Kristen Barmeu. She had great friends, the “tennis ladies” Maryann, Linda, Bel, and Altina, and her protégée Kim. 

She was predeceased by her parents Robert and Genevieve (Zechman) Murphy. 

Please join us at her Memorial Visitation Thursday, July 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ (matherhodge.com).  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phyllis’ name to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Box 872, Trenton, NJ 08605-0872 (trentonsoupkitchen.org).

June 28, 2023

Obituaries 6/28/2023

Eileen McCoy Whang

August 5, 1958 – June 23, 2023

Eileen McCoy Whang, of Princeton, NJ, died at age 64, at home on June 23, leaving this earthly world in peace.

Selfless and loving, strong-willed, and feisty, Eileen always thought of and put others first, despite the incredible obstacles that she herself faced. She was a natural caregiver, both for her own immediate and extended family, as well as for all those she encountered on a daily basis, personally and professionally. An excellent communicator and a supportive listener, Eileen without fail met everyone on an equal level, easily and uniquely engaging each diverse individual in the warm attentive manner that all who met her doubtless must have felt.

Eileen was predeceased by her father Thomas James McCoy, Jr., her mother Eileen Carey McCoy, and her brother Thomas James McCoy, III. She is survived by her devoted husband KyuJung Whang, daughter Maura Carey Whang and son-in-law Deegan McClung, son Andrew (Drew) James Whang and daughter-in-law Adrienne Polk, and her grandson Remy James Whang, and her spirit welcomes her second grandchild, due in August. She is also survived by numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, cousins, and great friends, too many to count.

Born on August 5, 1958, in Arlington, Virginia, Eileen grew up in Convent Station, NJ, the daughter and younger sister of three strong personalities, who learned together and over time, through their individual and shared life obstacles, that “it’s all about attitude,” and that “if you can’t control it, don’t worry about it,” two refrains that would serve Eileen well throughout her life.

After graduating from Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, NJ, Eileen attended Syracuse University, graduating with dual Bachelor of Science Degrees in Human Development and Early Childhood Education in 1980. It was at Syracuse where she met Kyu, and the two shared 42 years together in a remarkable marriage, raising two astounding and steadfast children in the diverse town of Lawrenceville, NJ.

While living in central New Jersey, Eileen spent 15 years teaching at University League Nursery School in Princeton, but devoted much of her time to helping others, notably serving as a tutor for the Literacy Volunteers of America in Mercer County, and remained an ardent proponent and cheerleader of her children’s interests and activities.

In 2006, after Kyu was recruited by Cornell University, Eileen and Kyu relocated back upstate. It was at this time that Eileen came into her role as a dependent care consultant at the University, helping faculty and staff navigate their personal and work lives, which included things like supporting adult children caring for aging parents, a particular life job that Eileen was actively living out herself. She continued her altruistic work while living in Ithaca, which was anchored by her volunteering and nonprofit leadership for the Foodnet Meals on Wheels and the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, work which was made evermore poignant by her own diagnosis with thymic carcinoma shortly after her move upstate.

Eileen too had three other cancers over the course of her life, but the thymic carcinoma diagnosis in 2007, at age 49, initiated a path of obstacles that Eileen had to navigate for the next 16 years and for the rest of her life. Despite countless chemotherapy and radiation treatments, surgeries, losses of hair, and innumerable hours of exhaustion, uncertainty, and pain, Eileen never let her disease define her or let her family make it their life, though inevitably in many ways it was.

In 2017, Kyu was recruited by Princeton University, so the pair made the move back to central New Jersey. Eileen felt that given some increasing limitations, rather than work she would focus on community service. She served on the Board of the YWCA of Princeton and was deeply involved in an adult tutoring program run by the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, where, despite her personal hurdles, she remained engaged and felt productive giving back and helping others.

In December 2022, Eileen and her family made the difficult but ultimately life-sustaining decision to no longer seek any curative medical treatment. Eileen remained resolute that she was at peace with this decision, had no regrets, lived the life she wanted, and successfully set an example for her children, grandchildren, and others.

Eileen would like to be remembered for what brought her the most happiness and joy: traveling the world with Kyu and her family; enjoying a well-prepared meal; sharing time with friends; amusing in a good novel; ever-seeking knowledge and challenging her own beliefs; dancing with Kyu, and dancing in the rain; taking walks in all four seasons; soaking in the tub; spending time with her family at their homes in Princeton and on Long Beach Island, in particular putting up a good fight in their annual Cocktailfest; visiting her children in New York; delighting in watching her young grandson grow up, and her grandchild-to-be swell in her daughter’s belly; taking comfort in seeing Kyu’s face every time he would come home.

Throughout her life, and in her last six months in particular, not a day passed that Eileen and her family were not aware of the incredible gift of mutual joy and time they shared together, and she felt blessed and beyond fortunate. Eileen undoubtedly considered herself to be a lucky woman, and was more than content in the manner in which she had to leave the family she created behind.

Eileen’s Celebration Service will be held on Saturday, July 1, at 10:30 a.m. at the Princeton University Chapel. Visitation hours will be held the night before at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, from 4-6 p.m.

Gifts in Eileen’s memory may be made to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (trentonsoupkitchen.org) or the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes (crcfl.net).

June 21, 2023

Obituaries 6/21/2023

LaFerne S. Keller

LaFerne S. Keller, age 97, died peacefully and went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, May 26, 2023 at her daughter’s home surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Richfield, Pennsylvania, on April 1, 1926. She was the first person in her family to graduate from college and earned her degree in Elementary Education from Bloomsburg State Teachers College in 1949.

She began her career teaching first grade in Oxford, NJ, and moved to Princeton, NJ, in 1953 after her marriage to Gene Keller Sr. She continued to teach in Hightstown, NJ, until they started their family.

Even though LaFerne retired from teaching, she continued to be actively involved with children during her lifetime. She spent many years teaching Sunday School, being a Girl Scout Leader and babysitting for her grandchildren.

LaFerne was the leader of both a Girl Scout troop and an Explorer Scout High Adventure Post from 1966-1979. Throughout the years, she remained close to a small core group of girls who affectionately called her “Mom.”

LaFerne had a strong faith and was very active in the churches that she attended. Most recently she attended The Blawenburg Reformed Church where she served as an elder for several years. One of her favorite things to do was to make homemade candy including lollipops, chocolates, and peanut brittle for the church’s annual Christmas bazaar.

She is survived by her loving children Gene H. Keller Jr. of Princeton, NJ, Patricia L. Keller (Joseph Kwiatkowski) of Holland, PA, and Jared M. Keller (Kathryn Williams) of Lambertville, NJ.

She is also survived by her sister Eunice Auker and brother Stanley (LaDonna) Shirk, all residing in Richfield, PA; her two grandchildren, Alex Kwiatkowski of Nashville, TN, and Julianne Kwiatkowski of Wayne, PA; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene H. Keller Sr; her son, Jonathan A. Keller; her sisters Miriam Sheaffer and Naomi Shellenberger; and her brothers Sonny, Donald, and Elvin Shirk.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life Ceremony at Blawenburg Reformed Church on County Highway Route 518 on Friday, June 23 at 3 p.m.

Internment will be on Saturday, June 24 at the Richfield Cemetery at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in LaFerne’s name can be made to The Blawenburg Reformed Church, 424 Route 518, Blawenburg, NJ 08504.

———

Alexander Duane “Sandy” Welch

The world lost a standout man on June 15, 2023 when Alexander Duane Welch passed away peacefully at age 78.

Born in 1944 to the late Barbara and Alexander Welch in Pensacola, Florida, where his father was based in the Navy, Alex was raised to value service and do things properly. But he rebelled when needed. He grew up in Waban, Massachusetts, where the family moved when his father completed his service and became a labor lawyer. His grandfather was the CEO of then Boston institution, department store Jordan Marsh. His grandfather a few greats back, James Duane, was a Founding Father and first post-colonial Mayor of New York City. When Alex grew up, five o’clock cocktail parties, golf events, and charity balls were de rigueur. Alex would caddy and work at Jordan Marsh during his breaks from the Mount Hermon school and around summers with cousins in Maine.

But don’t let this gentility fool you. Serious and devilish in equal measure, Alex had a wicked sense of humor and an endless capacity for practical jokes. If love can be measured by the number of times peanut butter was spread where it didn’t belong (like on telephone earpieces), his family were well-loved. He also had a penchant for small-scale arson. Over the course of his life, carpets, closets, hornet nests, and front lawns were inadvertently burned in the name of ambiance or pest control. And those are just the incidents we know about.

He received an ROTC scholarship and attended Tufts University to study history. After graduating, his service in the Marine Corps brought him to the Defense Language Institute in California (where he learned Indonesian), the USS Intrepid for exercises off the coast of Canada, the DMZ in Korea, and ultimately to Vietnam. The Marine Corps was in many ways his core, the centrifugal force for brotherhood and friendship, and the subject of many a great tale told often late into the night.

After Vietnam, he continued to chart an explorer’s course, raising a family and frequently moving around the world, living in Jakarta, Singapore and Melbourne working for companies like Gillette, L’Oreal, Alcoa, and Richardson-Vicks. When Alex and his first wife divorced, Alex became a full-time Dad with a capital “D” to a 12-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. He moved back to Melbourne for a job with a digital marketing start-up so his children could be close to extended family there. His hours were long and dinners were feast or famine. His son once ate an apple core. So it was to everyone’s delight that he met Anne Marie, a strong-willed, sensible New Yorker who shared a sense of humor and his passion for learning and curiosity about the world. He convinced her to become his wife and she put things right. They built a life together over 35 years worthy of a novel, living in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, and ultimately Princeton, with many travels in between. Sailing on the Chesapeake was a particular love, and they went on expeditions as often as they could. Both competitive people, there was some vying for the captain role and control of the tiller. But Alex soon realized he was best cast as first mate.

When physical limitations curtailed Alex’s travels, he kept exploring by connecting with others and through books, often on history. The last trip he wanted to take was to the Civil War battlefield in Antietam with his son and the last book he read only weeks before he passed was Ron Chernow’s 1,104-page opus Grant. But even more than his constant curiosity, it was his generosity people valued above all. He had an acute sense of just what people needed — whether you were close family or someone he met in everyday life. Every interaction was an opportunity for connection. And this thread will continue through those who survive him: his wife, Anne Marie; brothers Bruce and Chris; two children, Deanna and Cameron, and their respective partners, Stephen and Carolyn; many cousins; and three beloved grandchildren Ava, Logan, and Owen, who knew him affectionately as Grandpa Sandy. He signed his emails and texts to them: “Love GPS” — a fitting moniker for a man famous for the world’s longest short-cuts.

Service in celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 26 at Nassau Presbyterian Church, where the family are longtime members and grateful for shared comfort in faith.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (mcsf.org).

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

———

Joanne L. Nini

Joanne L. Nini died peacefully, on Tuesday. June 13, 2023, surrounded by family at the age of 91. At 8 years old Joanne (Giovanina) and her mother made the long journey from Pettoranello, Italy, to Princeton, New Jersey. She and her husband Anthony D. Nini owned Nini Chrysler Plymouth, a Princeton institution in its heyday. A homemaker raising five children, her daughter stricken with encephalitis and bedridden, she never wavered in her faith and turned to the Blessed Mother and Padre Pio for strength. She was often heard saying “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” and she certainly made the sweetest lemonade from her life’s challenges.

Joanne was known for her math mind, creativity, love of a good prank or joke, amazing pizzelles, and knack for finding out your whole life story over a cup of coffee. As a business owner of antique and collectible shops she befriended many. Joanne’s passions were flea markets and horse racing. When she and Tony built their successful racing stable and breeding farm, no one was more proud. She enjoyed time with friends at Monmouth Park. She was an avid bowler bringing home numerous trophies. Her smile shined bright in every room, but it was its brightest at her kitchen table, racing form open, coffee ready, with company coming. With the coffee brewing non-stop she welcomed all to her home. Known as Jenny to her family and childhood friends, she made friendships for life.

Joanne is predeceased by her parents Guido and Maria Teresa, her brother Antonio, her husband Anthony D. Nini, her daughter Kathleen, and her grandson Anthony. She is survived by her children Anthony Nini (Assumpta), Janice Nini Weinberg (Fred), Lynda Petrocelli (Joe), and Patricia Biscardi (Tom); sisters Antoinette Nelson (Nils) and Gloria Hutchinson (Bob); grandchildren Bradford Schreffler, Kristin Santizo (Milton), Elliott Schreffler, Ariela Weinberg-Shibre (Biniyam), Melissa Nini (John Tenuto), Andrew Nini, Nicole Petrocelli, Joseph Petrocelli, Kristina Biscardi (Joe Vare), Thomas Biscardi, and Amanda Biscardi; great-grandchildren Rocco Nini, Westin Nini, Angelo Santizo, Roman Santizo, and Aviel Shibre; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; a most dear friend, by her side throughout, Beverly DiBenedetto; and her exceptional caregivers Judi and Zena.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Paul Parish, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542 followed by burial in Princeton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Princeton-Pettoranello Sister City Foundation or St. Paul Parish.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

———

Elizabeth Irene Shields

Elizabeth Irene Shields, 100, a longtime and beloved school nurse in the South Brunswick school system, died peacefully at home in Kendall Park, NJ, her two daughters by her side, on Wednesday, June 14.

Known by her middle name, Irene is the widow of Princeton native Thomas Francis Shields, a World War II U.S. Marine veteran who died in March 2000 after their 51 years of marriage.

She was born on a farm in Warwick Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on February 6, 1923, the fourth of 12 children of the late businessman farmer William M. Painter and onetime schoolteacher Grace Anne McCord Painter.

Her modest upbringing was typical of farming families that once formed the bedrock of America but today are so few. No shoes in the summer, washing in a basin or the creek, starting out in a one-room schoolhouse and Sundays at the country church built by her grandfather. She learned, by necessity, to sew — a skill she transmitted to her daughters — and suffered her brothers’ antics in the days when kids made their own fun. All honed a perseverance and work ethic that stood her through life.

Home life centered around the kitchen, evenings on the porch. Charity was primordial, notably during the Depression. Irene remembers her mother having “John the Bum,” a local vagrant, come eat with the family despite their many mouths. And living was frugal. Irene was enchanted the first time she saw a real magazine at an aunt’s house. At home, their only dream book was the “Sears and Roebuck” catalogue, whose pages did double duty in the outhouse.

After high school, she graduated from the Reading Hospital School of Nursing in Pennsylvania and landed her first job in 1944 at the former Princeton Hospital on Witherspoon Street, living in the nurses’ quarters nearby.

It was in Princeton where she met her future husband at a gathering of young nurses and soldiers, shortly before the men’s deployment overseas. Tom tore a dollar in two and said if I come back we’ll join the halves. He did, after heavy battle in the Pacific. The rest is history.

They married in 1948, settling downtown on Maple Street, with two daughters born in the next four years.

In 1957, the family moved to Kendall Park, a post-war development just north of Princeton that attracted many veterans thanks to the GI Bill and spawned a thriving community with elementary schools, a newspaper, and a shopping center.

Irene helped transform their brand new barren lot, transplanting peonies, irises, lilacs, and Rose of Sharon from her parents’ farm along with the cherished rain lilies in the family for generations.

