December 20, 2011

Obituaries 12/21/11

Richard L Gilbert JrRichard L. Gilbert Jr.

Richard L. Gilbert Jr., of Princeton, died December 6.

Born in Schenectady, N.Y., he was a 1938 graduate of Cornell University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

He worked in research and development for American Cyanamid from 1938 to 1982, with the exception of about 1 year with the Lion Oil Company of El Dorado, Ark. He was transferred from Stamford, Conn. to Princeton in 1962. In both locations he headed groups working on product and process development.

He was elected a member of the Greenwich, Conn. representative town meeting in 1941, and was a founding member, and later president, of the Greenwich Association for Retarded Citizens in 1950.

In Princeton, he worked for many years on the budget committee of the Princeton United Way, chairing the committee from 1974 to 1977. He was awarded the Lambert Award in 1977, and was president of the board of directors of the Princeton United Way in 1979. He served on the board of directors and as treasurer of the Family Services of Princeton, and on the board of directors of the Princeton Senior Resource Center. He was a deacon at the Nassau Presbyterian Church. He was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for five years.

In retirement, he operated a small business called Bird in Hand, for which he carved and painted birds to be sold at craft and wildlife art shows. He enjoyed cooking and eating good food, sailing his boat in Barnegat Bay and Long Island Sound, and walking the woods with his dog. He loved listening to Beethoven’s music most of all.

Predeceased by two wives, Alice Elliot Belding and Elizabeth Mather Bartlett; he is survived by three sons, Richard Belding Gilbert, Bryan Vandermore Gilbert, and John Elliot Gilbert; a daughter, Ruth Gilbert Wall; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, on January 2 at 1:30 p.m. Interment of ashes will be held at 1 p.m. at Princeton Cemetery, 29 Greenview Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Association for Retarded Citizens, Greenwich, Conn.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Kimball Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue, Princeton.

Rose P. H. Wetzel

Rose Panek Hamrysky Wetzel, of Princeton, died December 14 at home.

She was a volunteer for 22 years with the Red Cross, Princeton University, and the Princeton Senior Resource Center.

She is survived by her daughters, Gloria Bell and Dolores Doney; her son, Richard Hamrysky; eight grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.

Funeral services took place December 20 at the Kimble Funeral Home, Princeton. A Mass of Christian Burial took place on December 20 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Princeton. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Healthcare Ministry of Princeton, P.O. Box 1517, Princeton, N.J. 08542.

To extend condolences or share memories, please visit TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

Richard W. B. Jesser

Richard W. B. Jesser died December 17 at the University Medical Center of Princeton after a brief but devastating illness.

Born in 1927 in New York City, he was the third son of Arthur Edward Jesser and Vera Benn Jesser. He grew up in Hackensack. During World War II he enlisted in the Navy pilot training program and was sent to Union College in Schnectady, N.Y., receiving a degree in civil engineering followed by a master’s degree at Harvard University.

In 1959, he married Sallie Willis of Princeton, and soon after traveled to Jordan and from there to Bolivia. Ten years later, he returned to Princeton with his wife and three children and continued his engineering career on numerous projects in the United States as well as abroad. He was well known to local officials as he worked to make his town safe and efficient.

He was a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church; the Community Church of Westmore, Va., where he was married; The Old Guard of Princeton; the Princeton Middle East Society; and The Contract Bridge League. An avid skier, he met his wife in the Montclair Ski Club, and he had the opportunity to ski in the United States and many other countries of the world. A skilled sailor, he cruised with his family and on many charters with the Princeton Ski and Sail club. His tennis skills peaked in 1961 when he and his Canadian partner won the men’s doubles championship of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The time he spent working in Africa, Europe, North/South/Central America gave him a truly global point of view and sensitivity to the needs and problems people experience everywhere. He was a devoted father, designing and building a home for his children in Princeton, and following their careers and those of his grandchildren with interest.

He is survived by his children, Richard Jr., Vera Lawson, Army Chaplain Kenneth Lawson, Nancy Jesser, and seven grandchildren.

Contributions in his name may be made to the American Cancer Society.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on December 22 in the Niles Chapel at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton.

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

J. Alfred Seitz

J. Alfred Seitz, 94, of Skillman, died December 7 at Stonebridge Assisted Living.

He was born in 1917 in the family home in North Hackensack. After marrying Gloria Valdisseri, he designed and built their home at 335 Jefferson Road, Princeton, with the help of her father, a carpenter. There, they raised their three children. He lived in that house until he moved to Stonebridge in December 2010.

He started his career with a bachelor of arts degree in education from Trenton State College. He was a member of the Air Force, acting as a teacher for pilots in weights and balances. For over three decades, he worked in the Princeton Regional Schools system. His first job was as a teacher of woodworking and furniture-making. He was an accomplished furniture maker and designer/craftsperson in jewelry with an appreciation for designs that are now considered of the “Modern” era. He loved Danish design.

Later in his career, he was promoted to assistant principal of the high school, and also served as acting principal there. He finished his distinguished career at the middle school as assistant principal. His family fondly remembers his many years in the school system and his gifted storytelling over dinner of mentoring those students whose extracurricular activities on campus attracted his necessary attention. His work in education was wonderfully fulfilling and enjoyable to him. He loved to travel and journeyed around many parts of Europe, a love that started with his organization of many overseas Princeton high school choir trips in his early career. He enjoyed fine food and dining, and was known for his great hospitality, fun parties, enjoyment of people, and a great group of friends who over the years his children came to know well.

He is survived by his three children, Jay Seitz, Donald Seitz, and Patricia Seitz; four grandchildren; and four siblings, Barbara Redden, Marie Hochheim, Joe Seitz, and Rita Cappi.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on December 27 at St. Paul’s Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Princeton Education Foundation, PO Box 176, Princeton, N.J. 08542.

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