Margaret A. Henderson
Margaret “Peggy” Henderson, of Princeton, NJ, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 14, at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, in Massachusetts. She was surrounded by much of the family she loved so deeply, and in a place she cherished. She was 92 years old.
Peggy was adamant that she didn’t want an obituary (sorry, Mom!), but it is impossible to not honor a life so beautifully lived.
Born on December 13, 1932, to Lillian Tracy and Harold “Tot” Harrison, Peggy was raised in New York City, attending Fontbonne Hall Academy, in Brooklyn, before going on to study at New York’s Hunter College; University College Dublin, in Ireland; and the Katharine Gibbs School where, among other things, she mastered the art of shorthand. While working as the assistant to the president of the Lynn Baker Advertising Company, in Manhattan, she met the love of her life, John T. Henderson. They were married in 1959, and soon after settled in Harbourton, NJ, where they built both a home and a thriving business together.
Peggy’s intelligence, tireless work ethic, and unwavering determination made her an exceptionally gifted entrepreneur, and for nearly four decades, she and John helmed John T. Henderson, Inc. Realtors, a successful residential real estate brokerage based in Princeton. Peggy and John’s professional life revolved around all things real estate: owning it, renting it, managing it, developing it, selling it, brokering it, and even celebrating it—Peggy and John’s parties were legendary and were only considered a success when Peggy’s shoes came off (which they always did). At the height of their business, they managed 12 offices, oversaw more than 250 agents, and (Peggy would tell you) carried 16 mortgages at once. Peggy accomplished all of this while also raising a family and maintaining a deep spiritual life.
In her later years, Peggy continued to live life to the fullest and always with great enthusiasm. Her daily routine included binge-watching tennis (as Rafa Nadal’s biggest fangirl); tackling three crossword puzzles a day (including the intimidating Thursday New York Times’s); praying the rosary with unwavering devotion; penning loving, reflective, and uplifting emails to friends and family (she was well known for her strong “emoji game”); reading voraciously (she typically logged two books per week); and never missing an episode of her favorite show, Beat Bobby Flay. She had a deep affection for Frank Sinatra, whose music could often be heard playing in the background of family gatherings. But perhaps her most cherished pastime was spending a sunny afternoon in her favorite spot on earth: her “comfy” chair in the back corner of the deck of the Nantucket summer home she and John had enjoyed since 1980.
Although she was well known for her tenacity and skill in business, it was Peggy’s warmth, humor, and faith that left the deepest impressions on those lucky enough to be included in her circle. She was equal parts funny and fierce, assertive and loving. With her passing, her family has lost their North Star, but they take great comfort in knowing she has been joyfully reunited with John and is now resting in the peace of God, who she trusted with all her heart throughout her life.
Peggy’s most cherished roles were those of devoted wife to her beloved John, who predeceased her after 45 years of marriage; loving mother to four children and their spouses, Jane (Kevin), John (Angie), Matthew (Jennifer), and Judson (Christina); adoring “Grammy” to 10 grandchildren (Isabelle, Taylor, Jack, Lachlan, Maisie, Lilly, Hutch, Samantha, Mac, and Wally); and a proud great-grandmother-to-be to her first great-grandchild (due in October). She was an inspiration and beacon of faith to all who knew her, and her unwavering presence, her daily prayers (which all will attest could, in fact, work miracles), her contagious laughter, and her boundless love will be sorely missed.
A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Paul Church (216 Nassau Street, Princeton), on Monday, July 28, at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hands Together, the Haitian mission founded by Peggy’s dear friend, Father Tom Hagan, who dedicates his life to serving the poorest of the poor in Cité Soleil, Haiti. Father Tom’s efforts were close to Peggy’s heart, and she supported Hands Together steadfastly and faithfully for the past several decades.
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Joan Lippincott
Joan Lippincott, one of America’s preeminent concert organists and a revered teacher whose artistry and pedagogy shaped generations of performers and church musicians, died on May 31 in Newtown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 89, following complications from a spinal infection.
