Robert Edward Biddlecome
May 9, 1930 – May 17, 2025
Robert Biddlecome, esteemed bass trombonist, educator, and arts administrator, died on May 17, 2025. He was 95.
Mr. Biddlecome served as principal bass trombonist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra for an extraordinary 47 years, retiring in 2010, after playing his final Nutcracker. His work with the orchestra formed the foundation of a distinguished career that spanned concert halls, recording studios, and classrooms across the country.
During his long career he was selected by Leopold Stokowski as bass trombonist of the American Symphony Orchestra, was bass trombonist and manager of the Aspen Festival Orchestra for 30 years as well as a member of the Aspen Festival administration for more than 20 years. He played a key role in shaping the Festival’s artistic and educational programs and was also an artist-in-residence, contributing to its musical excellence both on stage and behind the scenes. He was bass trombonist of the American Brass Quintet (ABQ) for 28 years and was directly responsible for establishing the bass trombone in chamber music and building that repertory. He may be heard on more than 30 recordings with the ABQ.
Mr. Biddlecome was president of The American Brass Chamber Music Association, served as a board member of Chamber Music America, and was former president of the American Symphony Orchestra. He also served on the faculties of the Brooklyn College Conservatory, the Mannes School of Music and the Juilliard School. His principal teachers were Simone Mantia and Roger Smith. He was born in Somerville, NJ, and graduated from Somerville High School after which he attended the Juilliard School of Music where he received both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. Following his studies, he joined The United States Army Band, serving as assistant first trombone and later solo euphonium. Upon returning to New York in 1961, he resumed performing with ensembles such as the Goldman Band and various symphony orchestras.
He is survived by three brothers, five sons, one daughter, one stepson, 11 grandchildren, and many great- and great-great-grandchildren.
He will be remembered not only for his exceptional musicianship but also for his devotion to family, education, and the advancement of brass music.
Family and friends are invited to attend a funeral Mass on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ.
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Valerie A. McKinney

With a beautiful and infectious spirit, Valerie Ann Berger McKinney, was born February 21, 1959 in Lakewood, Ohio, and died in Princeton, New Jersey on May 19, 2025 at the age of 66 of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
An adored wife of 43 years to James “Jim” McKinney; loving mother to Mitchell (Nancy) McKinney and Ellen (Greg) Vandeloo; doting grandmother to Madelyn McKinney, Harper Vandeloo, Maxwell McKinney, and Olivia Vandeloo; devoted sister to Gregory (Phoebe) Berger, Jeff Berger and Nancy Johnson; attentive aunt to Fritz (Elizabeth) Schaub, Rachel Johnson and David (Ginny) Johnson; fond sister-in-law to Susan Laurence, and a steadfast enthusiastic personal friend to all she met.
Valerie’s parents, Wanda G. (Richardson) Talmage and Jack H. Berger, predeceased her.
All who knew her cherished Valerie for her compelling and compassionate personality, which bridged all facets of her life. In work, personal life, civic engagements, and with family and friends, she was generous, curious, offering a dry sense of humor, and a clear sense of direction as a leader. Big hearted but intolerant of bullshit.
She was proud of her lifelong mission of empowering women at every age, a legacy that lives on with all she touched.
Valerie’s blood was Girl Scout Green from her dedication to scouting and its positive impact on young women. At the age of 23, she started her own Girl Scout troop in an economically challenged part of Evansville, Indiana where she was a leader for 28 years. She became a board member of the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Indiana, serving for 18 years and eventually as President of the Board. She led her young women in camping locally as well as internationally with trips to Mexico, Great Britain, France and Switzerland. In recognition of her service to Girl Scouting, she was awarded the Thanks Badge II, the highest honor given to a Girl Scout volunteer.
Valerie created the McKinney Fund to pay for girls to be in scouting, securing troop leadership in neighborhoods where there was a shortage of able-bodied leaders, and a scholarship for young women in need of financial support to go to college upon their having achieved the highest recognition in scouting (the Gold Award).
Of course, scouting was of value in her home life. Valerie bragged that she was the best builder of bonfires on frigid fall nights.
In her professional career Valerie was known for her compassion and love for her peers and subordinates. Most important was her leadership and encouragement of rising women teaching them leadership skills while instilling personal belief in themselves and confidence to be strategic achievers. At her alma mater, Purdue, she created the McKinney Scholarship to provide undergraduate scholarships for female students enrolled in the university’s Integrated Business and Engineering Program.
Valerie graduated from Fairmont East High School in 1977 where she achieved outstanding scholastic accomplishments. She was President of the Student Council, a cheerleader, and actively engaged in numerous extracurricular civic activities. This culminated in her receiving the highly esteemed Rayburn Award for the school’s Senior Student Body Leader of the Year.
