Marvin Earl Conover
Marvin Earl Conover, a dedicated mason, contractor, and lifelong member of Somerset County, NJ, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 11, 2025, at the Center for Hope Hospice Facility in Scotch Plains, NJ. He was 90 years old.
Born on October 1, 1934, in Somerville, NJ, Marvin was a proud descendant of the Plymouth colonists and cherished his roots. On his mother’s side, they had come over on the second voyage on the Mayflower and eventually settled as Quakers. His patriotic spirit was evident in his pride in being an American, consistently flying a flag outside his home.
Marvin’s career spanned over 40 years, including being the owner and operator of M.E. Conover Builders in Skillman, NJ. His commitment to excellence was unparalleled; he believed that if something was to be done, it must be done right. Among his many projects, Marvin built the bar at The Tiger’s Tale (known then as the Foolish Fox) where he met Bobbie, a waitress there who would later become his beloved wife. His dedication to a job well done extended not only to his work as a contractor but also as a landlord, where he took great pride in working on and improving the properties.
A 1953 graduate of Somerville High School, Marvin excelled in track and field, showcasing his limitlessness early in life. His resilience shone brightly through his character, marked by toughness and an unyielding spirit. Despite facing numerous surgeries and health challenges, Marvin was never one to complain about his circumstances or pain. He will be lovingly remembered by his family for his nightly talks, unwavering positivity, and endearing dry sense of humor, which would occasionally give way to warm laughter. A familiar sight to his family and friends, Marvin, (also known as Covey or Earl the Pearl), enjoyed displaying his children’s and grandchildren’s names on the front of his work vehicle and always offered an encouraging thumbs up.
Marvin was enthusiastic about many interests and hobbies. He was an avid fan of the Chicago, St. Louis, and now Arizona Cardinals, as well as the New York Yankees. His love for baseball and football was matched only by his affinity for golden retrievers and deep-sea fishing during his younger years. He had a remarkable talent for gardening, cultivating stunning rose bushes and thriving tomato plants with his green thumb. Marvin also had a well-known sweet tooth, particularly relishing ice cream, traditional family fruitcake, and lemon meringue pie.
He is survived by his children: Judi John (Steve Grimes) of ChampionsGate, FL, Keith Conover (Kimberly) of Flemington, NJ, Melissa Leonardo of Rocky Hill, NJ, and Robert Ambrose of Ewing, NJ. His legacy continues through his grandchildren, including Danielle Carr (Damon), Kyle Conover (Amanda), Nicole Bruckner (Nick), and Joanna Leonardo, as well as two great-grandchildren, Riley Carr and Luke Conover, with a third great-grandchild on the way!
Marvin was predeceased by his beloved wife, Roberta D. “Bobbie” Conover, with whom he spent 38 wonderful years, his sister, Eloise Pope, and brother-in-law, H. Raymond Pope, as well as his parents, Earl and Grace (Randolph) Conover.
Marvin Earl Conover’s memory will live on within the hearts of his family and friends, as they carry forth the values of hard work, dedication, and positivity he embodied throughout his remarkable life.
Arrangements and interment in Bound Brook Cemetery, Mountain Avenue, Bound Brook, NJ, will be held privately under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project.
For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit holcombefisher.com.
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Joyce M. Murphy
Joyce M. Murphy (nee Shore), age 85, passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025. Born in Barrington, New Jersey on March 23, 1940, and raised in Westmont, Joyce spent her life raising her own family, first in Haddonfield, and then settling in Princeton. Joyce had several careers over her lifetime, first as a “candy striper,” then a print ad model, a Realtor, a hostess at Princeton’s Nassau Inn, and an assisted living concierge, but her proudest accomplishment was becoming a funeral director at the age of 38. She was one of the few female funeral directors in a male dominated industry in 1978 and went on to own and operate Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Marlton, NJ. She diligently kept up with her continuing education credits and proudly maintained her license all these years.
Joyce was a talented pianist, an impeccable decorator, and the consummate entertainer with a flair for delicious and iconic comfort foods. She loved her pool and her flowers, especially tulips, geraniums. and mums, which seasonally adorned all of her homes. She loved things elegantly, yet simply, preferably on a white linen tablecloth: a good bowl of pasta, a glass of Pinot Noir, the perfect crab cake, or an almond pastry.
Ever resilient, Joyce lived many lives. Having children in both her 20s and 40s, the latter kept her preternaturally youthful. Meticulous and organized, she could also be impulsive and often pursued her whims and passions, even when they didn’t seem practical, but she always managed to show everyone that she was right to do so. She loved reminiscing about the old days and time spent with family. Joyce will best be remembered for her beautiful smile, her classic beauty, timeless elegance, generosity, her ironic sense of humor and mild irreverence, which was best appreciated by her grandchildren.
Joyce is predeceased by her beloved son, Brett J. Bashaw; by her parents, William J. Shore and Irene F. Carney; her brother, William J. Shore, Jr.; and her cherished aunt, Frances Kay. Joyce is survived by her children, Blair Murphy of Windber, PA, Donna M. Kosco (Andrew Kosco) of Cream Ridge, NJ, and Meghan B. Holl (Joseph Holl) of Franklin Lakes, NJ, and by her eight grandchildren who affectionately called her “Mi-Mom,” Drew Kosco, Haley Kosco, Ireland Kosco, Finley Holl, Cameron Holl, Luna Murphy Zamboni, Luke Holl, and Brett Holl. She is also survived by her dear sister, Barbara Ann Young; her brother-in-law, Charles G. Young III; and her sister-in-law, Jane Shore; as well as her nephew and nieces, William, Christina, and Carlye Shore. We will all miss her dearly.
A Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Ann in Lawrence Township, NJ, with burial at Princeton Cemetery immediately following where Joyce was laid to rest next to her son, Brett.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
In Joyce’s memory memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.
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Michael R. Kagay
Michael R. Kagay, age 82, died on August 11 at the Princeton Medical Center of pneumonia following surgery.
He retired in 2005 from The New York Times, where he served as editor of News Surveys and Director of Public Opinion Research. After retirement, he continued to consult for the Times until 2016. Prior to joining the Times in 1987, he was vice president and division head for five years at Louis Harris and Associates, the national polling firm in New York City. Before that he was a faculty member for 10 years at Princeton University, where he taught the University’s courses and seminars on public opinion and polling.
He earned his Ph.D. In political science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and was a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research in Ann Arbor.
During 1998-99 he served as national president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research.
Michael was a devoted genealogical researcher of his family’s Swiss roots.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1942, he was the son of H. Ralph and Harriet (Swain) Kagay. He was a 1963 graduate of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and then spent two years serving in the Peace Corps in India. He and his wife of 60 years, Carol Rhoades Kagay, recently moved to Monroe Village in Monroe Township, N.J., after living for 52 years in Princeton, N.J.
Michael was predeceased by his son Christopher R. Kagay, M.D., in 2023 and his brother Stephen W. Kagay in 2014. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter-in-law Sarah White; two grandchildren, Wilder S. Kagay and Eleanor R. Kagay of San Francisco; sister-in-law Dianne Kagay; and two nephews.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Princeton Public Library.