Marvin R. Blickenstaff
Marvin R. Blickenstaff, 90, passed away peacefully on the morning of January 23, 2026, with his beloved friend Amy Haman by his side, walking him into the arms of Jesus. He was the devoted husband of Sara Faye Hendricks Blickenstaff, with whom he shared 35 years of marriage, until her passing in 2012.
Marvin was the youngest of three brothers, born May 19, 1935, in Nampa, Idaho, to the late Ray and Margaret Blickenstaff. His mother would say that she delivered all three boys on a Sunday so that Marvin’s dad, a dentist, didn’t have to miss any work. When he was 5 years old, the family moved to an 11-acre piece of land on the edge of Nampa, where a house was built for $5,000. They had a horse, cow, and many chickens plus a large garden. There were many chores to do, and no one got to sleep in on weekends. The house is still there today but the 11 acres have been turned into a city park.
It was soon evident that Marvin had a lot of musical talent and his piano teacher wanted to take him on a mini tour at the age of 9. Marvin was truly a child prodigy in the piano. He also played the oboe and clarinet.
Marvin received much of his pre-college piano education in Nampa, Idaho, under the study of Fern Nolte Davidson. Upon beginning lessons with Davidson, he knew his life’s calling as a pianist, one which he was devoted to until his last days. Marvin’s piano performance degrees were earned from Oberlin College (1959) and Indiana University (1961), where he studied piano with Emil Danenberg and Béla Böszörményi-Nagy. Before enrolling in Oberlin, he traveled to Austria in service for the Church of the Brethren, learning to speak German fluently in his time abroad, returning later to Germany for additional piano studies at the Frankfurt Hochschule für Musik. Following his early professional posts at McPherson College and Fort Hays Kansas State University, he lived in New York City (1965–69), working with Carl Fisher, teaching at the Stecher and Horowitz School of Music, receiving lessons with Wolfgang Rosé, and performing a debut recital at Town Hall. In his subsequent positions, he served for many years: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1969–78), Goshen College in Indiana (1978–99), and The New School for Music Study in New Jersey (1999–2025). His final performance was a solo concert, a 90th Birthday Celebration Recital, at Carnegie Hall in May 2025.
His contributions to the piano teaching profession are numerous, beginning with the countless students he taught through his professional positions and in his independent teaching studio for more than 60 years. He traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Australasia performing and sharing his expertise at conferences and workshops to audiences of piano educators. His major publications include Inspired Piano Teaching (2024) and numerous co-authored works: three editions of Handbook for Teachers for the Celebration Series (1996, 2001, 2008) and a multi-volume beginner piano method Music Pathways (1972–83). Marvin held leadership positions in and worked with notable organizations including The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy, Music Teachers National Association, and the Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada). His major awards include: Fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Music (2007), Lifetime Achievement Award from MTNA (2009), Lifetime Achievement Award (2013), and Outstanding Service and Leadership Award (2025) from the Frances Clark Center.
He became a cherished friend and a special presence in the lives of those who cared for him. Many moments were shared together — doctor’s appointments, birthday celebrations, a Super Bowl party, church services, and countless everyday conversations. He brought laughter to nearly every visit with his quick wit, gentle humor, and unforgettable laugh. Conversations covered life, fears, anxieties, and joys. Quiet times spent looking through photo albums and listening to his stories became treasured memories.
Marvin was always welcoming and joyful, consistently asking about the families and lives of others. A fitting word to describe him is benevolent — kind, gentle, generous, and sincerely concerned for others. He was warm-hearted, thoughtful, and wise. Though often private about it, he regularly prayed for others and was deeply moved to help those in need. He frequently credited his parents for the values they instilled in him and demonstrated those values daily through his care and kindness — whether in an email, a phone call, or a face-to-face conversation.
He showed love and respect to everyone he encountered and modeled a life of selfless service to others.
He will be remembered for his random computer-help calls, requests for Halloween candy, and practical needs like extra trash bags, as well as for his thoughtful emails and everyday exchanges. The last six weeks of his life were difficult, and it was evident that his heart longed to return home — to his farmhouse and studio. As his wishes were honored, he gradually and peacefully awaited his heavenly home, expressing deep appreciation and gratitude to all who cared for him.
Marvin is deeply missed, and there is comfort in knowing he is home.
He is survived by his brother, Loren Blickenstaff; brother-in-law, Leonard Stener; sister-in-law, Marjorie Hendricks; nieces, Linda Dimick (Michael), Joni Ball, Leslie Nelson (Dwight), Susan Hendricks (Barry), Rebecca Stoner, and Deborah Hendricks Gainer (David); nephews, Rick Blickenstaff (Amy), Kyle Blickenstaff (Kellie), Ryan Blickenstaff (Beth), Dale Hendricks (Carol), Steve Hendricks, Douglas Hendricks, Robert Hendricks, Andrew Hendricks, David Hendricks, and Daniel Stoner; stepsons, David Kidwell and Philip Kidwell; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Wayne Blickenstaff, and sister-in-law, Kathy Blickenstaff.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, 713 Blooming Glen Road, Blooming Glen, PA 18911. For those unable to attend the service will be livestream at bgmc.net. Light refreshments will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marvin’s name to The Frances Clark Center, P.O. Box 651, Kingston, NJ 08528.
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Mary Peterson O’Leary Briggs (“Mimi”)
July 15, 1939 – January 30, 2026
Mary Elizabeth Peterson O’Leary Briggs, known affectionately as “Mimi,” passed away of natural causes on Jan. 30, 2026, in Boca Raton, FL. Mimi was born in 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Jesse Dudley Peterson and Edith F. Gorman and was raised in Newtown, Connecticut.