Enrolling at Purdue University, Valerie’s heart and soul was her Pi Beta Phi sorority where she became Social Chairman, a role she maintained for her class in the following decades. She served on the Senior Board for the Grand Prix Kart Race as the Ambassador in charge of Purdue Grand Prix campus activities. All while achieving her degree in Industrial Engineering in1981.
Following graduation, Valerie moved to Evansville, IN to work at ALCOA as a Senior Industrial Engineer. In 1994 she became a Senior Industrial Engineer at Bristol-Myers Squibb. She rose to Pharmaceutical Packaging Director, Plant Manager, Operations Director for Distribution, and ultimately moved to BMS offices in New Jersey to become Logistics Lead, and Global Serialization Business Integration Lead.
In 2014, after retiring from BMS, Valerie joined the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies, U.S. team to become Director of Supply Chain. Eventually she ascended to the position of Executive Director of Commercial Manufacturing Operations. Reflecting on her career at Otsuka, her heritage was best known for coaching and mentoring others to realize their potential. She had the ability to recognize and cherish each person’s best strengths before they could see it in themselves.
Beyond Valerie’s dedication to her family, she served as President of the Junior League of Evansville, was on the Evansville Board of Public Works, in Princeton and Evansville served on the Leadership Team for the Fund for Women and Girls of the respective community foundations, and engaged in numerous other civic organizations.
Valerie’s big heart was not only a gift to her fellow humans, but also to furry and feathered creatures of all kinds. Truly, she never met a dog she didn’t love. Many pleasant afternoon strolls were interrupted by her necessity to pet every dog on the walking path. Her much-loved pet labradors, Snickers and Emily, will keep her company for eternity.
In lieu of flowers, Valerie requested donations to either McKinney Fund for Girl Scouts – GSSI, 5000 E. Virginia Street, Evansville, IN 47715 or the ALS Association, 1300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 4 until 6 p.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton.
A Celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025 at the funeral home.
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Michael Stone Mathews
Michael Mathews, age 84, died peacefully, with family by his side, on May 17 at Princeton Medical Center from acute respiratory failure. Born in Columbus Ohio, he made Princeton his home for over 50 years.
Michael was known for his quick wit, charming toasts, and adventurous spirit. He scuba dived on the Great Barrier Reef, traveled to Borneo to see the orangutans, sailed the Irrawaddy by paddle boat, followed Genghis Khan’s footsteps on the Silk Road, and even taught Paul McCartney’s daughters to waterski in Barbados. He loved gardening, even taming the thorny hedges that lined their home on Elm Road. He loved the outdoors — hiking in the French Alps, paddling on Adirondack lakes, and applying lessons learned early as a Junior Maine Guide. He read voraciously and loved sharing the odd turn of phrase in the Economist with his wife late at night.
He graduated with the Class of ’62 from Princeton, where he was Editor of the Daily Princetonian and recipient of the Detwiler Prize. A graduate of University of Michigan Law School, Class of ’65, where he served as student body president, he began the practice of law at White & Case in New York City. He soon switched to investment banking when he joined Smith Barney in corporate finance. From there, he focused his career on Scandinavia, helping start investment banking and US operations for Swedish and Norwegian banks. In 1992, he became an independent financial consultant, public company director and private equity investor. He welcomed every opportunity to mentor young people both in business and life.
Michael believed cultural exchange to be a crucial cornerstone for peace and acted on his conviction. He served on the executive committee of the American Field Service; as trustee of the American Scandinavian Foundation; director of International Schools Services in Princeton; and member of the Council of Foreign Relations in New York. From 2019 until his death, he was a Trustee of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, also serving as treasurer.
He volunteered his time with social clubs where people could build new personal connections: The University Club of New York, where he served for years on the Council and as a Vice President, and Cap and Gown Club of Princeton, where he was on the graduate board for more than 40 years and Chairman for 13 years. He was a member of Pretty Brook Tennis Club and The Nassau Club, continuously growing his circle and enjoying decades-long friendships.
The most important focus of his life was his marriage to Cecilia in 1967 and the family they created together. He is survived by Cecilia and their children: Brandon (Kristina), Mark (Vickie) and Alexander and five grandchildren whom he adored — Elise, Cate, Nico, Jane, and Max.
A memorial service will be held this fall in Princeton. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you might consider a contribution to the Princeton Symphony Orchestra or the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake, NY.
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Galina Astashkina
Galina Astashkina, a deeply beloved mom, grandmother, wife, and friend, passed away on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell, NJ, after a nearly two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 72.
