Dietrich Meyerhofer
Dietrich Meyerhofer, 91, of Lenox, MA, died Friday, September 30 at Berkshire Medical Center of old age following an extraordinarily rich life that he shared with his wife, Laurel, his grown children, grandchildren, and ever-present animal companions.
Born in Zurich, Switzerland, September 19, 1931, the son of Ernst A. and Margaret Hanington Meyerhofer, he attended the prestigious Zurich Gymnasium (high school). After moving to the U.S., he attended Cornel University where he received his BS degree and later earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in Physics from MIT in just three years.
A resident of Princeton, NJ, for much of his life, Dietrich raised two children with his first wife, DMay, and was a Solid State Physicist for the RCA Company throughout his career. While in Princeton he was a member of the local school board and a member of the board of directors for McCarter Theatre.
He and his second wife, Laurel Meyerhofer, were set up on a blind date in the summer of 1982 and married just six months later on January 8, 1983. They remained blissfully in love for 40 years, always by one another’s side as they lived a life full of travel, opera, gourmet food and wine, walks in the woods, and special times spent with family and friends. After retirement, they left Princeton for Somers, NY, but the Berkshires was always a favorite getaway. They kept a second home in Great Barrington for more than 25 years. In recent years, they made their home at Kimball Farms in Lenox.
Above all, Dietrich was the kindly patriarch of a large family. Survivors include his wife of Lenox, MA; children Dr. David D. Meyerhofer (Joan Lucas) of Los Alamos, NM, Sandra J. Meyerhofer (Peter Englert) of Berlin, VT, James E. Blechman (Tania) of South Salem, NY, William P. Meyerhofer (William Kwok) of New York, NY, and Andrew D. Blechman of Great Barrington; and his beloved grandchildren Margaret, Peter, Tatiana, Lillie, and Talia. Besides his parents, Dietrich was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Swan Meyerhofer on February 12, 1981 after 27 years of marriage; and by his brothers Nicholas and Christopher Meyerhofer.
A celebration of the life of Dr. Dietrich Meyerhofer of Lenox will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the A.S.P.C.A. in care of Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240.
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Harold Borkan
Harold Borkan, who had a long and distinguished career in electronic device research and development at RCA as well as in the U.S. government, died on October 12, 2022, at home. He was 95 years old and had lived in Princeton since 1957. Harold felt blessed to have had a loving family which included three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Mr. Borkan was born in Elizabeth, NJ, where he attended elementary and high schools. He was an active Boy Scout, becoming junior assistant scoutmaster with responsibility for directing Troop 14. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy before graduating from high school and was on active duty during 1945-46 as a Seaman First Class radio technician.
He earned a Bachelor in Science in electrical engineering from Rutgers University in 1950 and was the first Rutgers graduate to receive an offer and serve as a Member of the Technical Staff at RCA Laboratories in Princeton. He was instrumental in establishing Eta Kappa Nu, the honorary electrical engineering fraternity at Rutgers. He was also awarded the MS degree from Rutgers.
At RCA Labs, Mr. Borkan’s main research involved innovative camera tubes for the recording of color television programs, and thin-film transistors which led to the thin computer screens common on all laptop computers and monitors. He was awarded nine patents, was the author of several dozen papers, and received two RCA Achievement Awards during his many years at RCA Labs.
Mr. Borkan moved from RCA in 1981 to become Director of the Microelectronics Division of the U.S. Army’s Electronics Technology and Devices Laboratory (ETDL) at Fort Monmouth, NJ. There he was responsible for all the Army’s microelectronics R&D. Four years later, he was promoted to Deputy Director of ETDL. While he served at ETDL, the laboratory twice received the Army Laboratory of the Year Award. He retired in 1990.
Mr. Borkan was a member of the Old Guard of Princeton and president of Community Without Walls, House 1. He also served as public service coordinator of 55-Plus; chairman of the Adult Education Committee and later treasurer of The Jewish Center of Princeton; treasurer of the United Jewish Appeal, and for five years as the Princeton Representative on the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority.
He was married for 52 years to Jean Borkan, who passed away in 2001. He is survived by their three sons, and three daughters-in-law: Gary and Martha Borkan of Melrose, MA; Brad and Anne Borkan, residing in Kew, England; and Ronald and Linda Borkan, living in Flagstaff, AZ. His five grandchildren are Daniel, Benjamin, William, Evy, and Brittany. His great-grandchildren are Ava Borkan and Jasper Borkan. After the passing of his wife Jean, Mr. Borkan was also blessed with a wonderful long-term partner, Hazel Stix.
The family has established “The Harold Borkan Endowed Scholarship” at Rutgers School of Engineering. To honor his life, the family will be most grateful for any contributions made to this fund which supports academically talented electrical engineering students in financial need. Please make check to “Rutgers University Foundation” with note “Harold Borkan Endowed Scholarship.” Send to Rutgers University Foundation, PO Box 193, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0193.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, October 16 at The Jewish Center, Princeton and burial followed at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin, NJ.
Contributions can also be made in his memory to The Jewish Center of Princeton.
Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences, please visit Harold’s obituary page at orlandsmemorialchapel.com.