On Sundays she made the same “creamed eggs on toast” she had been served in her own childhood after church, a dish her family had dubbed “eggs à la Goldenrod” for a touch of class.

When ready to return to work, Irene developed the nursing program for Kendall Park’s three new elementary schools, remaining until 1967 when she moved on as the first nurse at the newly opened Crossroads Middle School in nearby Monmouth Junction.

She was a loyal team member much loved by staff and students, many of whom remember her until this day. Her quiet and calm demeanor held forth not only through minor student problems but many emergencies.

Irene’s huge extended family was all important. She joined them every Thanksgiving and for old-fashioned family reunions every June in Pennsylvania.

She is survived by her two daughters, Renee Shields of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Nancy Shields of Paris, France, as well as two grandsons, Matthew Marino — and his partner Charlotte Vinet — and their son Miles, and Michael Marino, all of Paris.

A devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she and her late husband were very close to their daughters despite the distance, traveling many times to Europe and the western U.S. to places they might never have seen otherwise.

She is predeceased by seven of her 12 siblings: Robert, Grace, Gross and Fred Painter, Ada Philips, Virginia Smith, and Minnie Kemp.

Her surviving sister and brothers are Narrie Herr of Maryland, Hunter Painter of Ohio, and Hervey and Jesse Painter of Pennsylvania. She also leaves behind 16 nieces and nephews and many more great-nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton.

Viewing will be Wednesday June 21 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the funeral home with a service immediately after. Burial will follow at St. Paul’s Cemetery, Nassau Street, Princeton.

Friends and family of the deceased who wish can access the website at matherhodge.com to extend sympathies and find details regarding the memorial.

June 14, 2023

Obituaries 6/14/2023

William D. Hogan

William D. Hogan, 84, of Princeton passed peacefully at home on Wednesday, June 7 following a courageous 12-week battle with peritoneal cancer.

Born in Paterson, NJ, and raised in Hawthorne, he was predeceased by his parents Caroline and William L. Hogan; his brother Richard F. Hogan; his sister Maureen Hogan; and his daughter Erin Doreen Curcio.

Bill leaves behind his beloved wife Elaine (nee Martinetti); his daughter Kimberly and Karl Moore of New Hope; his son William P. Hogan of Hamilton; his adored grandchildren Audra (21) and Logan (16); his brother Kevin Hogan of Pickerington, OH; his son-in-law Shawn Curcio of Lenoir, NC; and many nieces and nephews.

A loyal Son of Xavier High School ’56 in Manhattan, Bill graduated as an ROTC Captain, and believed his Jesuit education became the foundation of his independent thinking, respect for hard work, and positive attitude.

He earned a BS and MA from Montclair State College, and began teaching math and coaching basketball at DePaul High School in Wayne and Our Lady of the Valley in Orange. At 28, he was recruited by IBM starting in their Cranford office, promoted to the Strategic Planning Staff at headquarters in Armonk, NY, and became sales manager when the Trenton office opened. He moved to Lawrenceville, and in 1969 was named basketball coach at Notre Dame High School.

He owned Hogan’s Restaurant and Carnegie Hall in Lawrenceville for 10 years.

Bill owned an executive search firm specializing in placing salespeople throughout the United States. He subsequently founded Hogan Leadership Group, a consulting firm working with small businesses to develop and grow their companies. He wrote and published three consulting books for his clients to use as reference tools. They included his trademark storytelling, time management and hiring skills, and an honest approach to selling. His third book, Stop Selling, is still being sought on Amazon.

He proudly served on the Board of Stuart Country Day School and was a longtime member of The Bedens Brook Club. 

Bill’s love of basketball was lifelong. He and Elaine were season ticket holders for Princeton University basketball for over 25 years where he shared many nights critiquing the game in the stands with Pete Carril. This year, he won the 2023 Moore Family March Madness Challenge trophy which his daughter, Kimberly, proudly presented to him.

Bill had a lifelong respect and passion for the game of golf. He was the first known player to shoot his age at Bedens Brook with a score of 73. Subsequently, he shot his age 18 times. In 21 years, he played 4,051 rounds of golf averaging over 200 rounds per year. He also had three holes-in-one. Two at Bedens Brook and one at Querencia, in Cabo San Lucas. He was truly the Bedens Brook Legends Club Champion and was honored this week with Mens Day being renamed The Hogan. His walk, smile, and swing will grace the course forever.

At age 19, Bill was honored to caddie for the legendary golfer, Ben Hogan, at a tournament at Ridgewood Country Club.

His passion for work and sports golf, basketball, tennis, and skiing were only surpassed by his love and unwavering commitment to his family, friends, and Catholic faith.

SON OF XAVIER, MARCHING ON!

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 17 at the Church of St. Ann, 1253 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Visitation will be in the church chapel from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Bill’s memory to Stuart Country Day School, 1200 Stuart Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.

Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.

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William Louis Howarth

William Louis Howarth died peacefully at the Princeton Medical Center on June 6, 2023, of interstitial lung disease. He was 82.

Will was born in Minneapolis, grew up in Springfield, Illinois, and received a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign in 1962 and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia in 1967. He was a member of the Princeton University faculty for 51 years, specializing in American Studies, literary nonfiction, and eco-criticism. He served as Editor-in-Chief of The Papers of Henry D. Thoreau, wrote 14 books, reported on literary America for the National Geographic Society, and was a founding member of the Princeton Environmental Institute.

He is survived by his wife, Anne Matthews, three siblings, and a daughter and a son.

There will be no services, but gifts in his memory to the Ridgeview Conservancy of Princeton or to the Friends of the Princeton University Library are appreciated.

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Maxine A. Gurk
August 28, 1928 – June 7, 2023

Maxine A. Gurk, a longtime resident of Princeton, passed away at home on June 7, 2023. She was predeceased by her husband, Herbert M. Gurk in 2013. She is survived by her children Lisa Gurk Herman (Michael) of New Orleans, LA, David Gurk of Ann Arbor, MI, and Rebecca Gurk (Stuart Mangel) of Columbus, OH; her grandchildren Katie (Mike Noble) and Peter Herman, Josh, Molly, and Ben Mangel; and her great-grandson, August Noble.

Born to the late Bernard and Helen Auerbach, Maxine was raised in Philadelphia. In 1960 she moved to Princeton with her husband where they found a welcoming community and formed lasting friendships. Maxine was a frequent participant in charitable activities for the town and the local chapters of Hadassah and Jewish Women International. As a JWI member, she visited numerous schools, inspiring children with stories about heroes who fought for tolerance. She was deeply involved in the Princeton Jewish Center and served as president of its Women’s Division. Before Princeton Borough and Township consolidated, Maxine served for many years on the Joint Commission on Aging.

As a senior in high school, Maxine chose between two great interests: art and education of young children. She was awarded a scholarship to Moore College of Art but instead accepted one to the University of Pennsylvania, receiving her BS in Education in 1950. While at Penn, she combined her two passions by teaching ceramics at a South Philadelphia settlement house. After graduating, she taught first grade at the University of Pennsylvania’s Illman-Carter Children’s School, where she served as a demonstration teacher for educators from across the country and abroad. During that time, Maxine earned a qualification for teaching the deaf from Temple University, which she used to teach preschoolers at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and teenagers at the Society of the Friends of the Deaf in Philadelphia.

Maxine met and fell in love with her future husband, Herb, in 1951 while working as an arts and crafts counselor at Indian Lake Camp in the Pennsylvania Poconos, where he was also a camp counselor. They married in December 1952.

For the last 22 years of her career, Maxine worked at the Rocky Hill Cooperative Nursery School, serving as head teacher and director. She daily marveled at her good fortune to have a job she loved so much. In her retirement, her pleasures included writing memoirs and poetry and continuing her lifelong love of art as a prolific painter, using various media with an emphasis on watercolor. For several years she was the co-curator of the Princeton Jewish Center’s art gallery and, after moving to Princeton Windrows, served as an illustrator for a number of Windrows publications. She also enjoyed volunteering in the Grand-Pals program of the Princeton Senior Resource Center, as an English as a Second Language teacher, and as a tutor in Mercer County Community College’s Adult Literacy Program.

Services were held at The Jewish Center in Princeton followed by burial in Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge, NJ.

Donations in memory of Maxine Gurk may be made to The Jewish Center of Princeton (thejewishcenter.org/donation) or the Princeton Senior Resource Center (princetonsenior.org/support/donate).

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

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Martha Kingsley

Martha Kingsley passed away at Stonebridge at Montgomery in Skillman, NJ, on June 2, 2023.

Martha was born in Vienna, Austria, on July 7, 1925. At the young age of 13, she was forced, by Hitler’s advance into Austria, to leave her family behind and travel solo to New York aboard the Queen Mary. This was the beginning of the indomitable spirit that she demonstrated throughout her life. There she resided with her aunt and uncle until seven years later after the war when her mother and father were finally able to rejoin her.

She met her beloved husband, Ben, in a swimming pool in New York City where she mistakenly entered the deep end of the pool, and then suddenly had to call for help because she was not able to tread water.  Ben happened to be substituting for his cousin as a lifeguard that day, even though he actually had no training. He subsequently went in to try to “save” her, and Martha ended up pulling him down as well, inspiring one heroic soul to jump in and save the both of them! That was the beginning of a wonderful union which lasted 50 years until Ben’s passing, producing three sons, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren!

Martha graduated from Julia Richman High School in Manhattan in 1942. Her senior yearbook memorably characterized her as a “sweet and sincere friend of the truest blend.” After 20 years of childraising, Martha was determined to go back to school, and subsequently obtained her teaching degree from Trenton State College.  She then taught for over 21 years in first grade in the Mill Lake School in Monroe, New Jersey. Martha used to joke that she “never graduated from first grade,” but that turned out to be a great benefit to the many students that were shaped and touched by her teaching.

At the end of her teaching career, her friends and colleagues wished her a proverbial “long and healthy retirement.” Little did they know how prescient that would be, as she pursued a healthy and active retirement for the next 34 years. During that time, she made good on some lifelong desires such as trying her hand at painting (she ended up producing more than 50 paintings in her Senior Center class) and taking trips around the world. She enjoyed many diverse experiences on those trips such as riding on an elephant or in a rickshaw in India; visiting Buddhist temples in Thailand; praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem; cruising along the Rhine in Germany; donning a kimono in Japan; and coming full circle by going back to her home in Vienna, which she had been forced to leave some 50 years prior.

Not surprisingly, she always told anyone willing to listen (and usually more than once) that she had lived a wonderfully full life, had no regrets, and was SO grateful for everything, and most especially her beloved family! Perhaps that attitude was part of the “secret sauce” that enabled her to live until the ripe “young” age of 97.

At Stonebridge, where she lived out her remaining 13 years, she couldn’t walk through the hallways without numerous residents and staff members stopping her along the way with a warm greeting and a smile. One staff member commented that she’s “kind of like a legend around here.” Another said that Martha looked at her like an adopted daughter. What always stood out for those of us who knew and loved her were the warmth and kindness we could see shining through her eyes!

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Stonebridge at Montgomery, 100 Hollinshead Spring Road, Skillman, NJ  08558.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

June 7, 2023

Obituaries 6/7/2023

Naomi Kark Schedl

Naomi Kark Schedl passed away on May 10, 2023. She was born on January 12, 1920 in Cape Town, South Africa. She was the daughter of Dr. Solomon Ezekiel Kark and Rebecca Rossenstein and had two older siblings, Robert and Bernard.

Naomi matriculated with honors from the Good Hope School in Cape Town. She came to the USA in 1941 to attend Radcliffe. When she arrived, she discovered that Radcliffe was a women’s school and she didn’t want to go to a college segregated by sex. She also wanted to be an artist, but found out that Radcliffe only offered a degree in art history. So, she went looking for other schools and discovered that there was a School of Fine Arts that was connected to Yale and was co-educational. She enrolled in the Yale University School of Fine Arts and received her BFA in 1943 and her MFA in 1944. In her memoir she writes that she wanted to take courses in Yale College but that was forbidden, while in the Fine Arts classes she and other women were made to sit at the back of the lecture hall. During the 1944-45 school year she taught Art at Salem College, in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

In 1945 she married Harold Schedl, a Yale graduate, who was then working on his PhD. The family moved to Iowa City, IA, in 1950 when Harold began Medical School at the University of Iowa. Naomi taught art to children. When Harold graduated, the family moved to Bethesda, MD, where Naomi did post-graduate work in fiber art at American University (Washington, DC).

After the family returned to Iowa City, she began teaching Fiber Art in the University of Iowa Home Economics Department. Eventually her Fiber Art classes were cross-listed with the University’s School of Art and Art History. She was then tasked with developing a graduate program which emphasized Fiber Art. In addition to Fiber Art, Naomi was an accomplished painter. She exhibited her fiber art and other art work in national and international one person and group shows and received a number of awards and University grants. Her artwork is displayed in museums and in other public and private collections. She wrote art reviews and was featured in several issues of American Craft and Fiber Arts. She also organized multiple workshops. She is the author and illustrator of a children’s book, A Sea Voyage to Africa.

Naomi is survived by three sons, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

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Mike Joye

Erwin Michael “Mickey” Joye of Pamplico, SC, and Princeton, NJ, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2023 after battling Parkinson’s disease for more than a decade. He was 78 years old. Our hearts are heavy with loss but also full of joy and gratitude for the time we shared with him.

He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Lucy (Sticco), his eldest son and daughter-in-law, his younger son and fiancée, a grandson, three siblings and their spouses, and a multitude of caring extended family and friends. He is predeceased by his parents and two brothers.

Mike was born on October 16, 1944 to Amy (Evans) and Acue “Stoll” Joye and grew up in the small farming community of Pamplico. During summers he cropped tobacco on his Grandaddy Evan’s farm alongside family members. Sandlot baseball and “half rubber” matches filled his early years. He was a proud member of the Pamplico High School basketball team when they won the state championship. He shared in the Southern heritage unique to the Pee Dee region. The values of hard work, honesty, and perseverance learned during these years always remained with him. Though his Southern accent could wax and wane from day to day, his love for those in his home state was a steadfast part of his identity.

Mike attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He was awarded a four-year Navy ROTC scholarship for his undergraduate education. The first two years of his military assignments were as a naval officer at sea. Upon completion of his duties, he was discharged in 1970 from the U.S. Naval Station in Brooklyn, NY, as a Lieutenant, receiving a letter of commendation stating: “Your leadership, intelligence, and self-discipline have been in the highest tradition of the United States Navy.” Mike’s four-year service was an important part of his life. He often said that the responsibilities required to fulfill his military duties shaped his future.

Three years later in 1973, Mike earned the degree of Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School. He was recognized as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar for outstanding academic achievement. Mike launched his professional career in the New York City law firm LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby and McCrae where he became a partner in the practice of insurance law. Mike believed in working hard and playing hard, and he unfailingly arranged his busy schedule to play short stop for the inter-firm softball games that he enjoyed.

Mike had an adventurous spirit and an open inquisitiveness about the world. From 1978-1980, he took a hiatus from the law firm to teach constitutional law at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, during that country’s transition from a military dictatorship to a constitutional government modeled on the U.S. Together, he and Lucy traveled widely throughout northern Africa and experienced the languages, foods, and traditions of the people along their journeys. Their travels furthered their respect and appreciation for different cultures.

