Laverne George
Laverne George, 86, of Princeton, died March 13 at the Chandler Hall Nursing Facility in Newtown, Pa. following a long illness.
She enjoyed a life full of adventure and creative work. Her primary interests were travel, writing, and art history.
Born in Hollywood, Calif., she always said her first big adventure was playing basketball at Hollywood High School with such future movie stars as Lana Turner and Alexis Smith.
While still in her twenties, she left her job at CBS in Los Angeles and moved to New York City to write for the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency. In 1949, she left for Paris, where she became a writer for the Marshall Plan and met her future husband, the painter Thomas George, who was studying art in Paris under the G.I. Bill.
The couple married in 1951 and after two years in France moved to Florence, Italy. There, Mrs. George wrote on travel and art history, Mr. George painted, and together they enjoyed the city's cultural life. They also explored many parts of Italy and, after leaving Italy, lived and worked in other places including North Africa.
In 1955, they returned to the United States to be with John George, Mr. George's son from a previous marriage. Settling in Rockland County, N.Y., Mrs. George developed her career as an art critic while Mr. George continued to paint.
But the Georges were tempted to further adventure, and in 1956 they boarded a freighter with Mr. George's son and sailed to Japan. They settled in Kyoto, and the family's two years in Japan were one of the richest experiences of Mrs. George's life. With Mr. George painting and his son John attending school in Kyoto, she had time to explore various aspects of Japanese life and culture. She learned about geisha culture and how to play the samisen, a Japanese instrument. She also taught English.
In 1957, the Georges returned to Rockland County, where their son Geoffrey was born in 1961. For 30 years starting in 1966, the family spent summers in a small town on the Oslo Fjord in Norway. Mrs. George worked in Oslo as a docent at the Heine Onstad Art Museum, one of Scandinavia's leading institutions devoted to modern art.
The Georges moved to Princeton in 1969, and Mrs. George became a docent at the Princeton University Art Museum. There she started the Saturday morning program for children, which combined gallery talks and hands-on demonstrations by artists. She also collected books on the history of art, something she had done since she was a young woman. A few years ago, the family donated her 800-volume collection to the Princeton Friends School, where it will be part of the expanded arts facility to be built there.
During her Princeton years, Mrs. George continued to write art criticism. She frequently contributed pieces to Arts Magazine, edited by Hilton Kramer, and became an expert on such 20th century American artists as Arthur Dove and Charles Burchfield.
In addition to her husband, her son Geoffrey, and stepson John, she is survived by a sister, Patricia Poitras of Los Angeles.
Interment will be at Princeton Cemetery. Friends will gather later this spring to celebrate her life.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Alzheimer's Association, New Jersey Chapter, 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville 07834.
Yolanda C. Courtney, 76, of Hamilton, died March 21 in Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton.
Born in Warwick, R.I., she had been a longtime Trenton area resident. She was a graduate of Penn Hall Preparatory School and attended Penn Hall Junior College.
She was formerly employed with Princeton University, Forrestal Research from 1954 to 1960, and more recently with Princeton University in the Mathematics Department as a grants administrator. She retired in 1995.
She was a volunteer with the Red Cross and at Sayen Elementary School in Hamilton.
A knitting and sewing enthusiast and avid New York Yankees fan, she also enjoyed skiing, tennis, and riflery.
She was predeceased by her parents, Raymond and Lena (Catalano) Casciani; her husband, William P. Courtney; and her siblings Mary Silvestri, Clara Rucette, Vera Hotmar, Huey Casciani, and Lindo Casciani. She is survived by two daughters, Paula Quattromani of Hamilton and Barbara Jaenicke of Roswell, Ga.; and a grandson.
A graveside service was held March 24 at St. Mary's Cemetery, Cedar Lane, Hamilton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice Center, 601 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton 08629; or to VNA of Mercer County, Hospice Program/Development Department, P.O. Box 441, Trenton 08603.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Saul Colonial Home, Hamilton Square.