Mimi came from a family with deep historical roots. She was a descendant of Richard Warren, a passenger on the Mayflower, and was a lifetime member of the Mayflower Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mimi was the great-granddaughter of Lillia E. Studebaker, daughter of John Mohler Studebaker, of the historic Studebaker family.
Mimi attended the Emma Willard School and later Wheaton College, where she graduated in 1961. Following college, she moved to Boston, where she broke barriers as one of the first women to work as an investment officer at Old Colony Trust Bank, setting the tone for a life defined by intellectual curiosity, independence, and achievement.
After marrying Robert A. O’Leary, Mimi settled first in Montclair, New Jersey, and later in Princeton, New Jersey for 33 years, where she raised her three children and became engaged in the civic and social life of all-things Princeton. She was an active member of the Garden Club, the Pretty Brook Tennis Club, and Trinity Church, reflecting her love of community, athletics, and service. In 1980, she ran the New York City Marathon in under 4 hours, a personal achievement she cherished.
In addition to her community engagement, Mimi pursued advanced education, earning a Master’s Degree from The New School for Social Research in New York City. She dedicated her professional career to fundraising and advancement for nonprofit and educational institutions, including Rider University, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the United States Equestrian Team, and NJ SEEDS, where her commitment to education, access, and opportunity left a lasting impact.
In 2003, Mimi moved to Marion, Massachusetts, to be closer to her son William and her grandchildren. True to her energetic spirit, she embraced this chapter fully — playing golf and bridge, and becoming an avid croquet player. She served as Secretary of the Marion Mallet Club and took great joy in the friendships and camaraderie the club provided. At age 74, Mimi met and married Dr. Earland Briggs. Together, Mimi and Earl shared a vibrant life centered around golf, croquet, close friendships, and time at the Beverly Yacht Club. They were snowbirds, spending summers at their home overlooking outer Sippican Harbor and winters in Tequesta, Florida, overlooking the golf course.
Mimi was predeceased by her brother, Cornelius “Pete” Peterson X. Mimi is survived by her beloved husband, Dr. Earland Briggs; her children Garrett O’Leary and his wife Lulu O’Leary of London and Dorset, England, and their children Kitty, and Robert O’Leary; Liz O’Leary of Washington, DC, and her daughters Katie, Lillie, and Hopie Lovell; and William R. O’Leary III and his wife Alexandra Tolischus of Boca Raton, Florida, and their daughters Tali and Phoebe O’Leary. She is also survived by her great-granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth Kirby.
Mimi will be remembered for her intellect, warmth, competitive spirit, dedication to education and service, and her unwavering love for her family. Her vibrant personality and beaming smile gave those around her a zest for life. Mimi’s life was marked by curiosity, courage, and connection, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
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Diane Elizabeth Rafferty
March 6, 1949–January 17, 2026
Diane Elizabeth Rafferty, a writer and magazine editor, died peacefully at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, with her husband of 44 years, Terrence Rafferty, at her bedside. She had lived in Princeton since 2021.
Diane was born in Los Angeles, California, to Frederick Peck Williams and Margaret E. (Gillis) Williams. She grew up in New York City, London, and Paris, and was educated primarily at French schools in those cities — most notably at the Lycée Français de New York, where she shared the Prix d’excellence in her final year (1966). At the same time, she was training to be a dancer at George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet. She continued her academic studies at Bryn Mawr College, then transferred to the University of Exeter in the UK, where she received a BA in French in 1970.
After one further year of postgraduate study at Exeter, she began teaching French at the Hartcliffe School in Bristol, England. Upon returning to the States in 1976, Diane taught (again, French) at the Chapin School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan for a couple of years. Switching from the academic life, she found satisfying work at Eli Wilentz’s 8th Street Bookshop in Greenwich Village; at the time of that beloved store’s closing, in 1979, she was the manager of its entire second floor.
Thanks to her lifelong friend Vicki Riba Koestler, Diane then entered the world of trade magazine publishing — first at Mechanical Engineering and later at Millimeter (a publication for film and television professionals), where she served as managing editor. It was while she was working at ME that she met Terrence, a writer, in the spring of 1981. They were married, at the Church of the Heavenly Rest on Fifth Avenue, on November 7 of that year.
Trade magazines couldn’t hold her, though. She soon moved on to more mainstream publications such as the Ladies’ Home Journal and High Fidelity, and towards the end of the 80s found a real home at the arts magazine Connoisseur, edited by Thomas Hoving. There, Diane had full editorial control over a self-contained section called “Connoisseur’s World” and also served as the magazine’s fashion editor. When Hoving was replaced, in 1991, she resigned.
Although Diane never thought of herself as a writer, it’s worth noting that it was a writing assignment for Connoisseur that led to her employment there; the editors were so impressed that they offered her an editorial job. Over the years, both before and after leaving the magazine, she wrote pieces on a variety of subjects — art, music, fashion, music, dance, movies, books — for many publications, including The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Village Voice, The Spectator, Harper’s Bazaar, Mademoiselle, Musical America, and The Nation. Her writing was distinguished by its perception, its clarity, and its enthusiasm. The voice was always unmistakably hers; there was joy in it.
In her nonprofessional life, Diane’s enthusiasms included gardening, animals — especially horses and dogs — film noir, Steve McQueen, Camus, SCTV, Astaire, Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, and music of all kinds: classical, rock, jazz, country, soul, reggae, traditional British folk, Sinatra, and Taylor Swift. She had an extraordinary ear.
She wore her broad knowledge and diverse talents very lightly. People fell in love with Diane at first sight and stayed in love. She is survived by her husband, many cousins, and many, many friends who cherished her warmth, her generosity, her humor, her strength, her integrity, her openheartedness, and her grace.
Contributions in her memory can be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.
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