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James P. Heidere
Dr. James Heidere of Skillman, NJ, passed away on October 12, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family. He was 82 years old.
Jim was born in 1940 to Max and Mary Heidere in Philadelphia as the first of three children. Jim attended high school at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia and rowed on the Varsity Crew team in a quad that won the national championship in both 1957 and 1958. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania in 1962. Jim went on to earn a degree in dentistry at Temple University School of Dentistry. After graduating from dental school, he served in the Public Health Service as a dentist in both San Francisco, CA, and Danbury, CT. Jim completed postgraduate work in periodontics. He worked as a periodontist for 40+ years at the Princeton Dental Group.
Jim is survived by and will be deeply missed by his adoring wife, Stephanie Heidere; sister Maureen Bennett (Mark Bennett); daughters Susan Heidere (Michael Simko), Elizabeth Heidere, Katie Heidere (Scout Broadhead); as well as his grandchildren, Carter and Alex Simko. He is also survived by a niece, Marie Ford, and nephews Mark Bennett and Jeff Bennett. He was predeceased by his sister, Kathy Ford.
Jim was an accomplished pilot and taught flight instruction at both Princeton and Robbinsville airports. He was an active member of the Delaware Valley wing of the Commemorative Air Force. He was also an avid motorcyclist and rode for many years in the Colorado 500. Jim will be remembered for his outstanding intellect, dedication to his patients, many acts of kindness to his friends, and incredible laugh.
Jim was deeply committed to advancing the mission of the Sourland Conservancy in Hopewell, NJ. He provided warm friendship, long hours directing parking at the Mountain Fest, photographing and pitching in at numerous events.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jim’s name may be made to the Parkinson’s & Movement Disorder Alliance (PMD Alliance), The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and the Sourland Conservancy.
There will be a private family burial in Princeton Cemetery. The family will host a Celebration of Life for friends and loved ones to gather and remember Jim at the Antique Barn at Cashel, 145 Wertsville Road, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844 on November 5 from 12-4 p.m.
Photos and tributes may be shared at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.
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Diane T. Campbell
Diane Teresa Campbell, 83, of Princeton, NJ, died Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Princeton Care Center. Born and raised in Poland, she resided most of her life in Philadelphia where she owned and operated Campbell’s Deli in the Kensington neighborhood. She eventually moved to Princeton in 2013. Diane was a communicant at Queen of the Universe Church, Levittown; St. Adalbert’s Church, Port Richmond (Philadelphia); and St. Paul’s Church, Princeton.
She is survived by four daughters: Elizabeth (Peter, d.) Meggitt of Princeton, Dianne Campbell of Belleair, FL, Cecilia Campbell (Deborah Gagnon) of Ithaca, NY, and Roxanna (Eugene) Choe of Princeton; eight grandchildren: Dylan Hodill, Kelly (Kyle) Owens, Russell Hodill, Hugo Meggitt, Sinclair Meggitt, Hannah Choe, Derek Choe, and Phineas Choe; one niece Maryla Czebatul; and two great-nephews Mateusz Czebatul and Daniel Czebatul. She is predeceased by her parents Zygmunt and Zofia (Lewandowska) Walczykiewicz and son-in-law Peter Meggitt.
A Visitation will be held on Friday, October 21, 2022 from 6-8 p.m. at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue., Princeton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday October 22, 2022 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton. A luncheon will follow the services.
Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Diane’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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Costantino “Andy” Tamasi
Costantino “Andy” Tamasi, 89, of Princeton passed away Sunday, October 16, 2022 at Capital Health Regional Medical Center of Trenton, NJ, with his family by his side.
Andy was born in Pettoranello Di Molise, Italy. He had been resident of Princeton since the age of 3. Andy served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was plank owner on the USS Intrepid earning the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class, and a lifetime member of the USS Intrepid Association. A machinist by trade, he was employed as a maintenance foreman for Princeton Recreation Department. He was a crossing guard for Princeton Township for 47 years. Andy was a member of the Italian American Sportsman Club, Roma Eterna Lodge, and the Princeton Pettoranello Sister City Foundation. Andy was a handyman, he loved cooking, gardening, hunting, fishing, and especially spending time with his family. He enjoyed going down the shore to Ortley Beach with his family for many years.
Predeceased by his parents Michael and Anna (Pinelli) Tamasi Sr., a brother Michael Tamasi Jr., two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law Peggy Carazzai, and Pat and Norman Fairall.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Marianne (Petrone) Tamasi; two sons and a daughter, Joe and Nancy Tamasi, David Tamasi, Debbie and Robert Nacarella; seven grandchildren, Arianna and her husband Joe Gallo, Daniella Tamasi, Tori Tamasi and her boyfriend Chris Ridolfi, Alec Tamasi, Deanna Nacarella and her fiancée Frank MacDuff, Nico Nacarella and his wife Vanessa, Francesca Nacarella; a great-granddaughter Isla Mae Gallo; daughter-in-law Becky Tamasi; two brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law, Renato Carazzai, Frank and Kris Petrone; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton 08542. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton 08542. Burial will follow in Princeton Cemetery 29 Greenview Avenue, Princeton 08542.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of Andy.