A musician of extraordinary intellect, technical brilliance, and spiritual depth, she leaves a legacy of excellence that continues to resonate through concert halls, churches, and conservatories across the country.
Born Joan Edna Hult in Kearny, New Jersey, on Christmas 1935, to parents Frank and Edna Hult, she studied piano and organ from an early age. She eventually was a pupil of the renowned Alexander McCurdy at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where she earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she received the Artist’s Diploma. Dr. Lippincott quickly established herself as a formidable interpreter of the major organ repertoire, particularly the works of J.S. Bach, whose music remained central to her life’s work.
Dr. Lippincott was widely regarded as one of the foremost American organ teachers of the late twentieth century. For nearly four decades, she served with distinction on the faculty of Westminster Choir College, where she was Professor of Organ and Head of the Organ Department—the largest in the world at the time. With an unerring ear, a fierce dedication to musical integrity, and deep personal kindness, she was both a demanding teacher and a lifelong mentor to her many students, who became affectionately known as “Lippincott Kids.”
Beyond Princeton, Dr. Lippincott concertized widely. In 1967 she signed on with Lilian Murtagh Concert Management (which later became Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc), and remained with the management throughout her career. In more than 600 solo recitals throughout the United States and abroad, she appeared at major cathedrals, churches, universities, and international festivals.
Her discography contains more than 20 recordings, many centered around the music of Bach, but also covering Mozart, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Widor, Duruflé, Alain, and Pinkham, among others. These recordings garnered acclaim for their clarity, expressiveness, and stylistic insight, in which scholarly rigor and vibrant musicality were always held in elegant balance. Her playing demonstrated her championship both of historical performance practice and the living American organ tradition.
In addition to teaching, concertizing, and recording, Dr. Lippincott served from 1993 to 2000 as Principal University Organist at Princeton University, sat on the juries of several prominent organ competitions, and was active in the American Guild of Organists and other professional organizations. She served on the Advisory Board of The American Bach Society and was an honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota.
Her career saw a garland of honor. Westminster Choir College awarded her its Alumni Merit Award, Distinguished Merit Award, Williamson Medal, and an Honorary Doctorate. In 2013, the Organ Historical Society published a festschrift, Joan Lippincott: The Gift of Music, with Larry G. Biser editing contributions from students and colleagues. Rider University awarded her its Sesquicentennial Medal of Excellence in 2015. She was the honoree for the American Guild of Organists Endowment Fund Distinguished Artist Award Recital and Gala Benefit Reception in 2017 and was named International Performer of the Year by the Guild’s New York City Chapter in 2019.
Beyond her public accomplishments, Joan was a person of grace, humility, and quiet strength. Her students remember her not merely for her precision and high standards, but for her nurturing of the entire student, person and artist combined. She took deep care with each student’s voice and vocation, guiding both with patience, insight, and love.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Curtis, to whom she was married 58 years. She is survived by countless former students, friends, colleagues, and admirers. A service of thanksgiving for her life will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, October 4 at the Princeton University Chapel.
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Frank Paul Calaprice
July 8, 1939 – June 30, 2025
Professor Frank Paul Calaprice passed away on June 30, 2025 in Redlands, CA, just days before his 86th birthday. A brilliant physicist, incisive thinker, and lifelong questioner of assumptions, Frank lived a life driven by inquisitiveness and an unrelenting commitment to the pursuit of knowledge.
Frank was born on July 8, 1939 in Los Angeles, CA, youngest child of Trifone and Francesca Calaprice, whose families hailed from Puglia, Italy. As a youth, Frank hoped to become a draftsman, an aspiration that led him to take physics and math classes at Pasadena City College. Encouraged by instructors who recognized his talent, Frank later applied to UC Berkeley, where he finished college, met his wife Alice (later divorced), and ultimately completed his PhD in Physics. Frank joined the Physics Department at Princeton University in 1970 and served as faculty until retiring in 2018. At Princeton, Frank dedicated his career to experimental nuclear and particle physics. He was widely recognized for his pioneering work in neutrino detection, particularly as a leader of the Borexino experiment, which made landmark contributions to our understanding of solar neutrinos. In recognition of his lifetime of achievements, he was awarded the 2023 Hans A. Bethe Prize by the American Physical Society—one of many honors earned over a distinguished career.
