Brian Wilfred Faughnan

Brian Faughnan of Wilmot, N.H. passed away on August 1, 2016. He was the son of Patrick J. Faughnan and Barbara Gordon Faughnan.

Quick witted, curious, and a life-long learner, Brian had a scientific mind and an appreciation for theater, dance, and music. He was always open to new perspectives, always reading across the disciplines, and seeking out new ways of asking age-old questions. Brian was always available to lead discussions about a broad range of topics including politics and religion.

Nature lured him. He canoed, rowed, hiked, biked, skied, snowshoed, and camped. We remember him hiking up Mount Washington in winter and cycling up Mount Washington in summer, cross country skiing in fresh new powder, or rowing a single scull on Kezar Lake. He devoted much of his energy and intellect to preserving the natural environment and promoting access with Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, the Wilmot Conservation Committee, and the SRK Greenway Coalition. He could often be found at his computer, crunching GIS data to create the SRK Greenway Trail Guide maps.

We remember Brian entertaining friends and family, preparing gin and tonics, and cooking on the grill. Or he was in his study completing a project, or teaching himself a new gadget or technology. Reading or working at his computer, there was usually a purring cat by his side.

Brian spent a lot of time in the company of his wife Barbara, his only daughter Kelly, and since 2001, his son-in-law, Bjarne Holmes, as well as extended family and friends. Barbara and Brian were together for over 50 years, and would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this coming November.

He lived the first 24 years of his life in Montreal, graduating from McGill University with a degree in engineering physics. Graduate school brought him south of the border, to Cambridge, Mass., where he completed his PhD in physics at MIT. Right out of graduate school, he started his first and last job as a research physicist in Princeton. The company changed names a few times, but he worked happily in the same lab space for 40 years, receiving several awards for his research accomplishments. Retirement in 1999 was a smooth transition. Brian and Barbara designed their new home in Wilmot, N.H. and quickly embedded themselves in the local community.

Brian is survived by his wife Barbara Faughnan (Bunker), daughter Kelly Faughnan, son-in-law, Bjarne Holmes; siblings: Frank Faughnan of Ste. Anne, PQ, Lou Kelly of St. Sauveur, PQ, and Barbara Anger and her husband David of San Francisco, Calif. Also surviving is his sister-in-law Betty Lovejoy of Concord, N.H. and Sally Smith of Ft. Myers, Fla. and many nieces and nephews and grand- nieces and nephews.

A future memorial gathering will be held at their home in September. Memorial contributions can be directed to the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, 71 Pleasant St., New London, N.H. and Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice, 107 Newport Road, New London, NH 03257.

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Jean Haws Brown

Jean Haws Brown, 89, died peacefully in hospice care at Merwick Care Center on Friday, August 12. A sudden two-week bout of pneumonia and respiratory failure foiled her plan to stick it out through December to see a grandson, Ray, graduate from Mercer County Community College with honors in math and science courses.

Jean was born in Stamford and raised in in Greenwich, Conn. She was educated at Rosemary Hall and Miss Hall’s before graduating from Smith College in 1948. At Smith she was No. 1 in her class freshman year, and Phi Beta Kappa based on sophomore year grades, spending a junior year abroad in postwar Europe.

Golf, gardening, and travel gave a great deal of pleasure to Jean, a longtime member of Springdale Golf Club. She was fearless and thorough in a quiet way. In her 70s she was photographed with a long green snake around her neck at a snake charmer’s stall in Tangiers. In her 80s she allowed both of her teenage grandsons to live with her in her home (one at a time) so they could attend Princeton High School. Both graduated.

She is survived by her daughter Gay Miller of New York City and son Peter Miller of Honolulu; grandsons Brian Ray Miller of Princeton and Sean Charles Miller of Tokyo; her sister Gabriella Woese of Atlanta, and her brother Robert Haws of Kaneohe, Hawaii. She was predeceased by her parents, Gabriella Spooner Dunn and Henry Ernst Haws.

Her ashes will be buried in Trinity-All Saints’ cemetery with those of her second husband, George Brown, and her deceased son Douglas Haws Miller.

In lieu of flowers or a service, donations may be made in her memory to a charity of your choice.

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

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Thomas J. Raser III

Thomas J. Raser III, 85, passed away at home on August 7, 2016 after battling an unrelenting cancer for nine months. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa. on June 22, 1931, went to Frankfurt High School, and then Bryn Mawr College before serving as a Tank commander in the U.S. Army. After leaving the army, he was married to Edith Peters, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and began his career in marketing, advertising, and public relations with General Electric. He spent many years with N.W. Ayer, one of the country’s largest advertising agencies, as a vice president, managing some of the firm’s largest accounts. He retired from American Cyanamid Co. in 1991 as director of marketing communications: agricultural division. Tom was predeceased by Edith and married Florence Mooney in 1977.

The Rasers began coming to Naples in 1991 and owned a condo on Vanderbilt Beach where Tom served on the Board of Directors as vice president and president. They became permanent residents of the Vistas at Bonita Bay in June 1998 after living in Princeton since 1962. He joined many organizations: the English Speaking Union, where he served as vice president and program chairman for four years, the University of Pennsylvania SW Florida Alumni Association, where he served as president for a number of years, the Speakers Assembly of SW Florida, the Collier Athletic Club, The Sigma Chi Alumni Club, the Bonita Springs Men’s Club, the Bonita Bay Club, and the Bonita Bay Fishing Club where he served as program chairman. He was also a member of the Nassau Club of Princeton.

Tom is survived by his loving wife Florence, his son Jeffrey, and wife Mary; as well his step-children Reynold, Diane, Robert, Susan and 15 grandchildren. He loved his boat, fishing, reading historical novels, and keeping up with his extended family. He will be dearly missed and will have a life remembered.

A memorial and celebration of life service will be held in Princeton at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to Hope Hospice, 27200 Imperial Parkway, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.

Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home.

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Laura Ann Burger

Laura Ann Burger died quietly in her sleep in the early hours of August 10, 2016 at The University Medical Center at Princeton.

Born and raised in New Jersey, she graduated from South Brunswick High School in 1973 and received her Associates Degree from Thomas A. Edison College in 1994. She worked for Dun and Bradstreet as a senior programmer for 15 years.

Health issues forced her to retire earlier than she would have liked, but she kept her life full with friends and family. Her varied interests included travel, reading, crossword puzzles, music, and movies. She also played a ruthless game of Scrabble, mostly whipping her usual adversary (Dad) mercilessly.

Beloved daughter of Gloria and Raymond Burger and sister of Stephen Burger and Adair Gaudioso, she is also survived by her nieces Sophia Gaudioso Malachias and Monica Gaudioso and her great-niece, Lydia Malachias. She was a very special aunt, supportive, kind, and generous in all ways. Her brother-in-law, Giovanni Gaudioso, aunt, Christina Tercy, and cousins Trish Vine, Laureen Cannella, Michael Tercy, Barbara Burger, Christine Trotta, and Raymond Burger were all very special to her.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, 45 Henderson Road, Kendall Park. Burial followed in Ten Mile Run Cemetery.

Friends were asked to call on Saturday, August 13, 2016 from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. at M. J. Murphy Funeral Home, 616 Ridge Road at New Road, Monmouth Junction.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped at P.O. Box 434, Woodbridge, NJ 07095 (friendsnjlibraryfortheblind.org). Through their programs and support, Laura enjoyed many hours of entertainment.