Upon returning home to the U.S., Mike continued to practice insurance law as general counsel at American Insurance Group (AIG), Reliance Insurance Company, and American Reinsurance Company. Throughout his legal career, Mike developed a reputation for his keen intellect, good judgment, and honesty. He used his abilities in combination with an unrelenting work ethic to help resolve complex issues for his clients. Later in life, he applied these skills to public service as a member elected to the Montgomery Township Council.

Despite long commutes, longer office hours, and frequent business trips, family was Mike’s priority. No matter how busy, he always made time to help his children with homework, offer wise advice, and engage in the lives and the laughter of his sons and their friends, often hauling them to early morning ice hockey games in the big red family van with the notorious “JOYBOYS” vanity plates. Those who knew him remember his contagious optimism, intelligence, and broad knowledge of history and sports, especially the Yankees and his alma mater UNC Tarheels basketball team.

We miss Mike dearly.

Memorial services are planned in Princeton, NJ, and Pamplico, SC.

In lieu of flowers the family would be grateful for donations made to support the work of Mike’s neurologist, Dr. Matthew Swan, for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders at Mount Sinai Hospital NY at: http://giving.mountsinai.org/movement.

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David M. Mackey

David Maurice Mackey passed away on May 23, 2023, in the Health Care Center at Stonebridge at Montgomery in Skillman, New Jersey. At the time of his death, he was suffering from esophageal cancer. Born on July 24, 1934, in Washington, D.C., to Justus Umsted Mackey and Isabel Louise Mackey nee Cathey, David grew up in suburban Washington and graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia. Following high school, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education in 1957 from Kutztown University. After two brief years as an art teacher, he was called to serve in the United States Army in Heidelberg, Germany, where he was a feature writer/photographer for regional military newspapers. Upon discharge in 1960 he returned to teaching and began what would become a 33-year career as a beloved art teacher in the Princeton regional school district, retiring in 1993.

During his 33-year career, David was active in organizations promoting education and teaching. At various times, he served as President and Vice-President of the Princeton Regional Education Association; as Recording Secretary, Vice-President, and President of the Mercer County Education Association; and as President of the Art Educators of New Jersey. In 1986, the Art Educators of New Jersey presented David with their “Outstanding Art Educator Award” and a Life Membership.

David was widely known for his interest in railroading and was an avid train-chaser and collector of railroad memorabilia. He served as President of the New Hope Steam Trains Foundation for two years and, when he had time, worked for the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad moving freight between points south and west of New Hope.

He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hopewell Museum, and eventually served as their President. In retirement, he kept up his interest in art education as a Docent for the Princeton University Art Museum.

David is predeceased by his younger sister Micki and his beloved wife of 32 years, Rebecca Sachs Mackey. He is survived by his brother- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and their children.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society, to the Princeton High School Scholarship Fund at Fund101.org/donate, or to the Hopewell Museum, 28 East Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ 08525.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cromwell Memorial Home in Pennington.

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Assunta Sferra

Assunta Sferra, 91, of Princeton passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. She was born in 1931 in Pettoranello del Molise, Italy. In 1969 she arrived in Princeton, NJ, where she was a lifelong resident. Assunta was a housewife who enjoyed cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Predeceased by her parents Dominico and Angela (Toto) Sferra; husband Oreste Sferra; and brothers Tony, John, and Joe; she is survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law, Bert and Ester Sferra, and Flory and Patricia Sferra; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 9:30–10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542 with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Princeton Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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

———

Vladimir Visnjic

Vladimir Visnjic, a particle physicist and active member of the Princeton community, passed away on May 30, 2023 at 76 years of age, three months after the passing of his beloved wife Georgia.

Vladimir was born in Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia. Despite their limited means, his parents managed to enroll him in one of the best schools in the country: the Classical Gymnasium. While there, he excelled in all subjects, especially Latin, Ancient Greek, and Mathematics. He went on to study electrical engineering at university, before dedicating the rest of his career to physics.

From a young age he exhibited a knack for learning new languages (eventually mastering seven), which opened up many doors for him in life, beginning with a physics internship in Paris while still a university student. Needing to get from Belgrade to Paris but possessing minimal funds, he made the 1200-mile trek on a tiny motorcycle that broke down several times along the way. While in Paris, he lived in a tent and supported himself financially by unloading trucks at a farmer’s market every morning before heading to the physics institute. Through hard work and perseverance, he gained admission to a doctoral program at the University of Bonn in West Germany. There he wrote a PhD thesis on quantum chromodynamics and met his future wife and mother of his children, the mathematician Georgia Triantafillou.

In 1979, Vladimir and his wife left Europe and came to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, where they made friendships that have lasted to this day. Over the next two decades Vladimir published influential articles in particle physics and held posts at NYU, Fermilab, the University of Minnesota, the Max Planck Institute in Munich, and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste. After many wanderings, he and his family returned to Princeton for good in 1996. Vladimir spent the last two and a half decades of his life teaching advanced mathematics at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Vladimir was known for his inquisitive mind and his fun-loving, adventurous spirit. He enjoyed taking his wife and two kids on trips to go skiing, camping, fishing, and exploring foreign countries. His house parties resembled the salons one reads about in novels, attracting a colorful assortment of characters including artists, musicians, and intellectuals of various stripes. He was a generous host who offered guests copious amounts of homemade wine and huge quantities of delicious meat roasted on a stainless-steel rotisserie grill that he had built himself in his university’s machine shop.

His inquisitive spirit permeated all aspects of his life. He loved taking things apart to figure out how they worked and then putting them back together again. He could fix anything from a broken toilet to a defective vehicle. He never cooked the same dish in the same way twice but made every meal a new experiment. When preparing his famous feasts, he was known to get engrossed in a conversation and forget the food in the oven, only to remember to take it out at the perfect moment for optimal deliciousness.

As parents, Vladimir and his wife Georgia always strove to foster their kids’ scientific curiosity. Every family dinner was an invitation to think creatively and critically about the world. And they made sure to have dinner as a family every night. Their children went on to become successful academics in their own right, both receiving PhDs from Princeton University.

Vladimir could hold engaging conversations on any subject. A friend who visited him on his last day of full consciousness reported that, in the space of an hour, Vladimir chatted about the relationship between quantum gravity and field theories, interesting features of Latin grammar, and the scenes depicted on Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery door in Florence. Little did he know that in three days he would be passing through the same gate.

Vladimir is survived by his two children (Katerina and Vanya “Jack” Visnjic) and five granddaughters (Zoe, Alexandra, Lydia, Athena, and Selena). Following his wishes, the funeral will be held in Greece, where he will be buried next to his wife.

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

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Hal “Red” Ross
July 5, 1934 – May 21, 2023

Hal was raised in and around Princeton, NJ, in a loving farming family affected, like many, by the Great Depression. He was gifted with a strong mind and body and a will to succeed, all of which served him well in life. Excelling in mathematics and statistics, he put his efforts towards a notable career in Market Research, co-founding and managing Mapes & Ross Advertising Research for 30 years. He was a leading authority in the field and was frequently quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Advertising Age, and other journals.

Even with all his career achievements, he defined himself first as a father and excelled at the role. He raised two sons and a daughter with bottomless affection, support, and engagement. He loved to coach kids’ baseball and football and was highly involved with the Princeton YMCA swim center. Active in community service, he participated in the Princeton Rotary Club for decades.

He loved to mingle with witty, positive people, and could deftly deliver a joke or funny story to light up the room. If rock ‘n’ roll or country music played, his feet were moving. The man could dance. His charm was legendary.

He loved sports, and played many well. Over time he mostly gravitated to skiing. This passion grew from regular family weekends at Elk Mountain, Pennsylvania, and eventually led to his retirement in Sun Valley, Idaho where his sons had previously relocated. The free spirit culture of Idaho suited him well and he effortlessly found his place among the colorful local ski town characters.

Hal is survived by his sons Peter and Brian, sister Dorothy, brother-in-law Bruce, and nephews Doug and Chris. He will be sorely missed. Perhaps his only goal left unfinished was a tireless campaign to rid menus of garlic and onions.

He will be laid to rest next to his daughter Jennifer in the Princeton Cemetery. A casual dress celebration of his life will be held at the Nassau Club at 3 p.m. on Saturday June 10.

———

Ernest Monge

It is with great sadness that the family of Ernest Monge of Princeton, NJ, announces his passing on May 27, 2023. It was very sudden. He was 86 years old.

Ernie had an amazingly rich and varied life. He was a true Renaissance man. Born in Quito, Ecuador, Ernie moved to the United States as a young man in 1960 after spending two years teaching in the Galapagos Islands under the direction of the Franciscans. He had contemplated a religious career but instead followed his sister Josephine’s footsteps and moved to Yonkers, NY. There he enrolled and graduated from Fordham University.

His first job was with the Bank of Nova Scotia in New York City. The bank turned out to be his only employer. Ernie had a distinguished 40-year career. Although he had always been based in New York City, he had several postings in Latin America. Ernie had a talent for languages (he knew at least seven); he was a skillful diplomat and he truly loved people. He was an invaluable member of the Scotia Bank family.

Ernie left Woodside, NY, and moved to East Windsor in 1986 and then to Princeton in 1992. He retired in 2006, five years after the 9/11 tragedy which he witnessed and then survived. In retirement he dedicated his time to his passions of travel, cooking, and writing. He became a historian and biographer and was recognized in both Ecuador and Spain for his historical contributions.

Ernie was a beloved member of his family in the United States, Canada, Ecuador, and Europe. He was a father to his siblings, nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was a man of great faith and was wise, generous, and always there. His laughter was outrageous and infectious. There will never be another Ernie.

Ernie was predeceased by his parents Ernesto Celiano Monge and Elsa Maria Zambrano; his sisters Elsa and Veronica (Uscocovich); and his friend Roy Anderson. He is survived by his sisters Josephine (Schmeisser) of Princeton, NJ, and Rosemarie (Kosar); brothers Rodrigo and Edward; niece Josephine Law of Princeton, NJ, and her children Anastasia and Oliver; 12 nieces and nephews; and 14 great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 7,, 2023 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. and on Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 12 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542 followed by burial in Princeton Cemetery.

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

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Vivian B. Shapiro

Vivian B. Shapiro, MSW, PhD, the beloved wife of Harold T. Shapiro, passed away on May 29, 2023 following a brave battle with a long illness. Vivian is survived by her husband, Harold T. Shapiro, and her four daughters, Anne (Joseph Kabourek), Marilyn (Ralph Schapira), Janet (Steve Eisenberg), and Karen (Susan Goodin), in addition to her 11 grandchildren, Joseph, Sarah Laura, Emily, Alex, Aaron, Teddy, Jared, Corey, Jacob, and Sophia, and six great grandchildren.

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Vivian first moved to the United States when her husband attended graduate school at Princeton University. The family then moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where they lived until their return to Princeton in 1988, when Harold became the president of Princeton University. In Montreal, Ann Arbor, and Princeton, Vivian had many close friends and colleagues with whom she remained in touch throughout her life.

In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Vivian earned her MSW from the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 1969. In 1970, Vivian joined the Child Development Project at the University of Michigan. There, her work with her colleagues led to new ways of working with parents and children, including early understanding of the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Vivian was a co-author, with her mentor Selma Fraiberg, and colleague Edna Adelson, of “Ghosts in the Nursery,” a groundbreaking article in the field of infant, child, and caregiver mental health. Ultimately, Vivian joined the University of Michigan School of Social Work and retired as an Associate Professor Emerita of Social Work in 1988.

In 1988, Vivian relocated to Princeton when her husband became the president of Princeton University. She continued her own work; earning her PhD in Social Work at Smith College in 1994, and continuing to explore new ways to support the well-being of children and families. In 2001, Vivian published a book entitled Complex Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Developmental Approach to Clinical Practice, which she co-authored with her colleague, Isabel Paret, and her daughter, Janet Eisenberg.

In addition to her devotion to her family and friends, and to her life’s work, Vivian was deeply involved in community services. As a board member of the Children’s Home Society, Vivian worked to introduce new approaches to infant and early childhood mental health to the organization. Vivian’s deep contributions to the Children’s Home Society were recognized in 2022 when the Vivian B. Shapiro Early Childhood Center was opened in Trenton, NJ.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to all who meant so much to Vivian during her life, and who did so much to support Vivian and her extended family through Vivian’s illness.

Private family services honoring the life of Vivian were held on May 30, 2023.

Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences, please visit OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

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Robert Conant Ellis
September 2, 1931 – June 3, 2023

Robert C. Ellis, permanent resident of Falmouth, MA, and former resident of Princeton, NJ, from 1975 to 2002, died peacefully at Falmouth Hospital on Saturday June 3, 2023 after a recent illness. He was 91 years old.

Robert graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1953, and earned an MBA at Boston College and Masters of Library Science from Rutgers University. He worked in market research for several corporations including Pan Am Airlines, Arthur D Little, American Express, Dun & Bradstreet, Fidelity Union, and AT&T until his retirement in 1994. He also was an author of the book, Cape Cod Yesteryears – The Life and Short Stories of Eleanor Conant Yeager.

He served as Naval Officer during the Korean War 1954-1957.

He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth (Bill) of New Ipswich, NH, and Gail (Jeff) of Fair Haven, NJ; his sons, Robert Jr. (Bonnie) of Pleasantville, NY, Peter (Merceditas Villanueva) of New Haven, CT, David of Brooklyn, NY, Stephen of Meriden, CT, and Bruce (Shelley Bennett) of San Diego, CA; and 15 grandchildren.

Bob is survived by wife Pat Ellis, a retired registered nurse and faithful companion particularly during years when his memory began to fail. Bob also leaves behind Pat’s five children and eight grandchildren whom he loved.

Bob has a sister Rosemary and brother-in-law Ed Currant of Plymouth, Mass., and a sister-in-law Jay Ellis of California. Bob is predeceased by his brother William and his first wife, Joanne Marie Hynes Ellis.

Bob and the Ellis children attended the Princeton School System as well as Lawrenceville Prep, were a part of the Princeton Community Tennis program, attended St. Paul’s Church, and his first wife Joanne served on the Princeton Board of Education.

The family would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Falmouth Hospital, Laurentide Memory Care, Royal Cape Cod Rehabilitation, and Southcoast VNA Hospice Services who provided exceptional care and comfort to Bob.

Funeral mass will be held on Monday, June 12 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 511 Main Street, Falmouth, MA. Burial immediately following at St. Anthony’s Church, 167 E. Falmouth Highway, E. Falmouth, MA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bob’s memory to: The Conant House, Falmouth Historical Society 55 Palmer Ave, Falmouth, MA 02540, (508) 548-4857; Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD, (377) 435-7277; or Wounded Warrior Project — Woundedwarriorproject.org.

May 31, 2023

Obituaries 5/31/2023

Nancy Groves Manning

Nancy Groves Manning passed away on May 11, 2023. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Winton Howard Manning in 2004. Born on December 29, 1934, in St. Louis, Missouri, she was the daughter of Clara Mercedes Groves and George Breckenridge Groves. Although an only child, Nancy grew up in with a large extended family in a multi-generational home with her grandparents, Clara and Albert Groves; her mother; an aunt and uncle, Phyllis and Walter Heimbuecher; and cousins, Judy Heimbuecher Habighorst and Gail Heimbuecher Hamilton. She attended John Burroughs School in Ladue, graduating in 1952. Nancy had a great talent for drama, and dreamt of becoming an actor. She pursued acting while in college, and starred in many roles, including Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. Nancy earned her undergraduate degree from Washington University in 1956. She later earned her doctorate in psychology from the same institution.