Galina was born in Moscow, Russia, and immigrated to the United States with her husband Anatoliy and their son Denis in 1993. Originally a musician in Russia, Galina was incredibly outgoing, loved to be around people, and loved to laugh. In the United States, Galina found her professional calling as a department store sales associate and worked at Lord & Taylor in the Quakerbridge Mall in Lawrenceville, NJ, for 20 years. Impeccable taste for fashion, great eye for detail and color combinations, and warm, caring personality earned Galina a dedicated following of multi-generational clientele at the store.
Galina’s true legacy is her family. First and foremost, she was an incredible mom. She was feminine, gentle, loving, and nurturing as the bedrock of moral support, yet firm and uncompromising when it came to values and work ethic. She pushed us to dream big and reach for the stars. She was incredibly proud when her son Denis was accepted to California Institute of Technology for undergraduate study and even prouder when Denis earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Princeton University. Naturally, Galina took every opportunity to weave this into her conversations. When her grandson Alexander was born in 2020, Galina found new happiness and passion as a deeply involved grandmother.
Galina had an incredible thirst for life and laughter. When she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in August 2023, Galina was determined to wrestle every possible day away from the disease, driven by the desire to see her grandson grow up. She fought valiantly, inspiring many, including the medical professionals who treated her. Seeing her grandson turn 5 was one of her biggest rewards.
Galina’s departure left an enormous hole in our hearts. Her bubbly personality and strong presence were larger than life. Yet, we take comfort in the end to the suffering, and in her reunification with her dearly departed parents, Ivan and Ekaterina.
Galina is survived by her husband Anatoliy, her son Denis, her daughter-in-law Jess, and her grandson Alexander.
Graveside service for Galina was on Monday, May 19, 2025 at Princeton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org/donate).
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Gilda Kugler Aronovic
Gilda K. Aronovic grew up in a poor, immigrant Jewish family in New York City on the Lower East Side. Born on May 26th, 1929, a few minutes after her twin sister Hilda, they were the first children of David and Anna Steir Kugler, joined a few years later by sister Frieda and brother Michael. It was a family that expected hard work from every member, yet was also a loving one. David was a chicken butcher, and Anna took care of the home and children. They both worked hard to give their children opportunities in their wonderful, adopted country.
Growing up, Gilda was an excellent student who loved to read and was very athletic. She did well in school but also had to help with the family poultry business, delivering packages to Brooklyn via the subway. She graduated from Brooklyn College and became a math teacher. Unfortunately, her first placement was at a school in Harlem, and it proved to be a challenging experience. Around the same time, she met Sanford Aronovic, a PhD Analytical Chemist, and they raised a family. After a few moves, they landed in Princeton, NJ. Both Gilda and Sandy were active members of the Princeton Jewish Community. Gilda stayed home with the kids and later worked at The Jewish Center of Princeton, teaching Hebrew School. While her kids were in school, Gilda joined a painting class and became a successful local artist in Princeton, displaying her work in McCarter Theater shows and at The Jewish Center of Princeton, among other places. When Sandy’s father, who had retired and moved to Florida, found it too hard to live alone, she took him in to live in their house and even taught him to paint in his 90s, his works proudly displayed in a few shows in Princeton.
In the 1970s, Gilda took a course and became a real estate agent, joining John T. Henderson and Company, a firm later sold to Sotheby’s. Gilda worked hard and thrived in her job as a real estate agent, becoming the primary breadwinner for her family. She inspired her children as someone who could pivot when necessary and succeed. She worked in real estate into her 80s, walking across town to work when possible, and noticing when places were for sale by owner to secure listings. She also helped Jewish families new to Princeton integrate into the Jewish Community. Sandy passed away in 2016, and Gilda continued to paint and walk all over town into her early 90s.
After COVID and the onset of cognitive decline, which saw her son Asher taking care of her for a couple of years, she needed a more structured place to live and became a resident at Ciel Princeton. The people at Ciel took good care of Gilda, always marveling at her ability to clap, sing, and dance when the music started, until she couldn’t anymore. Gilda passed away on May 21, 2025, five days before her 96th birthday. It was a well-lived life, and she is survived by her sons, Daniel Aronovic and Asher Yaron, and daughter, Diane Aronovic, as well as her grandchildren: Stephanie Levy, Allison Hason, Margo Netzer, Anna Aronovic, and Sofia Yaron. Finally, too, by her great-grandchildren, Jonathan Levy, Tia Levy, and Atai Hason.
There will be a Memorial Service for Gilda on June 1st at 10 a.m. at the Jewish Center of Princeton, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ.