Leonard C. Rivers
Leonard (Len) C. Rivers, 91, passed away on March 16, 2026 in Plainsboro, NJ. A distinguished educator, coach and community leader, his lifelong commitment to athletics, mentorship and service has left a lasting impact across high school, collegiate and professional sports.
A native of Princeton, Len liked to say that he was born on a tabletop in the house his grandfather built in Little Rocky Hill, NJ. He fondly remembered these early years living with his grandparents, cousins and chickens and attending school at a one-room schoolhouse in Kingston. Later he joined his brother, mother and father in Princeton, where he attended the segregated Witherspoon School.
Following his graduation from Princeton High School in 1951, Len received a BA in Physical Education from Springfield College in Springfield, MA. While at Springfield, he was co-captain of the wrestling team, played football and track, and as a champion, nearly qualified for the US Olympic team.
After Springfield, Len served two years in the US Army and played football for the team where he was stationed. He also served one Summer as a Camp Counselor at Camp Half Moon in Great Barrington, MA.
In 1957, Len moved to Stamford, CT, to launch his career combining education and athletics. There, he helped startup their local Pop Warner Midget football league and founded a Bantam division. He also coached and officiated for the local Babe Ruth youth baseball league. In 1959, he became the Physical Director of the local YMCA. There, he taught many sports and even mentored a team that won a national competition in 1962. After receiving his Teacher Certificate, he was hired in 1967 by Stamford Catholic High School where he coached multiple sports and started their first swimming and gymnastics programs.
The 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. led Len to reevaluate his purpose in life. He referred to his life as having a “before” and “after” and used that event to mark the moment when he shaped his life around being of service to others. He saw the world through a searching lens that sought out members of the community who believed he had been overlooked or misunderstood.
Len left his teaching and coaching position at Stamford Catholic High School to become director of a youth work training program in the Department of Community Affairs in Hartford, CT. He ran for political office and organized a coalition that led to an increase of affordable housing in Stamford. During those years of public service, Len was recognized multiple times by the community for his efforts.
In 1970, Len returned to coaching as Offensive Line Coach for the University of Connecticut football team. In 1973, he returned to Princeton where he coached football and was also the Head Baseball Coach at Princeton University. In 1980, he left Princeton to become the Head Football Coach at Franklin High School. In 1984, and again in 1987, Franklin won state football championships and in 1984 the Newark Star Ledger awarded him the New Jersey Coach of the Year. In 1989, Len left Franklin to join the New Jersey Nets professional basketball team as their Director of Speaker’s Bureau. While at the Nets, he was then promoted to Director of Community Relations and established their first ever Academic Awareness youth program.
Len then completed his coaching career as a coach and Athletic Director at Lakewood High School. Upon his retirement from coaching, in 1998 the National Collegiate Hall of Fame awarded him a Distinguished American Award and in 2017, he was inducted into the Franklin High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Deeply generous in spirit, life for Len required him to reach out within his community and share with them the message imparted to him by his deeply religious family. Things happen to us that we don’t understand. But no matter what they are, it is going to be okay. Infuse your spirit with that love and understanding. Surround yourself with the joy in seeing the best in others and opening the eyes of our youth to see the best in themselves.
Len was preceded in death by his parents, Robert J. Rivers, Sr. and Hazel L. Rivers and by his niece Ayanna M. Dunson. He is survived by his brother Dr. Robert J. Rivers, Jr. (Ruth), his two sisters Nancy R. Dunson (Bruce) and Evelyn S. Miller, and many nieces and nephews: Michael B. Rivers (Sarah Stair), Scott A. Rivers, Wendy M. Rivers (Eddy Anglade), Robert D. Rivers, Naomi A. Dunson, Julius A. Miller and Travis R. Dunson.
He will be fondly remembered by many friends, acquaintances, coaches, teammates, athletes, students and coworkers.
A Funeral Service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Princeton, NJ, on April 6, 2026 at 12 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the “Franklin NJ Warrior for Life Scholarship Fund” at Franklin High School at P.O. Box 5336, Somerset, NJ 08875, USA or warrior4life.org.
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Harry Lloyd Cooke
Harry Lloyd Cooke, 100 years old, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2026 in the house he built 70 years ago. Born on May 8, 1925 in Jamaica, New York, Harry was the only child of Beatrice and Harry L. Cooke, Sr.
After graduating from St. Paul’s Preparatory School in Garden City, NY, Harry joined the Navy where he trained on electronics for WWII. Following his Naval service, he began working with RCA Laboratories in Rocky Point, NY. Harry graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute (RPI) in 1950 and married his childhood sweetheart that October. Harry and Elaine were married for 65 years before her passing.
In 1955, RCA transferred Harry to the David Sarnoff Research Laboratories in Princeton, NJ, where he coordinated technical relations and administered Independent Research and Development programs until his retirement.
A lifelong and competitive sailor, he won many racing championships with his young family as his “crew.” Harry also started his entire family ice skating on Lake Carnegie, and snow skiing in the Catskills and Vermont. After retirement, he took up tennis and golf, obtained his pilot’s license, flew Cessnas, was an instructor for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and traveled the world.
In Princeton, Harry may be remembered most for his community service and his political service. For 30 years, he volunteered for the Zoning Board and SPRAB Board for (what was then) Princeton Township. He was appointed to the State Board of Nursing and was Chairman of the Republican Committee in Princeton.
Harry is survived by his four children, Ellen Dimitruk (Walter), Barbara Cooke, Janet Richards (Greg), Robert Cooke (Karen); five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He will always be remembered as a loving father, Pa, and GGPA.
Funeral arrangements are with Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton. The funeral was on Monday, March 30 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad or the Wounded Warrior Project.
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Rosalie F. Berger
Rosalie F. Berger, age 106, passed away peacefully in her home at Stonebridge at Montgomery, in Skillman on March 29, 2026.
She and her identical twin sister, Gertrude Greifinger, formerly of South Orange, NJ, were born on March 25, 1920 to David and Dora (Isserman) Fichman, in New Britain, CT. Rosalie was predeceased by her parents; her five older siblings: Benjamin Civins, Meyer (Mickey) Fichman, Alfred Fichman, Edith (Fichman)Kennedy, Milton Fichman; and her twin sister Gertrude.
Rosalie is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Robert (Buzz) and Linda Berger, their daughter Melissa Berger; daughter, son-in-law and grandson Carly Berger Ogren, Jayce Ogren, and Alistair Jack Ogren; as well as her daughter Barbara Berger, Barbara’s partner Polly Beals, and Barbara’s children and their spouses: William Isaac (Billy) Berger-Bailey, his wife Hannah Adrian, Julia Berger-Bailey and her husband Michael Henley. She was beloved by her nieces, nephews, children of her cousins, and all of the extended family.
A very warm, loving, and consummately sociable person, and the lone surviving member of her generation, Rosalie fulfilled the role of matriarch to her extended family. Always aesthetically inclined, Rosalie maintained her elegant style of dress and appearance. She was always ready for a party; the family gathered on many occasions to celebrate her life, including on March 22, 2026, for a birthday brunch at Stonebridge. Rosalie was a district leader for the Democratic Party in Springfield, NJ, for many years and was a dedicated poll worker for years as well. She moved to Stonebridge in 2017, where she engaged with an entirely new community from the age of 97. She was an enthusiastic participant in “all the activities except swimming and bridge,” painted many delightful pieces of art, organized dinner groups, and developed close friendships with many residents and staff who adored her.
A small, family burial service will take place at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Iselin, NJ, on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 2 p.m.
Two days of shiva will be held at Buzz and Linda Berger’s home, on Monday and Tuesday, April 6 and 7, beginning at 7 p.m.
There will also be shiva held at the home of Barbara Berger, on Saturday, April 11 from 6 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Rosalie’s honor to your favorite charitable organization.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
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Margaret Mary Murphy Kemmerer
Margaret “Peg” Mary Murphy Kemmerer, who lived for many years in Princeton Junction and Princeton, NJ, passed away in the early morning hours of March 23, 2026, in Ipswich, MA. Peg was born on November 28, 1941, in New Rochelle, NY, to Mary Murphy (nee Bergin) and John Murphy. From a very young age, she took on primary responsibility for looking after her father and three brothers (Jack, Ray, Marty) and their household, an early demonstration of her unique ability to tirelessly care for others, offer them abundant love, and create an environment that was comforting and nurturing to all.
Making the best of a difficult childhood, Peg, as one of her closest lifelong friends has observed, kept the ship afloat, never complained, and always maintained her sense of humor. These three qualities were among her most defining traits — and the most inspiring to all who knew and loved her. Though Peg often expressed the (highly erroneous) conviction that she had no particular talents and could point to no significant achievements, she could not be more wrong in her self-assessment. Everyone who met her was forever affected and inspired by her welcoming spirit, genuine concern for their well-being, quick and capacious intelligence, breadth and depth of knowledge, open-minded acceptance, supremely capable problem-solving, reassuring can-do attitude, discreet and un-showy industriousness, and brilliant sense of humor. She was always the smartest, the most capable, and the most level-headed person in the room. Peg was also frank — she would give it to you straight up. If you asked for advice or perspective, you had to be prepared for a serving of unadorned, unsweetened truth, which was actually her greatest token of love, concern, and respect.