While taking graduate classes in psychology, she met a handsome young teaching assistant, Winton H. Manning, whom she married in 1959. The newlywed couple moved to Fort Worth, Texas, as Win had accepted a teaching position at Texas Christian University. There Nancy became absorbed in starting a family and entertaining their faculty friends. In 1965 the family moved to Haworth, New Jersey, in order for Win to join the staff of the College Board in New York City. While living in Haworth, with the encouragement of her thesis advisor and support of her dear husband, Nancy was finally able to turn her sights to completing her dissertation. She earned her doctorate in psychology in 1967. The family then moved to Princeton in 1968 in order for Win to join Educational Testing Service.

Nancy had a 40-year career as a licensed clinical psychologist. She completed a postdoctoral training program in family therapy at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. In Princeton, she served as consulting psychologist and Clinical Director of the Northeast Career Center and therapist and Clinical Director of Trinity Counseling Service. She co-founded Princeton Psychological Associates with four colleagues in 1980. A skilled psychotherapist, she mentored many developing professionals as a field supervisor for doctoral candidates in psychology at Rutgers University. She was always passionate about helping her patients live happier, more fulfilled lives.

Following her retirement from practice as a psychologist, Nancy embarked on a new adventure by enrolling in the docent training program of the Princeton University Art Museum. As a docent she especially enjoyed researching individual works of art in the collection for gallery talks, and working with school children from Trenton. She was a member of the Present Day Club and the Nassau Club of Princeton. She belonged to All Saints’ (Episcopal) Church for 55 years. As a resident of Stonebridge in Montgomery, she enjoyed her French conversation group, play and poetry reading groups, helping in the library, and serving as a member of the welcomers committee. Nancy was an accomplished home chef, enjoyed traveling the world with her late husband, and cherished and celebrated her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her son, Winton H. (Tony) Manning, III; daughter, Cecelia M. Tazelaar; son-in-law, Eric G. Tazelaar; three granddaughters, Julia B. Tazelaar (married to Joseph M. Wells), Sophia M. Tazelaar, and Clara J. Tazelaar.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints’ Church, Princeton, NJ, on Saturday, June 17 at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Saints’ Church, 16 All Saints’ Road, Princeton, NJ 08540; or the Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ 08544, directed to the attention of the Docents Association.

———

Donald Roy Gerecke

Donald Roy Gerecke, 72, of West Windsor Township, NJ, passed away peacefully, at his home on the morning of April 30, 2023.

Born in Passaic, NJ, Don grew up in Saddle Brook, NJ, and lived in Boston, MA, before settling in West Windsor 25 years ago.

Don earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science, Class of 1972 and a Master of Science Degree in Entomology and Economic Zoology, Class of 1976 both from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. Upon graduation he worked over 10 years, first at UniRoyal and then at Rhone-Poulenc, as a research pesticide chemist. He then went on to Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, where he earned a PhD in Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Class of 1992. The next five years he worked as a research fellow and instructor for the Department of Dermatology. In 1998, he moved to NJ, taking on a professorship at Rutgers University. During his 25 years at Rutgers University, he was on the faculty of the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. His research was funded through the NIH and the Department of Defense.

Dr. Gerecke mentored as co-advisor to the AZO fraternity as well as the Rutgers Pharmacy Honor Program for several years. He had a compassionate place in his heart for all students — Pharmacy, graduate, undergraduate students alike. Either in the classroom, at the research bench, or through several other student related activities. They, in turn, honored him by participating in the NYC Parkinson’s Unity Walkathon as well as bestowing upon him the William and Helen Teacher of the Year for 2008 as well as 2009. He retired from Rutgers University having earned the title of Associate Professor.

He was active in the theatre community acting in over 22 plays at the Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, NJ, and the Washington Crossing State Park Open Air Theatre in Titusville, NJ. When not acting, he enjoyed playing the piano and singing.

Predeceased by his parents, Harry and Carol (Drecki) Gerecke, and three brothers, he is survived by his wife of 41 years, Marion “Emmy” Gordon and his daughter and her partner, Rebecca Gerecke and Peter Comerford, of West Windsor Twp., NJ.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 1 p.m. at the Green Grove in Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ 08560.

Contributions, in his memory, to Michael J. Fox Foundation (michaeljfox.org) or Parkinson’s Foundation (parkinsons.org), are appreciated.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

———

Hope Colt

It is with great sadness that the family of Hope Cheney Learned Colt of Princeton, NJ, announce her sudden passing on May 18, 2023 at the age of 86.

Hopie was born on August 10, 1936 to Horace B. Learned and Eileen Roff Learned in Manchester, CT. She graduated from the Oxford School. Hopie also graduated from Smith College in 1958 where she was named to Phi Beta Kappa. Hopie had a full and rewarding life volunteering for numerous organizations in Princeton including the U.S. Squash Association, Princeton Child Development Institute, Princeton Historical Society, American Red Cross, and the Princeton University Museum. Known for her culinary skills, Hopie ran a small catering business for friends and clients in Princeton. Hopie enjoyed memberships at Pretty Brook Tennis Club, Nassau Club, Keene Valley Country Club, and Ausable Club. She was an avid tennis player and jazz enthusiast. She was a passionate animal lover and devoted to many dachshunds throughout her life. Come the summer months, Hopie headed to her beloved Keene Valley, NY, in the Adirondacks where she was often spotted with a tin bucket searching for berries. Friends and family were then rewarded in the fall with her famous jams … what a treat!

Hopie was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Alexandra L. Preston, her son, Alexander D. Colt, and her grandson, Tyler S. Colt. She is survived by sons, Harris Colt of Colorado Springs, CO, and Ward (Trina) Colt of Titusville, NJ, and grandchildren, Harris Colt, Jr., Athena Colt, Meredith Colt, and CJ Colt.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the North Country SPCA, the Keene Valley Library, or the Keene Valley Congregational Church.

There will be a luncheon for family and close friends celebrating Hopie’s life on June 8, 2023 at 12:30 p.m. at the Nassau Club in Princeton. Burial services will be private at Cheney Cemetery in Manchester, CT. There will also be a memorial celebration in Keene Valley on August 6, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. at the Keene Valley Country Club in Keene Valley, NY.

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

———

Robert B. Zagoria

Robert B. Zagoria, an attorney in Princeton, died Friday at The Jewish Home at Rockleigh. The cause of death was complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 82.

Born in Plainfield, NJ, Mr. Zagoria was a resident of Princeton for more than 40 years. He was a graduate of Princeton University and Georgetown University (J.D.). He was a powerful advocate for clients, specializing in employment discrimination. He was an active town member and Princeton University alumnus.

Bob’s greatest love was his many family and friends.

He is predeceased by his beloved wife Amy, and survived by daughter Julia, son-in-law Trevor, and grandson Collin of Princeton, also sister Helene and brother-in-law Leonard, and wonderful nieces and nephews and their children. Burial service will be Friday, June 2 at 11 a.m. at Princeton Cemetery.

———

Elisabeth-Ann Callaway

Elisabeth-Ann Callaway, age 81, formerly of Bedminster, NJ; Princeton, NJ; Cranbury, NJ; and Sarasota, FL, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, May 19, 2023.

Elisabeth-Ann had a passion for photography and worked as a photographer and copywriter at N.T. Callaway Real Estate in Princeton, NJ. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, crafting, and quilting. Elisabeth-Ann was a dedicated and loving mother and nana, volunteer and friend who loved to entertain.

Preceded in death by her parents, Thomas N. Ericson and Stella K. Peterson, and her brothers, Thomas N. Ericson Jr. and P. David Ericson; she is survived by her daughter, Karen C. Urisko and her husband, John; her son, Norman Callaway Jr. and his wife, Lisa; her five grandchildren, Corinne Urisko, Alexandra Callaway, Callie Urisko, Norman Tooker Callaway III, and Bailey Callaway; her sisters, Priscilla A. Ericson and Mary L. Ericson; and her numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services will begin on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, 22 S. Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.

Interment will follow at Brainerd Cemetery in Cranbury, NJ.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, 22 S. Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Elisabeth’s memory by way of check to The First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, 22 South Main Street, Cranbury, NJ 08512 with “Skeet’s Pantry” written in the memo line.

May 24, 2023

Obituaries 5/24/23

Lionel Goodman

Lionel Goodman, a longtime resident and active member of the community of Princeton, passed away on May 17, 2023, at the age of 96. He was an emeritus professor of physical chemistry at Rutgers University.

Lionel was born on April 23, 1927, in Far Rockaway, NY, and was the son of William and Theodora Goodman. He earned his undergraduate degree from NYU, where he met his wife, Ruth Sandhouse. They married shortly after his honorable discharge from the Navy in WWII. 

Lionel received his master’s degree from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Iowa State University. He taught at Penn State and Rutgers after post-doctoral work at Florida State University. Lionel and Ruth eventually settled in Princeton, NJ, in 1966 where they raised two children, Steve and Debbie.

Lionel was a Guggenheim Fellow for his work on why molecules have the shape that they have, using laser spectroscopy. He received the Rutgers College Outstanding Teacher Award in 1987 and the Board of Trustees Outstanding Research Award in 1989. He has written numerous scientific papers — several of which have been referenced more than 50,000 times. 

After his retirement, Lionel took an interest in photography and over the past 20 years has had several one-man shows, most recently at Plainsboro Library. He has received awards for his people-oriented photographs from prestigious institutions such as Phillips’ Mill, the Salmagundi Club in NYC, Perkins Art Center, and his photograph “About to Depart” hangs in the Johnson and Johnson Art Museum. He also served as Program Chairman of the Princeton Photography Club for four years.

Lionel is predeceased by his wife Ruth in 2015 and is survived by his dear friend and companion Susan Fox; son Steve; daughter Debbie; five grandchildren — Justin, Jessica, Sarah, Sydney, and Joey; and two great-grandchildren — Catherine and Ruthie.

Lionel will be remembered by all who knew him as a tenacious and inquisitive person who lived life to its fullest, as well as for his love of travel and good food. We will miss his sense of humor and professorial
explanations.

A celebration of his life will be held at his residence on Monday, May 29 from 3-6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rutgers University Foundation. 

Photo courtesy of John O’Boyle.

Arrangements are by the Wilson-Apple Funeral Home, Pennington. Condolences are welcome at wilsonapple.com.

———

Lucinda Porter

Lucinda Christian Porter was born in Syracuse, New York, on September 22, 1942. She grew up in the Sedgwick section of Syracuse, summering at Skaneateles Lake and Manasquan, New Jersey. She attended Miss Halls School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Bradford College in Haverhill, Massachusetts, University of Colorado (BA), and University of Denver in Denver, Colorado (MA). 

As part owner of Harmon’s Landing Farm in Snow Hill, Maryland, she operated Oceanside Farm raising Polled Hereford cattle, bred from animals at Dan Story’s LS Ranch in Corsicana, Texas. Some of her awards included Grand Champion Female-J.C.Anxiety Miss70 at the Maryland State Fair, Grand Champion Bull-O Kojack at the West Virginia State Fair and Maryland State Fair, and Junior and Reserve Grand Champion at the Eastern National Livestock Show. 

She spent three months in the Peoples Republic of China, just after President Richard Nixon’s visit there, as part of a delegation from the Agriculture Department exchanging ideas of animal husbandry. 

In 1978 Lucinda moved to Princeton, New Jersey. She became an active member of the Present Day Club, Women’s College Club, Dogwood Garden Club, and the Nassau Presbyterian Church. 

She was an active real estate agent with Princeton Crossroads which merged with GloriaNilson, which later became part of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. 

She was an avid golfer, winning the Ladies Handicap tournament at Springdale Golf Club. She was also an avid bridge player. 

Lucinda loved traveling and traveled all over the world. But her heart was always at the sea shores, from the Jersey Shore to Assateague to the beaches on the East Coast of Florida. 

She returned to Fayetteville, New York, in 2018 to her home on Spyglass Lane to tend her gardens along with her beloved cat Cio Cio San and to be with the family she loved, brother William W. Porter, niece Melissa Porter, and nephew William W. Porter Jr. 

Lucinda was and will always be a very unusual person.

May 17, 2023

Obituaries 5-17-23

Merle Block Rose

Merle Block Rose, 83, beloved and admired, died peacefully at home of metastatic breast cancer on April 18, 2023 surrounded by her family.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 62 years, Irv; cherished daughters Amanda (David Campbell) and Abigail (Adam Seiden); adored grandchildren Zandra, Josh, Jacob, and Leah; bothers Robert (Merlyn) Block and Fred (Hedi) Block; as well as many nieces and nephews. Along with her family, she will be mourned by scores of friends and dozens of alumni from Princeton High School, where she taught for 24 years.

Merle was the middle child of the late Ada and Bertram Block. She was born on December 6, 1939, and grew up in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia. She graduated from Germantown High School and earned a full scholarship to Temple University, where she completed a B.A. in English Education, and a minor in Art History as well as an M.A. in the Psychology of Reading.

In 1960 she married her college sweetheart, Irv Rose, and soon after moved from Philadelphia to her second great love, New York City. They left NYC to raise their daughters in Roosevelt, NJ, where they lived until moving to the Princeton area in 1990. In Roosevelt she was an active member of the community, serving on the Roosevelt Public School Board of Education and writing for the local Borough Bulletin.

Prior to joining the faculty at Princeton High School (PHS), Merle was a reading therapist with the Merwick Communications Disorders unit, part of the care and rehabilitation department of Princeton Hospital. In 1977 she began a 24-year tenure in her dream job — teaching English at PHS. At the high school she co-founded the Writing Workshop and taught English and English as a Second Language. “Mrs. Rose” was a popular teacher who supported, guided, and nurtured hundreds of students. As a teacher she was transformative: she birthed writers. She saw qualities in students that other teachers didn’t see and reveled in accompanying her students as they made their own way, discovered their own passions. Many of her former students went on to make livings as writers, or at the very least, credit her with teaching them how to write. Finally, as a teacher, while she supported all of her students, she was especially drawn to enhancing the well-being of the most vulnerable among them.

After she retired, she devoted considerable energies to her many interests, including photography, gardening, cooking, travel, bridge, and card making. She was an active member in House 4 of Community Without Walls, where she was program chair and facilitated a Women In Transition group. As program chair she organized presentations from renowned and accomplished guests, including former students John Popper of Blues Traveler and ABC News anchor Michelle Charlesworth; Theresa Brown, RN, frequent contributor to The New York Times and author; actor Hal Linden (Barney Miller); Princeton Professor and CNN Political Analyst Julian Zelizer; and Judge Philip Carchman of the New Jersey Superior Court. Few could resist her invitation to speak, charming and persuasive as she was.

When COVID-19 upended everyone’s world, Merle was among the first octogenarians to master Zoom. The pandemic did not keep her from maintaining close ties with both far-flung family and local friends. From the start of lockdown, she scheduled regular group Zoom meetings with family in France, Costa Rica, Israel, Arizona, California, Florida, and New York City, and continued playing online bridge with her friends.