Henrietta Miller, 102, of Monroe Township, died March 20 in Monroe Village.
Born in Russia, she was a former resident of Ewing Township.
She was a member of Hadassah and Deborah.
The wife of the late Meyer L. Miller and mother-in-law of the late Judith Miller, she is survived by two sons, Judge Robert S. Miller of Princeton and Bennett Miller of Potomac, Md.; a brother, David Abrams of Queens, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
The funeral service was March 22 at The Jewish Center of Princeton. Burial was at Mount Hebron Cemetery, Flushing, N.Y.
The period of mourning will be observed at the Miller residence in Princeton.
Memorial contributions may be offered to The Jewish Center of Princeton.
Funeral arrangements were by Orland's Ewing Memorial Chapel, Ewing Township.
John R. Morgan III, MD, of Princeton, died March 18 in Trenton following cardiac surgery.
Born in Trenton, he was a lifelong Mercer County resident. He was a U.S.M.C. veteran of Korea, serving in combat with the First Marine Division.
He received his undergraduate degree from Temple University, studied at the University of Pennsylvania, and received his doctorate of medicine from New York Medical College.
Upon completion of his studies, he practiced medicine in Hamilton Square. He served on the staff of Mercer Hospital/Capital Health from 1962 until his death. During his career, he was active in the development of Hamilton Hospital, where he eventually served as chief of staff and vice president of the board of governors.
He also served as a medical director for Sterling Drug Inc. and as the director of medical operations for Sandoz Pharmaceuticals. Upon leaving the pharmaceutical sector, he held the positions of director of health services at Rider University, medical consultant to Presbyterian Homes/Meadow Lakes, medical director at Unisys/NJ Medicaid, and senior health physician at the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
Additionally, he served as a medical consultant for the New Jersey State Police, on the advisory board for St. Lawrence Rehab, and as a school physician for Hamilton Township.
He was a member of the board of governors of the Trenton Boys Club, served as a president and charter member of the Hamilton Township Rotary Club, and was a member of the American Legion.
An avid sportsman, he enjoying golf, tennis, squash, and fishing. During his life, he was a member of the Trenton Country Club, Bedens Brook Club, Trenton Club, and Crossing Gun Club.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara E. Morgan; two sons, John IV of Doral, Fla. and Drew of Princeton; a sister, Diane Schroeder; and two grandsons.
A memorial service was held March 23 at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Pennington, with Fr. Belmont officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Jackson Morgan may be made to Princeton Child Development Institute, 300 Cold Soil Road, Princeton 08540; or to St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 300 South Main Street, Pennington 08534.
Arrangements were by the Saul Colonial Home, Hamilton Square.
Esther Shteir, 96, of Princeton, died March 12 in Brendenwood, Voorhees.
Born in Russia, she was a former resident of Ewing Township and Hollywood, Fla.
She was a member of Hadassah and Har Sinai Temple, where she was an educator in its religious school.
Wife of the late Abram Shteir, she is survived by two sons, Dr. Owen Shteir of Princeton and Melvin Shteir of Wayside; a daughter, Flora Ronkin of Mount Holly; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
The funeral service was March 23 at Orland's Ewing Memorial Chapel, Ewing Township. Burial followed at Ewing Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be offered to a charity of the donor's choice.
Frank J. Lesh, 79, of Princeton, died March 12 at St. Barnabas Hospital, Livingston, N.J.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., he was a resident of the Princeton area for more than 35 years.
He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving with the U.S. Navy.
He received his B.A. degree from Cornell University and his MBA from Harvard Business School. A retired computer consultant, he had been a pioneer in the early development of computers.
Son of the late Charles and Carrie Adornatto Lesh, he is survived by four children, Lydia Lesh, William Lesh, Andrew Lesh, and Carrie Haley; and two sisters, Bessie Testa and Pauline Gnozzo.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Buffalo.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Kimble Funeral Home.