After graduating from Blessed Sacrament High School in New Rochelle, Peg worked for the Neptune Storage and Moving Company in New Rochelle and Maxwell House in Hoboken, NJ. In 1961, she married John C. Kemmerer, a good friend of her brother Ray. For 65 years, they enjoyed a devoted, loving partnership that only grew stronger and happier with each passing year. Sharing a spirit of adventure and curiosity, they traveled widely throughout the American West, Canada, Europe, and Australia. They were avid New York Giants fans who held season tickets beginning in the 1960s and were able to score tickets to the teams’ first two winning Super Bowl appearances. Through the years, Peg and John were parishioners at St. Paul’s and the Aquinas Institute in Princeton and St. Charles Borromeo in Montgomery, NJ. Together, they raised four children: Allison Kemmerer, (Tom Hammond), Erin Hoesly, (Brian Hoesly), Maureen Kemmerer (Kathy Tessier), and John Kemmerer (Kristina Clark).
In many ways, Peg was also a parent figure to her children’s friends, many of whom considered her a second mother and her home a safe, nurturing haven. Peg was always the one they called when they needed help, good counsel, or a ride. Peg’s Country Squire station wagon could often be spotted around town, filled with kids hanging out the windows and rolling around the backseat and the way back, heading to or from the mall, movie theater, bowling alley, or a high school party. In any kind of emergency, everyone knew to call Peg, with the complete assurance that she would be more than willing to offer help, could solve any problem, and would make sure that everything turned out OK.
Peg is survived by her husband, four children, two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren (Olivia and Aidan Hammond; Jack, Charlie, and Ben Hoesly; Seamus and Murphy Gildner; and Gavin Wieland); and one great-grandson (Cillian Gildner), all of whom were present to envelop her in gratitude and love in her final hours. Peg was the beating heart of the family, providing a strong center that connected and bound us together tightly. With her passing, we feel hollow at the core, but each of us carries within us much of her imparted wisdom, energy, strength, grit, endurance, and unwavering commitment to doing the right thing in every situation. The family is so thankful to all Peg’s caregivers who offered her such devoted and attentive assistance and to all her and John’s friends and family members who wrote to, called, and visited them in her final years. We are so appreciative of all the memories, stories, tributes, and love that have poured in from all who knew Peg and were forever enriched and strengthened by her spirit. Please keep them coming! They are an enormous comfort to us.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org/research). Assisting the Kemmerer family is the Morris Funeral Home of Ipswich, Mass. To send a letter of condolence to Peg’s family, please go to: MorrisFH.com.
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Carol Munger Ober
1943–2026
Carol Munger Ober, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and community leader, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2026, surrounded by her family. Born on September 11, 1943, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Carol was the daughter of the late George Munger, a Hall of Fame University of Pennsylvania football coach, whose dedication and discipline helped shape her early life. Mother Louise diligently tried to refine Carol’s tomboyish tendencies.
From a young age Carol developed a deep love for the outdoors — especially horseback schooling and training — interests she carried with her throughout her life. Summers spent in New Hampshire remained some of her most cherished memories, a place where her love of nature found constant renewal.
Carol started riding at 3 on Sambo, perfected her skills on Early Bird, and eventually almost made the Olympic team on The Demitrix. Riding to hounds, fox hunting, was the goal of all the training she and her father put into numerous racehorses over the years.
Carol went to the Baldwin School for all 13 years, spent two years at Bucknell University, and got her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Pennsylvania, which prepared her for a fulfilling career in teaching. She taught at the Agnes Irwin School and at Tredyffrin/Easttown School District and subbed at various schools including Princeton Day School much to her daughters’ dismay, where she was admired for her patience, warmth, and commitment to her students.
Her adventurous spirit led her on African safaris, wilderness trips, and, most fatefully, to the ski slopes where she met the love of her life, Rick Ober. The two married and embarked on a canoe-camping honeymoon through Algonquin Provincial Park — an experience they would later joyfully share with their children on return trips.
Her creativity found expression in quilting, an art she used to bring comfort and beauty to those around her. Carol made and donated over 200 quilts to the Quilts for Kids charity.
Carol was an engaged and thoughtful leader in every community she joined. Deeply committed to service, Carol served as a volunteer for 23 years of the AARP Tax-Aide program and served as State Coordinator for six of those years. She earned the Andrus Award from AARP, an award from the Governor of New Jersey, and awards from the IRS and the YWCA for her leadership and volunteerism.
She also served on the Board of Trustees and as Head of the Parents Association at Princeton Day School, offering steady guidance and an inclusive spirit. In her later years at Stonebridge, she served on the Residents Association Board and lovingly tended to the community greenhouse.
Above all, Carol was devoted to her family. She is survived by her husband Rick; their children Julie Allen and Molly Fechter-Leggett; and grandchildren Bem Allen, Emmett, Aubrey, and Simon Fechter-Leggett, all of whom brought her immense joy and pride.
Carol will be remembered for her intelligence, generosity, humor, and unwavering curiosity about the world. She lived fully, loved deeply, and leaves behind a legacy of grace and service.
A celebration of Carol’s life was held at Stonebridge at Montgomery, Skillman, New Jersey, in February.