Though fully engaged during her post-retirement life, her family remained her priority. She often remarked how lucky she was that both daughters returned to raise their children in Princeton. She was a whirlwind of energy — the kind that can never disappear, or be forgotten.

When she was was diagnosed with recurrent terminal breast cancer in June 2021, Merle approached her illness and treatment with courage, always realistic, but also hopeful. She faced this unexpected recurrence without fear or bitterness. Instead of being angry or depressed that the cancer had returned, she felt grateful that she lived 32 years longer than she had expected. She remained curious about everything — including her illness. After meeting her oncologist she’d comment, “I wish I didn’t have cancer, but this is all so interesting.” In more solemn moments, she said, “I’m not scared of dying, but I’m not ready either — I’m greedy for more.”

Always a teacher, she donated her body to Drexel Medical School (daughter Abigail’s alma mater) so that future doctors can develop their skills and learn more about the widespread affliction of metastatic breast cancer.

A memorial service was held in Princeton, New Jersey, on Sunday, April 23 at The Jewish Center.

To honor Merle, the family would be grateful to those who are able to consider making a donation in her honor to the Princeton Breast Cancer Resource Center (at the Princeton YWCA) or to 101: The Princeton High School College Fund.

———

Ruth Schreiber Fath

Ruth Schreiber Fath, born November 10, 1937, passed away on May 12, 2023 (Iyar 21, 5783) at the age of 85. She was the loving wife of Joseph Fath (z”l) for 32 years.

Ruth attended The Jewish Center of Princeton during her 30 years as a Princeton resident.

In addition to her commitment to the Jewish Center, Ruth supported the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and served as chairperson of the Commission for the New Jersey Children’s Trust Fund, whose mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Ruth earned her undergraduate degree through a joint program at Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. As a college student, she also spent a year in Israel, working with the Institute for Youth Leaders from Abroad. In Israel she studied Hebrew language and literature, taught new immigrants to Israel, and spent several months on the kibbutz Tirat Zvi. After returning to the U.S., Ruth earned her MSW from Hunter, and later her degree in psychoanalysis from the Psychoanalytic Training Institute of the New York Freudian Society. She built a thriving practice in New York City and continued practicing for several years after she and Joe moved to Princeton.

Generous to the core, Ruth supported her stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews in her constant encouragement to pursue education and to excel at whatever they set their minds to. And as a good Jewish grandma, she doted on her grandchildren! She rejoiced at family and friends’ marriages, births, and other celebratory occasions, and shared compassionately in others’ sorrows when they happened. Most especially, she shared in the joy of her husband Joe’s art and writing accomplishments.

Aside from her community engagement, Ruth loved going to museums, the opera, theater, and traveling with Joe. Together they traveled across Europe, to Israel, and to South Africa. She still has many friends across the continents.

Ruth will be so very missed by her brothers Burton Schreiber and Sidney Schreiber, stepsons Dan Fath and Jon Fath (Lucie), stepdaughters Rebecca Singer and Deborah Fath, granddaughters Harmony Till (Jeff), and Jesse Singer (Jose), grandsons Samuel Francis-Fath (Kelsey), Maxwell Fath (Michael Hebert), Dylan Fath (Zachary Nollet), Darius Salehipour, Zachary Salehipour, great-grandson Ethan Till and great-granddaughter Phoebe Francis-Fath, nephews Stephen Schreiber,
David Schreiber (Carol Stutz) and great-niece Molly Schreiber, Gary Schreiber (Julie) and great-niece Miriam, Keith Schreiber (Naalla) and great-niece Lena and great-nephew Noam, and Joshua Schreiber (Sarah) and great-nephews Abraham and Theodore, nieces Ronda Schreiber (Jack Goldberg), Annie Schreiber, Karen Schreiber (Jacque), and Alissa Schreiber (Martin Williams) and great-niece Genna Williams, and by Shirley Verneuil, Ruth’s devoted and compassionate caregiver for the past six years, as well as her many dear friends.

Funeral services are on Thursday, May 18 at 9:30 a.m. at The Jewish Center of Princeton, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Burial will follow at Princeton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Jewish Center of Princeton (TheJewishCenter.org).

For condolences, please visit Ruth’s obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel.

———

Alan Sussman

Alan Sussman passed away at the age of 90 on May 12, 2023 in Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center in Plainsboro, NJ. Cause of death was presumably a heart attack.

Alan was born and raised in New York City and graduated from Stuyvesant High School. He subsequently received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Yale University. He moved to the Princeton area in 1958 to accept a position as a Member of Technical Staff at the then RCA Sarnoff Laboratories (now SRI International).

During his long career at the Sarnoff Labs, Alan worked on several important problems on the optimal design of liquid crystalline materials and their use in displays of various types, including TVs. Liquid crystals also played an important role in his personal life, as he met his future wife Martha at a liquid crystal conference.

Alan had many interests and abilities outside of science, beginning with his passionate love of classical music. He played clarinet and oboe and was a longtime subscriber to the Metropolitan Opera and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He also loved collecting African art, spending annual vacations in Italy, and visiting New York museums, the Bronx Zoo, and the New York Botanical Garden. Finally, Alan was a skilled carpenter and electrician, who almost single-handedly renovated the old house he purchased in 1969 and in which he lived until his death.

Alan is survived by his wife of 48 years, Martha Cotter, by a nephew, Robert Stewart of Washington, DC, and by several cousins. His brother Robert passed away in 2015.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

———

Sylvester Sutton Hamilton III

Sylvester Sutton Hamilton III died peacefully from complications of Parkinson’s disease in his home of nearly 50 years on May 3 at the age of 87. He was under the care of Greenwood hospice and died surrounded by friends and family.

He was born June 9, 1935 in Punxsutawney, PA — proud home of the famous weather forecasting groundhog. As a child and teen, he was fascinated with the rapidly developing fields of electronics and photography, often spending afternoons experimenting in the sunroom of his childhood home. He was likely one of few in town with a large Van De Graaff generator. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh as well, graduating with AOA honors. He was accepted into residency in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania; he reported having no address or abode apart from the hospital during his internship. He graduated from residency after serving his final year as chief resident.

In 1966 he married Carol Julie Dudrick and moved to San Antonio, Texas, to serve as a psychiatrist in the Air Force. They were married until her death in 2020.

After his time in the service, he returned to the University of Pennsylvania as residency director. Tired of his long commute, he accepted a position in 1976 as the director of Princeton House in Princeton, New Jersey, where he served for 20 years before transitioning to private practice. Finding great joy in the practice of psychiatry, he practiced well into his 80s, only ending when his voice — weakened by Parkinson’s disease — no longer possessed the strength to continue. The few patients he worked with during his 80s included patients from residency some 50 years earlier.

Piloting the family in an inline twin engine Cessna 337, he flew to destinations including the Bahamas and the Alaskan panhandle. Aviation highlights include a near fiasco after the family dog jumped onto the controls, and an unsuccessful attempt to land at the LBJ ranch in Texas. Logging several thousand hours of flying, he became a licensed instructor as well as a float plane pilot. He finished his aviation experience with an aerobatics plane, the American Champion Decathlon, and a WW2 trainer, the iconic “taildragger” Piper J-3 Cub.

His other hobbies included amateur radio, computers, and hiking. To the dismay of neighbors, he constructed a large antenna beside our house to extend the “ham” radio range. As a fitness jogger, he entered 5 and 10K races where, largely by preserving his middling pace, he often found himself a top finisher in the 70 and over segment.

Parkinson’s limited his mobility in his final years, but he remained busy with frequent guests and phone calls, and he maintained an active and curious mind until days before his death. He is survived by his two children, Sylvester Sutton Hamilton IV and Julie Carol Hamilton, and five grandchildren: Sophie, Micah, Cleo, Aiden and Liam. They will all look up when they see small planes flying overhead and think of him and imagine for a moment that it’s him, flying gently and joyfully above them.

A memorial service is planned for May 27 at 4 p.m. at Stone Hill Church in Princeton.

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

———

Harriet Fein

Longtime Princeton resident Harriet Fein passed away peacefully, after a brief illness, on May 4, 2023, with her three children by her side at her home at Princeton Windrows. She was 91 years old. After several years teaching grade school, she made the choice to stay home and raise her three children in Rocky Hill and then in 1972, moving to Princeton, where her husband, Arthur Fein was a physician with Princeton Radiology.

Harriet was a lifelong member of Hadassah, a volunteer with adolescents at Carrier Clinic, and an adventurous traveler. She and Art traveled the world and were especially appreciative of going places off the beaten path. She described her favorite trip was one to New Guinea because it was so different from any place she’d ever been and she loved learning about different cultures. Above all, Harriet was a loving and supportive mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and took an active role in their lives and activities. To Harriet, her family and friends were everything.

Harriet was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of 70 years, Art, who passed away two years ago. She is survived by her daughter Ren Fein and her husband Paul Kelly of Princeton; son Rick Fein and his wife Jackie of Mission Viejo, California; and son Doug Fein and his wife Debbie of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; six grandchildren, Skylar, Jillian, and Colton Kelly, Jarrett, Micaela, and Naomi Fein; and one great-grandson, Rowan Hanbury-Brown.

She will be missed by all. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of Harriet’s favorite charities; Feeding America, Make a Wish Foundation, or Doctors Without Borders.

———

Robert Garvey McHugh

Born in Baltimore, MD, July 24, 1925, “Bob” died peacefully at home in Lawrenceville, NJ, March 7, 2023 at 97. Graduating Trenton High School in 1943 and Princeton University in 1950, some of his Princeton Theatre Intime performances garnered great reviews, and his Senior Thesis in Philosophy won the McCosh Prize. He later earned his Master of Business Administration at NYU.

Enlisting in the United States Army Air Corp in 1943 and commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Bob was a navigator in World War II’s Pacific Theatre. In August 1945, he navigated the first Allied aircraft to land in Japan, accompanying Gen. MacArthur’s Honor Guard Escort for the Japanese Envoy to Manila and the initial surrender. He completed his service flying American prisoners of war to Yokohama for evacuation to Hawaii and home. He joined the United States Air Force reserve and was re-called to active duty during the Korean War, becoming a Top Gun F-86 Sabre jet fighter pilot.

Bob joined Hibbert Printing Company in Trenton, NJ, became Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and remained a top salesman for over 35 years until his retirement. He subsequently served as consultant to the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ.

With a deep appreciation for Japanese culture, Bob was active in the Japanese community in Princeton, and learned to speak, read, and write the language. One class involved an essay contest explaining why you want to go to Japan. Bob’s “Why I Want to Return to Japan” won him the “all-expenses paid” trip to Japan. Bob also loved music. On returning to piano in his 80s, he combined interests studying with Japanese piano teachers, and performed in student recitals.

An avid reader, Bob read the WSJ daily into his 90s. He became devoted to one of his greatest joys, “GrandPals.” A Princeton Senior Resources Center education program connecting Princeton Public School children with older adults, they read to kindergarteners and first graders. Expanding Grandpals to the Lawrenceville, NJ Senior Center, Bob steadily pursued area schools, encouraging their program participation, and recruiting members of the Senior Center. During the COVID epidemic, Bob persuaded the schools to continue the Grandpals reading program via Zoom. He received numerous cards and letters from his little students addressed lovingly to “Mister Bob.”

Always active and alert to new interests, Bob was a member of the Lawrenceville Senior Center’s Memoir Group, and one of the founding members of its Poetry group, for which he composed numerous haiku.

Predeceased by his parents, Michael Joseph McHugh Jr. and Catharine Octavia Rourke McHugh; his sisters, Mary Aileen McHugh McClintock, Ellen Clare McHugh Kuser, and Jane Frances McHugh Barlow; and his brothers, Philip Neary McHugh, and Richard Nevin McHugh; and by his first wife, Jane Henry McHugh.

Predeceased by his parents, Michael Joseph McHugh, Jr. and Catharine Octavia Rourke McHugh; his sisters, Mary Aileen McHugh McClintock, Ellen Clare McHugh Kuser, and Jane Frances McHugh Barlow; and his brothers, Philip Neary McHugh, and Richard Nevin McHugh; and by his first wife, Jane Henry McHugh.

Bob is survived by his children with Jane, Katherine Anne McHugh, Meghan Jane McHugh, Robert Garvey McHugh, Jr. (and wife, Eileen McHugh), and those from his second marriage, Christine McHugh Nickels (and husband, Rob Nickels) and David Smith McHugh (and wife, Sarah McHugh), and their mother, Ellen Metzger, as well as nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Service will be private.

May 10, 2023

Obituaries 5/10/2023

Virginia Finnie

Virginia “Ginnie” Louise Boylan Finnie was born in Cleveland, Ohio on November 4, 1934 to Mabel Ethel Brocker and Leo Joseph Boylan.  She passed peacefully in her sleep on May 1, 2023.

Ginnie lived a full and vibrant life, overflowing with family, friends, career, travel, and pursuing avid interests. Married when still a teenager to her seventh grade — and lifelong sweetheart — Bruce Finnie, she moved to the Boston area with Bruce at 17 to attend Boston University in nursing. After being pushed out of that program because she married, she later returned to Boston University while her three children were still young to complete her degree in history, a field that would remain an abiding passion through her life. She supported her family with unwavering vigilance and commitment, generously sustaining her children Matthew and his wife Carol; Ellen and her partner Jaime Basswerner; and Janet and her husband Robert Whiteside; as well as her beloved grandchildren Daniel and Hannah Finnie, Nat Duranceau, and Phoebe and Ellen Whiteside.

While Ginnie was unflagging and devoted in the care of her family, her interests and delight in the broader world took her into many other spheres as well. After moving from the Boston area to Princeton in 1969, through the 1970s, ’80s, and into the ’90s, she was a gifted, admired, and influential high school social studies teacher — and, for a number of years, also department head — at Ewing High School. With a true passion for history and government, and deep dedication to her students, she went the extra mile to spark their interest in history and civic engagement. She took students to Model United Nations events in Washington. D.C., and participated in a teacher exchange in Russia. This exchange was not only professional, as it turned out. Ginnie was matched in the exchange with a Russian teacher who had responsibility for the orphanages in the Russian city of Nizhny-Tagil, and based on the strong relationship she developed with Ginnie, this teacher identified an infant for adoption by Ginnie’s daughter Ellen, who thus became Ginnie’s granddaughter, Nat. Such was Ginnie’s remarkable aptitude for adventure, connection, and care.

Ginnie had a lifelong devotion to watching birds, to travel, and to learning — indeed, the term “lifeong learner” could have been created for her. She managed to complete a master’s in history at Rutgers while she was a mother working full time, and throughout her life, she loved to take courses; after retiring, she relished being able to audit classes at Princeton University.  Ginnie drank in historical and geographical information from her voracious reading and wide travel, and delighted in sharing it. Genuinely fascinated by the world, she kept detailed journals and photo albums of these trips, including rich cultural observations of every place she visited, from Alaska to Australia. Among her many wide-ranging activities and engagements, she participated in an archeological dig, and birded on four continents.

