Elizabeth Schenk Trapp

Elizabeth Schenk Trapp, 78, of Sargentville, Maine, died on Monday, June 20, 2016 in her home surrounded by her family. Born in Flemington, NJ, on April 18, 1938, Betsy was the daughter of the late John Foran Schenk and Elizabeth Stryker Schenk. She had resided in Sargentville since 2011, having formerly lived in Bay Head, NJ, from 1976 until 2011. Betsy was an alumna of the Westover School, Middlebury, CT, and Bennett College, Millbrook, NY. She was a nursery school teacher at Brick Church School in Manhattan before teaching at Princeton Day School for twenty-nine years. A dedicated junior kindergarten teacher whose former students kept in touch with her throughout the years, she was known for her creativity, enthusiasm and supportive manner. Betsy’s classroom was always filled with colorful art, and whether the class was studying Antarctica, Route 66, fairy tales, or NYC, the class projects, academic studies and art works were infused with laughter and love. Her classroom was a joyous place. An avid and accomplished sailor at the Bay Head Yacht Club, Betsy also loved early American furniture, antique dolls, reading, music, flowers, and travel.

Betsy is survived by her daughter Johanna (Josie) Trapp Miller and two granddaughters, Lindsay Erin Miller and Sara Mackenzie Miller, all of Cary, NC; her daughter Gerada (Rada) Trapp Starkey and son-in-law Robert Wallace Starkey, of Sargentville, ME; step-grandson Avery Mardfin Starkey of Bernardsville, NJ; step-granddaughter O’Nell Mardfin Starkey, husband Brian Mark Michaelsen, and step-great-granddaughter Azalea Belle Michaelsen, all of Sebastopol, CA. Betsy’s husband of 19 years, Martin Anthony Trapp, died in 1978.

A private family graveside service in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Flemington, NJ, is under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences. A public service will be held at All Saints Church in Bay Head, NJ, on September 2, 4:00 p.m., with a reception immediately following at the Bay Head Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Save Barnegat Bay, 725-B Mantoloking Road, Brick, NJ 08723, www.savebarnegatbay.org or Hancock County HomeCare and Hospice, P.O. Box 655, Ellsworth, ME, 04605, https://www.emhsfoundation.org/donate/homecare.

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Richard J. Miller

Richard J. Miller, 76, of Princeton, NJ died at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick on July 18 with his family at his side.  Born in Kingston, NJ, he was the son of the late Bruno and Anne Miller.  Dick proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps, first in the Reserves for 10 years and then volunteering for active duty in Viet Nam as a Staff Sgt. He was a member of the Marine Corps League, the American Legion, Post 0031, and the D.A.V. Chapter #41.  Upon leaving the service, he was employed for over 30 years at Nassau Conover Ford Lincoln Motor Company in Princeton, where he ended his career as Shop Forman.  Dick always gave 100 percent to everything he ever did and was always willing to lend a hand.  He was a skilled woodworker and in 1974 built his own home doing everything but the fireplace himself.  He had a passion for going to the gym six days a week, target shooting at Fort Dix and country line dancing.

He was an amazing man and his courage and determination in overcoming years of health issues due to Agent Orange were an inspiration to all who knew him.  In 1990 his sister, Marian Taylor, gave him a kidney and he was forever grateful for her generosity which allowed him to see his family grow up.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 53 years, Cheryl Cramer Miller; his son, Richard Miller (Rick) and his wife, Valerie Robinson, of Belle Mead, NJ;  his daughter Karen Dewing and her husband, Matthew Dewing, of Ridgefield, CT; and his three adored grandchildren:  Justin and Kensington Miller and Kayla Dewing. Dick is also survived by his sister, Joanne Jackman, of Hamilton Square, NJ.

A viewing was held on Thursday, July 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. Burial was private.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his honor to the Marine Corps League Trenton Detachment #207, 547 Schiller Avenue, Trenton, NJ  08610.

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Kristin E. Gager

Kristin E. Gager, 54, of New York City, died Sunday, July 17, 2016 at University Medical Center of Princeton after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in New Haven, CT she grew up in Princeton and resided much of her life in New York City. She was a graduate of Princeton High School 1980, Barnard College 1984 and received her PhD in History from Princeton University, 1992. She also earned an MLIS from Pratt Institute in 2005. She taught at the University of New Hampshire, served as an editor at Princeton University Press, and worked as a librarian at Emory University. Kristin was an Advising Dean for the Columbia University Honors Program for the past 5 years. She was a brilliant, beautiful, well-read woman who traveled the world and spoke several languages. She was a devoted aunt and her dogs were her life.

Daughter of the late Catharine Burrowes Gager, she is survived by her father John G. Gager, a sister and brother-in-law Andrea Gager and Don Dearborn, a brother and sister-in-law Peter Gager and Catherine Troop and her 3 beloved nieces Cat, Lacey and Emma. Kristin will be missed dearly by her family, friends, colleagues and students. She asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the ASPCA or to www.save-animals.org in Princeton.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at the Chancellor Green Rotunda, Princeton University.

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