Frank was known for his sharp mind, dry humor, and congenial spirit. His own lived experiences engendered in him a passionate belief in the power of education to transform lives and society, and he took great pride in teaching and mentoring students and supporting young scientists around the world. Outside the lab, he was an avid runner, cyclist, and swimmer, who enjoyed fine wine, Italian food, and the company of his coffee klatsch at Small World and other Princeton cafes. He is survived by his children, Denise and David; his grandchildren, Ryan, Chris, Emilia, and Anya; numerous extended family; and many former students and colleagues who will miss him dearly.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Frank’s memory to causes supporting scientific research or education.
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Carol Lee Greenberg Skillman
March 1, 1941-July 7, 2025
Carol Skillman had a magical ability to connect with children, filling their world with joy, curiosity, and a love of learning. Whether helping them learn to read or teaching them new songs while she played guitar, her four decade career in early childhood education delighted and instilled a love of school in many children at The Farm School, Cherry Hill Nursery School, and for many decades at Maurice Hawk Elementary School in West Windsor, NJ.
Carol Skillman passed away on July 7, 2025.
Born on March 1, 1941 to parents Irving and Ruth Greenberg, Carol grew up in Union, NJ with her sister Laurie and her brother Robert. She went on to Mount Holyoke College, graduating in 1963 with a BA in Psychology, and then on to Harvard Graduate School of Education where she earned her M.Ed. She married Stephen Skillman on June 20, 1964; he was the love of her life and they enjoyed sixty-one years together. They moved to Princeton in 1970. They had two daughters, Becky and Jane. A dedicated parent, Carol spent many hours supporting her children’s activities, carpooling to Princeton Ballet Society for Becky and driving Jane to early morning swim practices at Peddie School in the dark.
Carol was an award-winning kindergarten teacher who genuinely loved teaching young children. She never underestimated their capacity for learning and wonder, doing things like dissecting a fish with her class, or doing a unit on world flags because a student was fascinated by them. She played both piano and guitar, and the classroom was filled with sing-a-longs. For Halloween, she dressed as The Tooth Fairy. She knew the right things to say to make children giggle and made a point of treating each child as an individual with unique interests and capacities. If you were one of Skillman’s Superstars at Maurice Hawk Elementary School in West Windsor, NJ, your first year was filled with stories, song, and discovery.
Carol and Steve’s happy marriage included many memorable vacations at the Jersey shore and unforgettable trips to several national parks, Canada, Alaska, England, Italy, and Israel. They hosted family reunions at their home, sometimes featuring 6 foot hoagies from Hoagie Haven.
One of Carol’s favorite seasons of life was becoming a Nana! Her two grandchildren, Naomi and Zac, were the joys of her life and she loved nothing more than having a grandchild stay with her for a weekend. After her retirement, while her health permitted, she also enjoyed auditing classes at Princeton University and volunteering for organizations including Princeton Medical Center, Grandpals at Riverside School, McCarter Theatre, SAVE-A Friend to Homeless Animals, and hospice.
Carol is survived by her husband Steve; her daughter Becky and husband Andy Carpenter; her daughter Jane and husband Marc Alexander; grandchildren Naomi Carpenter and Zac Alexander; sister Laurie Wright, brother Robert Greenberg, sister-in-law Barbara Mahoney, brother-in-law Richard Skillman, and their spouses; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; and her Maltese dog Albert Einstein.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Carol’s honor to First Book (firstbook.org) or to the to the Princeton Public Library (https://princetonlibrary.org/support/honor-with-books/).