In addition to her enduring marriage with Bruce (they had been married nearly 70 years when he died in 2022), Ginnie maintained dear friendships from all stages of her life, including a close multi-decade friendship with a pen pal in Australia. She was a dedicated volunteer, for many years supporting the Historical Society of Princeton by offering tours of Princeton, and participating actively in the Association for Gravestone Studies. A lifelong patron of the arts, Ginnie was very musical. Following in her admired father’s footsteps (Leo Boylan was a talented tenor, finding his way to a key role in an accomplished singing group, despite the challenges of his immigration from Ireland as a teen) Ginnie sang in an octet as well as played saxophone at Shaw High in Cleveland, and was an avid supporter of classical music and local theater, particularly McCarter Theatre in Princeton. A devoted reader herself, she volunteered with Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic for many years, to make books available to those who could not read the printed word.

Ginnie made and met a multitude of commitments throughout her life, whether for family, friends, students, or the organizations she cared about, including many civic, cultural, and environmental causes. Despite the significant constraints of being a working mother, she managed to express her talents across a wide range of dimensions. She arranged large Boylan/Finnie family gatherings at the Outer Banks that fostered deep family connections, reveled in knitting gorgeous sweaters and afghans for everyone in her family, and sustained family and friends with her mouthwatering homemade bread and jam. She was passionately engaged in word and fact games (especially Jeopardy and the Dictionary Game!), and developed a keen eye as an adept collector of antique clocks, whose history fascinated her.

From her earliest years, Ginnie wanted to see the world and participate in it fully. Her vision was expansive, and she pursued all her dreams, despite the challenge of simultaneously managing a career and motherhood, particularly in the context of her era. She lived her life to the fullest and never expressed any regret or any unfulfilled dream. She was a shining example to all her children and grandchildren, and touched untold numbers of lives through her teaching and travel. To know Ginnie was to admire her — and to benefit from her unwavering commitment to understanding, knowledge, and open-minded exploration of life. We celebrate her fortitude, her kindness, her remarkable capacity and talents, her deep and broad engagement, and the gifts she has left to her family and to so many others through her dedicated care and concern, and through her outstanding example of a life well-lived.

Predeceased by her husband Bruce Finnie, and her brother Leo “Bud” Boylan, Ginnie leaves a brother, David Boylan, and her children and grandchildren. Services will be private.

Those who would like to honor Ginnie’s life and legacy may donate to the Historical Society of Princeton.

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Peter Hegener

Peter Wilhelm Ottocar Hegener died on April 27, 2023 in West Hartford, CT, after a brief and valiant battle with esophageal cancer. He was 84 years of age. Rachel Bommer Kuhe, his wife of 19 years, was by his side.

Peter was born in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1938. WWII began the following year, and for the rest of his life he was defined by his childhood wartime experiences. Because of the extraordinary bravery of his mother, Henny Sibylla Hegener, in sheltering an American pilot who had parachuted on to their farmland at the end of the war, Peter and his family were given safe passage to the United States aboard the RMS Mauretania in December 1950.

Peter attended Brooklyn schools and graduated from Erasmus Hall High School as the President of his class. Among his many other accolades during that time, he proudly earned his Eagle Scout Badge. He went on to graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

After several engineering positions, Peter was offered a job as Head of Career Services at Princeton University. It was there that he hatched the idea of creating a compiled reference book on graduate schools, a then-novel idea. In 1964, he left the University to co-found and serve as CEO of the new publication, Peterson’s Guides, Inc. Peterson’s would eventually take him to every educational institution in the United States and beyond. While visiting China in 1978 as a part of a delegation of U.S. publishers, Peter was informed that Peterson’s Guides were the single most popular reference books in the Chinese university library system. Over the next 30 years, the company expanded from publishing guides to graduate schools to a catalogue that included both reference books and data services covering all facets of education. In addition to its historical products, the company had created and was preparing to launch a revolutionary product that would have allowed high school graduates to submit college applications online several years before the origin of the Common App.

With the 1995 purchase of Peterson’s by the Thompson Corporation, Peter became head of mergers and acquisitions for the company’s burgeoning Education Division. Upon retiring from Thompson, Peter turned his focus to developing real estate projects in Princeton for several years. He had served on a number of educational boards throughout his career, and his retirement allowed him to pay particular attention to his role as a board member of The International House in New York City, at Columbia University, and the American University of Cairo Publishing Arm in Cairo, Egypt. He also continued to enjoy the remarkable reputation his unique idea spawned for the educational enrichment of others.

Peter Hegener will be remembered for his boundless energy and positive outlook. His engaging laugh and contagious smile would light up a room, and he always took an interest in learning more about the people surrounding him. His love for skiing, photographic safaris in Africa, gardening in Princeton where his 25,000 daffodils were admired each spring, fishing at his family home in the Beaverkill Valley, and vacationing with his young family in Edgartown always gave him joy. During the last 20 years, Peter relished his time at Rachel’s family home in West Chop on Martha’s Vineyard, where they spent much of their time together. Peter embraced West Chop, as his friends and neighbors embraced him and could be found on the water in his favorite Whaler “Winnetou,” working in the gardens overlooking Vineyard Sound, walking on the beaches and paths with his devoted dog Fritzie and enjoying the view of the sunset from their porch. Considered to be a consummate gentleman by all who met him, Peter was proud to be a German who became a respected United States Citizen and was forever grateful for the educational advantages and entrepreneurial opportunities afforded him as an
immigrant to this country.

In addition to his wife Rachel, Peter is survived by his former wife Karen (Casey) Lambert – the mother of his two children, Holly Hegener (Jon Cummings) and Peter Hegener (Allison); and Rachel’s children, Jonathan Kuhe (Carolyn), Tucker Kuhe (Caitlin), and Abbey Kuhe. He is also survived by his and Rachel’s beloved grandchildren Sam, Max, Josie, and James Cummings, Lily and Peter Hegener, Katie, Grace, and James Kuhe, Evelyn and Betsy Kuhe, and Bear and Bommer Gilpin. He was inordinately proud of each of them.

A Memorial Service celebrating Peter’s life will be held in Princeton, New Jersey, at a later date. If you would like to celebrate Peter’s memory, please consider a donation to The Polly Hill Arboretum, (508) 693-9426.

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Marian Shaw Tignor

Marian Shaw Tignor passed away at her home in Princeton, NJ, on December 15, 2022 at age 89.

Marian was born December 14, 1933 in Eden, NY, the youngest child and only daughter of Malin and Anne Shaw. She was introduced to music at an early age, and soon began playing the piano and clarinet, joining her parents and three brothers in “The Family Orchestra.” Marian graduated from Eden Central High School in 1952 where she sang in the chorus and played clarinet in the band. After graduation she attended The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. At college she was a proud member of the Fighting Scots marching band and earned a bachelor’s degree in music, graduating in 1956.

She met Bob Tignor at Wooster, and they married soon after graduation. They settled in Princeton, spending 66 years together. Marian became an active member of the Princeton Unitarian Church, where she played piano and sang in the choir. She also taught piano lessons throughout her life. She believed, “without music, life would be a mistake.”

Marian loved nature and introduced her three children to it early on. Herrontown Woods was one of her favorite parks and the family came to know the trails by heart. In winter Marian took evening walks after a snowfall with her daughter Laura and their dog Angus. She said the cold weather and snow reminded her of her childhood in Eden. She took joy in appreciating the simple things life had to offer whether it was a good cup of coffee or watching the birds outside her kitchen window.

Marian was always ready and enthusiastic for an outdoor adventure, and never lost her playfulness. When Lake Carnegie froze during an unusually cold winter, Marian wasn’t going to let her age, then in her mid-70s, or the fact that she hadn’t skated in years, stop her. She gleefully rounded up her family and giggled as they made their way out onto the ice, all of them clinging to each other for balance.

As her children grew up, Marian turned her attention to other passions. To support her son David, she became an advocate for mental health and worked and volunteered for the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New Jersey. She believed that through education, support, advocacy, and raising public awareness about mental illness, it would be possible to overcome the stigma frequently attached to it. Marian also took up journalism, becoming a reporter for the Trenton Times. In her “Times Around Town” column, she covered local cultural and social events. Reporting played to Marian’s strengths. She was naturally social and interacted easily with people. She was a joyful and central member of her group of friends, frequently organizing gatherings and planning trips in order to keep the women connected for decades. They would pile into a station wagon and drive into Times Square to buy last-minute Broadway tickets, they toured Tuscany, visited museums, met for breakfast, walked through the woods, and shared their lives with each other. A friend stated of Marian’s role, “It was love.”

But her most valuable gift was to her husband and children. She was the cornerstone of the family. She supported her husband, a historian at Princeton University, throughout his career by moving to Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and London with him for year-long sabbaticals. In each location she created a new home for her family. Remarkably, her first trip to Egypt was when her daughter Laura was only 6 months old. During another sabbatical to Kenya, she gave birth to her daughter Sandra, driving herself to the hospital while Bob was conducting research in the field. Each destination required her to navigate a new city, learn a new language, enroll her children in school, and help them adjust to the many challenges of living in a new culture.

Marian was predeceased by her husband Bob, who passed away just six days prior to her death; her son, Jeffrey David Tignor, who died in 2003; and her three brothers Ronald, Burdette, and Carlton. She is survived by her daughters Laura Tignor and Sandra Selby and husband Trevor Selby; four grandchildren, Hilde Mckernan, Sam Cobb, Owen and Isabel Selby; and two great-grandchildren Hunter and Harper McKernan. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on June 28 at the Unitarian Church of Princeton.

———

Joan Alpert

On April 29, 2023, Joan Alpert passed away in her home at the age of 98 1/2, following a brief illness. She was surrounded by her family.

Joan was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and graduated from Bennington College where she distinguished herself as an artist. She was happily married to Robert Alpert who predeceased her in 2002. Together they had three sons, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Joan flew airplanes when she was young and drove her car until she was 95. She was active in her chapter of Community without Walls, hosting monthly game nights and afternoon teas.

Joan was a resident of Princeton for over half a century. She was a legendary real estate agent — helping pioneer changes along U.S. 1 that transformed sod farms into offices and hotels. She found homes for generations of Princeton families and sold her last house at the age of 92.

Joan was a loving and formidable force every day of her life. Her doors were open to everyone. Just two weeks before her passing, she hosted over 30 family members for a magnificent home cooked meal. And three days before her death, when the hospice worker arrived at the house, Joan accurately greeted her with “Didn’t I show you a house 34 years ago?”… flooring everyone in the room.

She lived fearlessly, creatively and generously.

Joan Alpert was an inspiration and will be missed by an enormous community.

She is buried in Princeton Cemetery along with the ashes of her husband.

The day of her death she sent down a double rainbow from heaven.

Funeral services and burial were held on April 30 at Princeton Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences please visit Joan’s obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

May 3, 2023

Obituaries 5/3/2023

Joseph Carberry

Joseph Carberry, 81, of Princeton passed away on Monday, May 1, 2023.

A remarkable man with quick wit and a genuine love of life, he will be dearly missed by all who had the honor to know him.

Joseph grew up in Ramsey, NJ, graduated from Don Bosco High School, Marquette University, and later earned his MBA from Rider University. Most of his life, Joseph lived in Princeton, NJ, where he was an active member of Springdale Golf Club. In addition to golf, Joseph was an exceptional athlete and lifelong runner who ran over 50 marathons and triathlons. A proud Marine, he served our country during the Vietnam War, earning a purple heart medal. As an executive for Hercules Inc., he traveled the world and resided in Italy and Holland for a number of years. Famous for his pranks and his huge smile, Joseph lived his life with contagious joy and energy. He was deeply loved by his family, especially his grandchildren who treasured their time with Grandpa Joe.

Predeceased by his parents Patrick and Annette (Brinn) Carberry; and siblings Maura, Kevin, Aidan, and Brendan; he is survived by his wife Ute (Schueller) Carberry; three daughters and sons-in-law, Laura and Jack Muldowney, Jill and Matthew Gennari, Kristl and David Stanaland; beloved grandchildren Connor, Caitlin, Ryan, Kevin, James, Chase, Sarah, and Leah; and siblings Thomas, Patrick, Sheila, Eile, Michael, Shaun, and Alanna.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023 from 4-7 p.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Incarnation-St. James Church, 1545 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ 08618.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Joseph Carberry to support Dr. Virgil Muresan’s Lab at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Muresan’s Lab studies Alzheimer’s disease.  Donations can be made online at:  give.rutgers.edu/JosephCarberry or sent to Rutgers University Foundation, P.O. Box 193, New Brunswick, NJ 08913.

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

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Lauren E. Lepow

Lauren E. Lepow died peacefully in her home of nearly 40 years, in Princeton, NJ, on April 17, 2023, at the age of 72, shortly after being diagnosed with lung cancer. She was surrounded by books, art, music, family, and friends at the time of her passing.

Lauren was born in 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio. When asked by adults what she wanted to be when she grew up, young Lauren would look up and ask earnestly, “Is there a job where I can get paid to read books?” Although this response always resulted in chuckles from the inquiring adults, Lauren was determined to land her dream job, and that is exactly what she did. She attended Oberlin College as an undergrad and then graduate school at the University of Connecticut, where she obtained her Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in English Literature and met her future husband, Michael Montgomery (who sadly passed away in 2006). Lauren and Michael married and started their family while living and teaching college classes at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. With young children Tom and Jean in tow, they made their final move to Princeton, NJ, in 1985.

Lauren continued her career in academia, through college-level teaching and then academic copyediting, following the family’s move to the East Coast, but she ultimately found her home as a Senior Manuscript Editor for Princeton University Press, in 1991. During her 32-year tenure at the Press, she worked with well-established authors, including Derek Bok, Peter Brown, Eric Cline, Harry Frankfurt, Adrienne Mayor, Adriana Petryna, Robert Shiller, Michael Sonenscher, and Eric Weitz. She additionally relished the opportunity to develop strong partnerships with new authors. Over the years at Princeton University Press, Lauren also made significant contributions to meaningful projects, such as shepherding continuing series volumes through production, notably The Complete Works of W. H. Auden, The Correspondence of Henry David Thoreau, and The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. She was truly passionate about her work, and only retired due to her illness just months before her passing.

In addition to being a peerless editor, Lauren was a wonderful friend, teacher, sister, cousin, mother, and grandmother. She leaves behind her children, grandchildren, and gran-dog, Bella, whom she probably loved the most! She was known by the ones she loved for hosting wonderfully elaborate Shakespeare parties, finishing the New York Times crossword puzzle every morning before breakfast, and for being a truly terrifying Scrabble opponent. She had a knack and passion for food, and enjoyed challenging herself in the kitchen, often creating culinary works of art. Later in life, she became an incredible crafter of miniatures. She absolutely adored seeing anything made to just ridiculously tiny proportions, and did her best to replicate these cute creations, either with paper, wood, glass, and metal, or, if the mood struck her, with chocolate or marzipan. Lauren was never one to sit still for long, and always had multiple projects at her fingertips, but she learned later in life the ability to take time for herself. So while she could build an entire miniature village by lunchtime, she also found the beauty and benefit of taking a few hours in the afternoon to snuggle up with her family and beloved Bella to binge watch The Gilmore Girls, The Crown, or her guilty pleasure known only to a precious few, Buffy The Vampire Slayer (the multi-series TV show) while sipping a glass of her favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Arrangements are under direction of Ruby Memorial Funeral Home in North Brunswick, NJ.

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Sarah E. Hoffman

Sarah E. Hoffman, 99, a lifelong resident of Princeton, passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. She graduated from St. Paul’s School in 1937, Princeton High School in 1941, attended Secretarial School at Rider University, and received her associate degree in business from Mercer County Community College. She was a parishioner and Hospitality Chair at St. Paul’s Church, and a member and secretary for the local chapter of AARP. She loved to travel and was a doting grandmother and great grandmother.

Predeceased by her parents John Stephen and Kathleen (Quigley) McCafferty; husband Robert C. Hoffman; sister Kathleen Sayles; grandson Sam Davis; son-in-law Paul Davis; and sister-in-law Marjorie Darr. She is survived by her three daughters Liz (Art) Cramp of Pennington, Kathleen (Mark) Lakarosky of Kendall Park, Jo Hoffman-Davis of Washington State; two sons R. Douglas (Brenda) Hoffman of Mercerville and Stephen (Zonna) Hoffman of Kansas; 17 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation and Mass of Christian Burial were held on Monday, May 1, 2023 at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial followed in St. Paul’s Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Paul’s Church or School, Princeton, NJ.

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

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Marilyn Shanks

Marilyn Shanks, a resident Palm Beach County Florida, passed away April 25, 2023. Marilyn graduated from Princeton High School, and attended Rider College and New York University, where she did her graduate work.

For many years she owned and operated a restaurant in Tequesta, Florida. She, along with her husband Bill, owned and operated a woodworking shop in Hobe Sound, Florida. In addition to being an avid tennis player and golfer, she and her husband enjoyed deep-sea sport fishing and playing cards.

Marilyn was a longtime member of the Church of the Good Shepard in Tequesta, Florida, and a volunteer at the Riviera, Florida, soup kitchen where she spent much time helping others. Marilyn also volunteered at the Jupiter Theater in Florida.

A private memorial service will be held at the Trinity Church in Princeton, and interment will be in the Princeton Cemetery.

Arrangements are by the Wilson-Apple Funeral Home, Pennington. Condolences are welcome at wilsonapple.com.

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Annette (Cottrell) Merle-Smith

Annette (Cottrell) Merle-Smith died on Monday, April 3, 2023, at the age of 92, in Princeton, New Jersey, from complications related to stomach cancer. She was in her own bed, in her own home, surrounded by her surviving family — daughter Meg, son-in-law Tomas, and grandchildren Max and Karolina — which was precisely the way she wanted it.

Annette was born on Christmas Eve, 1930, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to parents Annette (Brinkerhoff) and William Cottrell, both passionate readers, environmentalists, activists, and ornithologists. As an only child, Annette was heavily influenced by her parents’ curiosity of the world around, and every evening before dinner they would all sit down for “drink time,” when they would look at art and discuss it together.

During high school (Buckingham School) in Cambridge, Annette volunteered in the Print Department at Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum. She then went on to attend Bennington College (Vermont) while she continued to volunteer for organizations such as Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, and the Corning Museum of Glass. She graduated in 1951 with a BA in Art History, and soon after, moved back to Boston, where she began her work at the MFA as the Director of the Children’s Room, wrote a book about dragons, and collaborated with PBS to create a children’s television program about art.

Annette’s marriage to “Mike” (Fowler) would take her to Princeton, New Jersey, for Mike’s work at the Princeton Day School. Here, their children Meg and Peter were born, and Annette became a long-serving docent for the Princeton University Art Museum. It was also through Mike and his family’s roots, which stretched back several generations, that Annette would find her self-described “spiritual home” amongst the Adirondack Mountains in Keene Valley, upstate New York. Although she traveled widely, Annette cherished the town and she managed to spend her summers at the family retreat here. Her love, care, and concern for the community was boundless, and she was a benefactor to a wide range of organizations and causes spread out across the region.

A dedicated nature-lover and patron of the sciences as well as the arts, Annette served as President of ‘Friends of Marquand Park’ until recently, was on the board of trustees at the Cunningham Dance Foundation and subscribed to the Metropolitan Opera of New York City with Mike for many years. She funded performances, publications, and research projects through the Institute for Advanced Study, and established
fellowships at The American School of Classical Studies at Athens in Greece, the Center for Research and Training in Anthropogeny, and at the Jonas Salk Institute, where she tried to visit annually. She was involved in countless other cultural, educational, and environmental initiatives, including Little Peaks Preschool in her beloved Keene.

Annette possessed a truly generous and curious spirit along with a fierce intelligence and sparkling wit. She was a thoughtful person, always as concerned for her people as for her causes, and she spent her entire life tirelessly devoted to them. Although she found joy in so many things, and committed herself far and wide, it was her love for her family that drove her in life, and it was evident in all she did. She will be dearly and deeply missed, and her absence felt by many, including her extended family, those in her local communities, and beyond.

A memorial service was held in Princeton, New Jersey, on Sunday, April 23. Annette will also be remembered at a second service on Friday, May 12, 12 p.m., at the Congregational Church in Keene Valley, New York. This will be followed by a reception at the Little Peaks Preschool in neighboring Keene. In lieu of flowers, Annette would have loved for people to support their local parks and communities through donations, their time, or in any sort of meaningful way they can.

April 26, 2023

Obituaries 4/26/2023

Mary (Molly) Goodrich Houston

Mary (Molly) Goodrich Houston, age 95, passed away on April 10, 2023. Born December 6, 1927 in Charleston, West Virginia, she was the daughter of Edgar Jennings Goodrich and Beulah Lenfest Goodrich.

Molly grew up in Washington, D.C., where she attended the Sidwell Friends School. She was educated at Mount Vernon Seminary and later at Centinary Junior College. In 1949 she graduated from Mount Holyoke College. That same year she married her beloved husband of 58 years, Benjamin Franklin Houston. They moved to Princeton, New Jersey, and raised three children there.

Molly had a lifelong career dedicated to teaching young children. She first taught at the University League Nursery School in Princeton. The family moved in 1959 to New Haven, Connecticut where she spent ten happy and creative years at the Foote School. Moving back to Princeton in 1969, she was offered a position at Stuart Country Day School and following that at Princeton Day School, where she remained for 26 years until she retired in 1996. Throughout her years in Princeton, Molly enjoyed memberships at the Present Day Club and the Mount Holyoke Club of Princeton. After retiring from teaching, she worked for many years as a docent at the Princeton University Art Museum, where she continued her work with young children by providing tours of the museum’s collection to visiting students from the Trenton public school system.

Molly especially enjoyed her time in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where she spent every summer of her life from the age of 3. She loved the beach and swam in the ocean until she was 93. She was often found with a box of watercolors painting an ocean scene or looking through her binoculars at birds and boats. She shared her passion for art, education, and nature with her children and grandchildren. Known as “Grandmolly” to her grandchildren, she was always overjoyed to spend time with them and claimed they rejuvenated her. She will be forever remembered and loved by all that knew her.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and her two brothers, George Herbert Goodrich and Charles Lenfest Goodrich. She is survived by her children, Linda G. Houston (husband David) of Blodgett, Oregon; Wendy H. Brown (husband Keith) of Rowayton, Connecticut; and Scott G. Houston of Morristown, New Jersey; as well as three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

April 19, 2023

Obituaries 4/19/2023

David Hagen

David F. W. Hagen, 91, died peacefully at home on Thursday, April 13, with family members present. He was born on February 16, 1932, in Makhanda (then Grahamstown), Republic of South Africa, and attended Pretoria Boys High School, Pretoria, RSA. He graduated from Rhodes University, Makhanda, in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and History and a teaching diploma. He then emigrated to Lusaka, Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia) and taught in the Gilbert Rennie schools. On April 5, 1955, he married Elisabeth (Liz) Slater, also a Rhodes University graduate.

In August of that year, David and Liz moved south to Harare (then Salisbury), Zimbabwe, where he started work with the Anglo American Corporation of South Africa, a mining company based in Johannesburg. In 1961 David was one of 12 prize winners named by the Chartered Institute of Secretaries in London. Among 2,935 candidates, he won the Institute’s Overseas Prize for the best overseas candidate.  

After seven years, during which their three sons were born, David and Liz moved north again, this time to Kitwe, Zambia, where David served as education officer to the Rhokana-Kitwe Copper Mine. In the fall of 1963, the family moved to England, where David worked for Honeywell and the Challoner Company until he was recruited by Kepner Tregoe, a consulting firm based in Princeton. In 1967 he opened the firm’s first office in England and was invited to join its office on Research Road in Skillman. The family arrived at Philadelphia airport on August 17, 1969.
After two years, David left Kepner Tregoe. He worked as a management consultant for Larry Wilson of Minneapolis and the Forum Corporation of Boston. In 1971, he and Liz bought The Queenstown Shop, a picture framing business at 43 South Main Street, Pennington. They owned the shop for 10 years and earned a reputation for fine work. During that time, David built his own consulting business, specializing in management training for the banking industry. From 1985 to 2007, he ran courses worldwide, as evidenced by his collection of 60 miniature national flags purchased at airports around the world. His favorite venue was Turkey, where he taught annually for 22 years.

David served on the boards of NAMI Mercer NJ, Greater Trenton Community Mental Health, and Woodmont Homeowners Association. His consulting career was ended by a catastrophic fall on the tennis court which destroyed his hearing in one ear and greatly reduced it in the other.

David then qualified with Audrey Grant as a bridge director, ran games at St. Matthew’s Church in Pennington, Windrows, and Princeton Landing, and attracted a number of students. He remained a bridge enthusiast, playing regularly and occasionally substituting as a director in Bill Miller’s sanctioned games at the Princeton Senior Resource Center and the Stone Hill Church.

David ranked in American MENSA’s top two percent. He was especially proud of his 35 years of sobriety. He was a loving husband and father, and had a charming manner and a wicked wit.

He is survived by his wife Liz; his sons and their wives, George and Terri, Anthony, Stephen and Melanie; his grandchildren Sophie, Brooklyn, Max, Sam, and Noah; his brother Timothy and sister-in-law Pat (Stellenbosch, RSA); his three nephews and their wives, Peter and Christina, Andrew and Hayley, and Daniel and Samantha. They will all miss him very much.

A memorial gathering will be held later in the year. Donations in David’s memory can be sent to the Trenton Rescue Mission or Mercer Street Friends. Condolences can be addressed to Liz Hagen and family at 1101 Sayre Drive, Princeton NJ 08540.

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Edwina Keaney

Edwina Marie (Tonelli) Keaney, a longtime Princeton resident, died peacefully March 23 at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center after a brief illness. She was 92.

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Giuseppe Tonelli and Elda Gabbianelli, “Toni,” as everyone called her, earned a nursing degree in Toronto, and accepted a nursing position at Peter Bent Brigham hospital in Boston in the mid-1950s.

While in Boston, on a blind date, Toni met her future husband, John J. Keaney, who was then studying for a doctorate in Classics at Harvard University. They married in 1957, and in 1960, their newborn daughter Anne in tow (followed shortly thereafter by sons John and Paul), they moved to Princeton, where John accepted a position on the faculty at Princeton University. He was to embark on a distinguished 40-year career in the Classics Department, and Princeton became John and Toni’s cherished home for the duration.

Toni reveled in raising her three children, who lovingly called her “Mum” – as did her children’s friends. Such was her warm and caring nature. Though she was employed for years as a substitute nurse in the Princeton public school system and later as a favorite substitute teacher (students in her classes actually behaved!), there was little doubt the role she enjoyed most was as a loving and supportive mother.

In later years, when her beloved daughter Anne was fighting the debilitating effects of Multiple Sclerosis, Toni’s round-the-clock care for Anne and fierce advocacy on her behalf was a model of motherly love and devotion.

Toni was blessed with three grandchildren, whom she adored (the feeling was mutual), and this past October achieved the status of great-grandmother, which tickled her to no end.

Toni’s interests were marvelously diverse, and reflected her ceaseless intellectual curiosity. She enjoyed her travels to Europe, soaking up the art in the museums and cathedrals of Rome, Florence, Paris, and London. She was an avid reader; ancient and European history, biographies and early Hollywood among her favorite genres. In her 80s she took adult courses at Princeton University.

Additionally, she was a superb cook, always adding to her repertoire, a needlepoint enthusiast, and looked forward to day trips with friends to New York to attend shows and the opera.

Her daily routine, particularly in her golden years, included knocking off the New York Times crossword puzzle and watching Turner Classic Movies, and perhaps a Western or two.

Toni is survived by her sons John J. Keaney and Paul M. Keaney; daughter-in-law Mary Jo Keaney; grandchildren Laura C. Huntley (Aaron), Alex K. Solaas (Shawn), and Sonya M. Keaney; and great-grandson Callahan P. Huntley.

She is predeceased by her husband John J. Keaney; daughter Anne M. Keaney; and daughter-in-law Asmira Halim.

Arrangements by Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

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John S. Chamberlin

1928-2023

John S. (Jack) Chamberlin, 94, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 with his beloved wife Mary by his side. Born on July 29, 1928, in Boston, Massachusetts, he was the son of Stephen and Olive (McGrath) Chamberlin and was raised in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of the Boston Latin School, obtained his AB cum laude from Harvard College (1950) and received a Masters in Business Administration from the Harvard School of Business (1953).

As a young boy, Jack acquired a love for the challenges of sales and marketing serving customers at his father’s ice cream stand, Chamberlin’s Ice Cream, in South Boston. It was no surprise then, when following his graduation from HBS, he launched himself into a long and fulfilling career in the consumer products industry where he was recognized as an expert and leader in the development of national and international markets.

His career began at the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and he quickly moved to join the General Electric Company where he thrived for 22 years rising to Vice President and General Manager of the Housewares and Audio Business Division, successfully leading a turnaround of that business. With Mary he created lifelong friends among his colleagues at GE in the growing consumer electronics field, as his career took them and their children through four northeast states until settling in Princeton, New Jersey, where they have resided for the past 45 years. Following his time at GE, he joined Lenox, Inc. as President, Chairman, and CEO. In five years, he restructured the company, reestablished the brand, made strategic acquisitions and negotiated the ultimate sale of the company.

In 1985 he joined Avon Products as President and Chief Operating Officer where he remained until deciding to enter the private equity field. As an active participant in several private equity acquisitions of consumer products companies, he spent another decade as a board member, advisor, leader, and mentor to younger executives, a role he relished. During this period, he served as Executive Chairman of the LifeFitness Company.

Jack served as a director on the boards of public companies and private institutions including, The Travelers Companies, The Scotts Company, Prince Manufacturing Sports Company, Princeton HealthCare System, The Parsons School of Design, The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, Junior Achievement of New York City, and The National Association of Manufacturers. He was a longtime parishioner of Saint Paul’s Parish and a Knight of the Order of Malta. He was a member of The Bedens Brook Club, The Harvard Club, and The Nassau Club.

One of his most rewarding accomplishments was his role as member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Princeton HealthCare System in helping to develop and guide the strategic plan to build an entirely new hospital and health campus, the new University Medical Center at Princeton, a state-of-the-art hospital that opened in Princeton in 2012, now known as Penn Medicine Princeton.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Mary (Leahy), who was everything to him; his children, Mary Katherine Durgin (Bill), Trish Keyes (Ted), Carol McCabe (Patrick), John Chamberlin, Liane French (Tim), and Mark Chamberlin (Deana); 15 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; his brothers Stephen (Rosemary) Chamberlin and Kevin Chamberlin; and several nieces and nephews.

Jack’s passion for his work throughout his life was only surpassed by his love and unwavering commitment to his family and to his faith. He and Mary were happiest when they were surrounded by their loving children and cherished grandchildren at their welcoming home. He also enjoyed the simple pleasures of cheering on the Red Sox, rooting for Harvard, playing pitcher in a spirited game of wiffle ball with the grandkids, belting out in song around a piano, and taking in the remarkable sunset over Cape Cod Bay.

The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to Carren Oluoch for her compassion and care these last few years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for members of the Chamberlin family.

Memorial donations may be made to Princeton Medical Center Foundation, 5 Plainsboro Road, Suite 365, Plainsboro, NJ 08536 (princetonhcs.org/princeton-medical-center-foundation/donate-now).

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

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Joseph Sferra

Joseph Sferra, 80, of Pennington passed away on April 9, 2023. He was born in Pettoranello del Molise, Italy. At the age of 15, he came to the United States with family and resided in Princeton. For the past 45 years he has lived in Pennington.

Upon arriving in Princeton, he worked for Nelson Glass until he joined his brothers as a barber at Continental Barber Shop in Princeton. His skilled talent and craftsmanship lead him to his career at Princeton University as a glazier and carpenter. He worked at Princeton University for 48 years until his retirement.

He was a family man who loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. They were his world as much as he was their world. He was exceptionally talented with all trades. He would always have projects ongoing to which the end results were breathtaking. He was one of a kind in all aspects. He would be the first wanting a family gathering and to raise a glass with family and friends. He always would leave you with his signature line “see you at Christmas.”

Predeceased by his parents Domenic and Angelina (Toto) Sferra; brother and sister-in-law Antonio (Clara) Sferra, brother and sister-in-law John (Rose) Sferra, and brother-in-law Oreste Sferra; he is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Scott and Meredith Sferra; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Michael Kopliner IV; grandchildren Ava, Ryan, and Joshua; brother and sister-in-law Umberto (Ester) Sferra, brother and sister-in-law Florindo (Patricia) Sferra, sister Assunta Sferra; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on April 18 at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Burial followed in Princeton Cemetery.

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

———

Joy Astrid Martin Shin

Joy Astrid Martin Shin, 86, died on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the Miami Valley South Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. A good and faithful servant, Joy was surrounded by her loved ones as she moved on to life eternal.

Joy was born in 1936 in Chicago, Illinois, as the youngest daughter of Salvation Army officers Thomas Herbert Martin and Edythe (Somers McElhiney) Martin. In 1954, Joy earned her high school diploma from Southwest High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her father nicknamed her “Joy Bells.” A dedicated musician, Joy enjoyed playing French horn in the orchestra, and alto horn in Salvation Army bands throughout her school years. In 1959, Joy earned her Bachelor of Science from the University in Minnesota School of Nursing and became a registered nurse. While working at a hospital in Chicago, she met a seminary student and Korean immigrant, Tai Shin. After Joy earned her Master’s in Nursing Education from Teachers College at Columbia University, Joy and Tai got married in July of 1963. They raised their three sons in Indianapolis, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and later, in Princeton Junction, New Jersey. Joy had a passion for medicine and leadership, working as a nursing professor and medical administrator throughout her career. 

From 1974 until last year, Joy lived with her husband Tai in Princeton Junction near Grovers Mill Pond, and most recently along the Millstone River. After Tai’s death in in March of 2022, she moved to senior living to be closer to her son and his family in Dayton. Throughout her life, Joy, aka “Bud,” was a sociable and generous neighbor. She especially loved to read the New York Times, biographies, history, and novels, sing show tunes, attend church, share meals, and Facetime with her family and grandchildren.

Joy is predeceased by her brothers, Robert Cale (Bobby) Martin and John Herbert Brengle (Jay) Martin, and survived by her sister, Edythe Anne (Edie) Memmott of Rumson, NJ. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Sun Kyun Shin (Christine), and sisters-in-law, Elsie Martin, Sue Loesch, Rhonda Shin, and Jamie Chi (Ken). Tai and Joy had three sons — Kent (Kelley), Wesley (Maren), and Mark (fiancé Amy). Tai and Joy had seven grandchildren — Darren, Matthew, Rosemary, Daniel, Christina, Brandon, and Audrey. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.   

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 21 from 6-9 p.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ. A Service in Witness to Resurrection and Interment will be held on Saturday, April 22 at 11 a.m. at Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church in Princeton Junction, NJ.

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

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Robert E. Van Vranken Jr.

Robert Eakins Van Vranken Jr. of Pennington, New Jersey, died April 4, 2023 due to complications of dementia. He was born September 23, 1935 in Brooklyn, NY. He was a graduate of the Lawrenceville School, Cornell University, and Rider University.

He was married to the late Kenan Myers Van Vranken for over three decades and together they raised three sons.

A strong believer in the citizen-soldier tradition, he served in ROTC at Cornell and for 36 years in the Army Reserve and National Guard, retiring in 1995 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1966 he joined the administration of Princeton University, where he served for over four decades in various positions including the Offices of Registrar, Admissions, and Annual Giving. The many connections he made with students and their families during his tenure at the University still live on today. He believed strongly in the mission of the University and worked tirelessly to create opportunities for students to attend Princeton and be supported as they worked towards their degrees. He concluded his long service to the University in the Office of Annual Giving, where he was able to help extend opportunities for future students by building strong partnerships with alumni. His work at Princeton earned him honorary membership in eight classes: 1943, ’46, ’47, ’48, ’50, ’51, ’52, and ’77.

In the New Jersey community, he was the founder of the Lawrence Township Helping Houses Child Safety Program. He was a co-founder of the Lawrence Township Youth Hockey Program, where he taught hundreds of boys ice hockey skills.

One of Rob’s great joys was to walk in the Adirondack Mountains. The family made numerous camping trips in the Heart Lake region. As a reflection of their love for the Adirondacks, Robert and Kenan sent all three of their sons to Camp Dudley in Westport, New York. In 2002, Rob walked the 500-mile Camino Francès route of the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

He is survived by his three sons Robert III (Barbara), Nelson (Amy), and Peter (Amanda), and by his eight grandchildren Cooper, Kenan, Brennan, Sarah, Arnold, Elise, Norah, and Silas.

A private graveside ceremony will be held later this month in Princeton, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be directed to Trinity Counseling Service of Princeton, NJ.

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Domenico E. Tamasi

Domenico E. Tamasi, 93, of Skillman passed away on April 15, 2023 at home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Pettoranello del Molise, Italy. Domenico was a restaurateur. He was the owner/operator of the Glendale Inn in Ewing, NJ.

Predeceased by his parents Nicola and Elvina (Palumbo) Tamasi, a brother and sister-in-law Eliseo and Lina Tamasi, a sister and brother-in-law Vincenza and Ginefrico Pirone, and a son-in-law Raymond Pettus.

Domenico is survived by his loving wife Adele R. (Petrecca) Tamasi; two daughters Elvina Pettus, Sandra Tamasi; two sons and a daughter-in-law Nicholas Tamasi, Paul and Laurie Tamasi (Siggia); 10 grandchildren Ean Jacobs, Erroll Tamasi, Ryan Pettus and Jennifer Pettus (Casamalhuapa), Erin Pettus, Ellis Tamasi, Evan Pettus and Devin Pettus (Brakel), Briana Tamasi and Guthrie Schoolar, Emma Tamasi, Peytann Tamasi, Jameson Troy; four great-grandchildren Bianca Pettus, Elizabeth Pettus, Dominic Pettus, Miles Parker; and many other nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins.

Domenico first immigrated from Italy to Princeton, New Jersey, USA in April 1948. He resided with his sister Vincenza and worked various landscaping jobs with his brother-in-law Ginefrico. He remained in the United States for several years before returning to Italy where he met Adele. They were married on July 10, 1954 before they made the return voyage to the United States in December 1954.

Domenico was ever-resourceful and an inspired worker whose ambition became a life that revolved around food. While he continued his evening work as a landscaper, he began his culinary career at The Princeton Inn as a pot washer. After his shifts, he would stay on to apprentice with the butcher.

Domenico worked his way up to butcher, acquiring various other skills along the way — including ice sculpture carving. He then advanced to Purchasing for Dining Services on campus at Princeton University’s Wilcox Hall. While working at the University he attended seminars and was awarded certificates from The Culinary Institute of America, Cornell University, Ball State University, Immaculata College, and The University of Oklahoma — to name a few.

While honing his craft he started his own catering business. As a caterer, he was a sought-after source for weddings and community events.

In 1972, along with his partners Ennio and Anthony Lieggi, he acquired and ran the very successful Glendale Inn in Ewing, New Jersey. In 1981 he sold the business and accepted a position at Meadow Lakes Presbyterian Homes as Director of Food Services in East Windsor, New Jersey, which is where he worked until he retired.

Domenico and Adele raised four children and hosted countless holidays, birthdays, events, and family meals at their home. They were able in the later years of his career to travel to Italy frequently, as well as many other countries, islands, and states.

Domenico was known for his prosciutto which he prepared and cured in his home, his art for making exceptional meat sauces, and his ever-popular clams casino. Domenico and Adele were excellent cooks and hosts for family and friends.

Domenico was very active in his community. He served on the Ways and Means committee at the Princeton Italian American Sportsman Club, was a member of the Roma Eterna, served as President of the Princeton-Pettoranello Sister City Foundation from 1996-97, and was a Foundation trustee from 1992-2010. In 2005 he was awarded the Order of Merit and named Caveliere by the Foundation. The ties to the Sister City of Pettoranello were solidified with this honor as it reinforced the message of family and tradition — both of which were paramount in Domenico’s life and heart.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Princeton-Pettoranello Sister City Foundation or St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.

A visitation will be held from 10-11a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2023 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2023 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Princeton Cemetery.

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

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Bruce McLain Breckenridge

Bruce McLain Breckenridge, 96, passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Pennswood Village in Newtown, Pennsylvania. He was born in Brooklyn, Iowa, on November 7, 1926, as the son of Robert W. Breckenridge and Mildred McLain Breckenridge. He grew up in Ames, Iowa, near Iowa State University, where his father was a member of the engineering faculty.  He had a strong love of nature and the outdoors, encouraged by his uncle, the noted ecologist and conservationist Walter J. Breckenridge.

In 1967 he became the first chairman of the Department of Pharmacology at the newly established Rutgers Medical School, now known as the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.  He served in that position until 1989, and then continued as Professor of Pharmacology and Adjunct Professor of Medicine until his retirement as Emeritus Professor in 1995. He and his wife Mary Breckenridge lived in Princeton, New Jersey, before moving to Pennswood Village in 2003.

Dr. Breckenridge’s first publication was a brief 1943 report in The Auk, describing how he and three high school friends, with advice from wildlife biology professor Paul Errington, conducted field work to determine the incubation period of the great horned owl.  He entered Iowa State University in 1943 and served in the United States Navy during 1945-46. He pursued graduate studies in physiology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and was awarded the PhD degree in 1952. He continued there as an instructor while completing clinical requirements for the MD degree in 1956. During that time, he also conducted research on the biochemical basis of multiple sclerosis.

He became a medical intern at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri in 1956. He then joined the Department of Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine where he pursued research on carbohydrate metabolism in the brain. Both at Washington University and in later work, he and his collaborators produced a series of notable publications on the mechanisms of hormones, neurotransmitters, and therapeutic agents, with a particular focus on the signaling roles of the neurotransmitter cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP).

He was selected as a Markle Scholar in Academic Medicine for 1959-1964. During a sabbatical year in 1964-1965, he was a visiting scientist at the Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique in Paris. This year gave him the opportunity to establish ties with many other laboratories in Europe, and it was a formative experience for the family members who accompanied him. Later, in 1984, he was a visitor at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, affiliated with Harvard Medical School in Boston.

At the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Dr. Breckenridge helped to establish the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program with Rutgers University and to affiliate the medical school with Middlesex General Hospital (now Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital). He served on numerous university and government advisory panels and committees. 

He was a member of the Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey, where he served for a time as a deacon.

He was predeceased in 2022 by his wife of 72 years, Mary Alice (Barber) Breckenridge.  He was also predeceased by his sisters Harriet Turkington, Esther Blackburn, and Eleanor Gates. A loving and devoted father, he is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law: Lee Peters Breckenridge and Robert A. Margo; Janet B. and Raymond T. Pierrehumbert; and Ellen Douglas Breckenridge. He is also survived by four grandchildren Anna McLain Pierrehumbert, Nadia Douglas Pierrehumbert, Larissa Douglas Koch Ursprung, and Andrei Santino Breniman Koch, and by three great-grandchildren David Barber Speh, Eric Douglas Speh, and Laura Dente Speh.

A private funeral and burial were held at the Princeton Cemetery (Princeton, New Jersey) on February 24, 2023.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mather Hodge Funeral Home.

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Mary Alice Barber Breckenridge

Mary Alice Barber Breckenridge, 97, died peacefully on May 5, 2022, surrounded by her loving family at Pennswood Village in Newtown, Pennsylvania. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska on March 4, 1925, as the daughter of Peter Thaddeus Barber, Jr. and Alice (Douglas) Barber.  She grew up in Omaha, where her parents worked together in the family dental supply business. 

She and her husband Bruce McLain Breckenridge resided in Rochester, New York; University City, Missouri; and Princeton, New Jersey, before moving to Newtown, Pennsylvania in 2003.

She received her undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1947 from Iowa State University, where she met her future husband Bruce Breckenridge, whom she married in 1949. She received a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Iowa in 1949. In the 1950s she worked as a research assistant at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and in the 1960s at Washington University in St. Louis, where she collaborated on several celebrated studies in public health. 

Professor Breckenridge earned a PhD in sociology from Princeton University in 1976, graduating as a member of the first class of women in a new program for mature graduate students. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in biostatistics. Among her mentors was the biostatistician John Tukey, whose methods of exploratory data analysis she applied in her book Age, Time, and Fertility: Applications of Exploratory Data Analysis (1983). Regarded as a pioneering work in population sciences, this book used robust statistical methods to model two centuries of longitudinal fertility data from Sweden.

Professor Breckenridge joined the faculty at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (now part of Rutgers University) in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she developed several new degree programs and obtained substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health. She conducted innovative studies of community-based health services and pursued influential research in population sciences. She was honored several times for her contributions to the scholarly mission of the medical school. A YMCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award in 1994 commended her as “a role model and mentor for women and men in academia.” She retired in 2000 as Professor Emerita of Family Medicine.

Professor Breckenridge was a longtime member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She was active in the Princeton Graduate Alumni Association.  She was a member of the Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey, where she served for a time as a deacon. 

Professor Breckenridge was survived by her husband of 72 years, Bruce M. Breckenridge, who passed away on February 19, 2023. An inspiration to her children and grandchildren, she is survived by her three daughters and two sons-in-law Lee Peters Breckenridge and Robert A. Margo, Janet B. and Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, and Ellen Douglas Breckenridge; her four grandchildren, Anna McLain Pierrehumbert, Nadia Douglas Pierrehumbert, Larissa Douglas Koch Ursprung, and Andrei Santino Breniman Koch; and her three great-grandchildren, David Barber Speh, Eric Douglas Speh, and Laura Dente Speh.

A private funeral and burial were held at the Princeton Cemetery (Princeton, New Jersey), on May 10, 2022.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mather Hodge Funeral Home.