Harriett Schaffer Brainard
Harriett Schaffer Brainard, 102, of Hinesburg, Vermont, passed away peacefully on May 25, 2026, one day after celebrating her 102nd birthday.
Born on May 24, 1924, in Stillwater, Minnesota, to Frank and Serafia Schaffer, Harriett lived a remarkable life defined by curiosity, grace, kindness, wisdom, and an unwavering enthusiasm for new experiences. Elegant in style and generous in spirit, her approach to life illustrated her consistent desire to learn, excitement for adventure and cultural understanding, remarkable adaptability, and genuine interest in everyone she met. Her warmth, intelligence, and fun and positive outlook made her a cherished role model for her children, grandchildren, friends, and all who knew her.
Harriett graduated as salutatorian of her Stillwater High School class in 1942 and went on to attend the University of Minnesota. There, she made history as the first woman elected President of the Senior Class. In that role, she led the Grand March at the senior prom and addressed her fellow graduates during commencement ceremonies in 1946.
With World War II ending and opportunities opening before her, Harriett dreamed of seeing the world. Determined to build an independent life, she moved to New York City and began a career with Peck & Peck. Her innate taste, talent, and ambition quickly earned her a promotion to a new position as buyer for women’s coats and suits. Using her savings and her first bonus, she fulfilled another dream by traveling to Paris for six weeks. Accompanying her supervisor to the great couture houses of the city, she developed a lifelong love affair with Paris, its culture, and its style.
In 1951, she met the love of her life, Frank S. Brainard, Jr. They married in February 1956 and settled in New Hope, Pennsylvania, where they spent the next 20 years raising their family, developing lifelong friendships, and contributing actively to their community. During those years, Harriett served on the Board of Planned Parenthood of Bucks County, the Board of the Phillips’ Mill Community Association, and was deeply involved with the New Hope Presbyterian Church and the Bucks County Pro Musica Orchestra.
In 1977, Harriett and Frank moved to Princeton, New Jersey, where her civic and cultural involvement continued to flourish. She served on the Board of Trustees of Warren Wilson College in North Carolina and on the boards of the New Jersey Opera, the New Jersey Symphony, and Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital. She was also active on The Lawrenceville School Parents Board.
A passionate advocate for art, design, and beauty, Harriett served as President of the Contemporary Garden Club of Princeton and was an enthusiastic member of the Princeton Miniaturists. At age 60, she launched a new chapter in her life by co-founding the interior design firm Brainard & Pell. Later, she established her own firm, Designing Works, which she successfully operated well into her nineties. Known for her exceptional eye and creativity, she became the Designer of Reference for Baker, Knapp & Tubbs in the Princeton area and completed numerous residential and institutional projects, including work for The Lawrenceville School.
In 2008, Harriett and Frank moved to Hinesburg, Vermont. There she quickly became an active member of the Charlotte Senior Center and built another circle of treasured friendships. She continued to pursue her interest in art and culture by developing lectures and trips for the Center. Following Frank’s passing in 2011 at age 93, Harriett continued to embrace life with the same energy and curiosity that had always defined her. She remained an avid reader, artist, card player, traveler, and follower of current events. Well into her second century, she delighted in lively conversations about art, politics, family, and the world around her.
Harriett’s greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted mother to Bradford Brainard (Andrea), Annabelle Canning (the late Douglas), and Harriette Brainard; a loving stepmother to Sandy Brainard (Susan Bindig); and was predeceased by her stepson, Bruce Brainard.
She is also survived by nine beloved grandchildren: Samantha Hackney, Alexander Hackney, John Canning, Spencer Davis, Bradford Willis, Caroline Canning, Madeline Stevens, Alessandra Brainard, and Colter Brainard; and seven cherished great-grandchildren: Myuna Hackney, Enoah Hackney, Cielo Hackney, Akiva Hackney, Arthur Canning, Jordan Dee, and Colette Dee.
Harriett was predeceased by her parents and her four siblings, Margaret Jasper, Frank Schaffer, David Schaffer, and Joanne Brown.
Those who knew Harriett will remember her impeccable style, her sharp mind, her generosity, and her ability to make everyone feel welcome, all of which she retained to the end of her life. She approached each stage of life with courage, optimism, and a sense of possibility. Her legacy lives on in the family she loved, the communities she served, and the countless lives she enriched through her friendship, kindness, and example of strength.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Warren Wilson College, Planned Parenthood, or to a public broadcasting organization of your choice in honor of Harriett’s lifelong commitment to education, the arts, and informed citizenship.
A celebration of life will be held on August 1 at 3 p.m. at the home of Brad and Andrea Brainard on Crow Hill Road in Hinesburg, Vermont.
———
Jorge L. Sarmiento
Jorge L. Sarmiento, of Princeton, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026, at the age of 80.
Jorge was born in Lima, Peru, and grew up in a bilingual, bicultural home. His father, Jorge R. Sarmiento, was a Peruvian medical doctor and his mother, Geraldine Johnson, was an American school teacher. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Swarthmore College in 1968, Jorge taught middle school science for two years in Newton, Massachusetts. At the end of those two years he bought a yellow jeep that he named Dulcinea and drove his trusted steed from Boston all the way to Bogotá, Colombia, where he taught science in the middle school at Colegio Nueva Granada for two years.
Having been born and raised next to the ocean, his love of, interest in and curiosity about the ocean beckoned and he realized he wanted to dedicate the rest of his life to studying it. He obtained his Ph.D. in oceanography from Columbia University in 1978. While at Columbia University he met his future wife, Lucia Acosta. After graduation they came to Princeton where Jorge was a postdoctoral fellow in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Program. He joined the Princeton faculty in 1980, and transferred to Emeritus status in 2019.
During his long tenure at Princeton he was recognized as one of the world’s foremost climate researchers, and among the first to claim the title “biogeochemist,” underscoring the complex interactions between ocean chemistry, biology and climate. His lifelong contributions to climate science were recognized with numerous awards and prizes. In addition to his scientific contributions, Jorge mentored an extraordinarily large number of young scientists who now carry on his legacy in institutions across the world.
Aside from his scientific research Jorge was also an avid hiker. From short day hikes, that often included students and members of his research group; to longer ones across the world, either on his own or with one of his children (Jonathan and Sara), hiking gave him immense pleasure. Of all his hikes the one he cherished the most was the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and he returned to it many times.
Rivaling his love of hikes was his famous sweet tooth. His nieces and nephews will remember him for being the uncle who was always ready for an ice cream outing.
Above all, Jorge was deeply devoted to his family. He was very proud of his children and was there for all their activities both academic and extracurricular as they grew up, and into their adulthood.
Jorge is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lucia; his daughter Sara; his son Jonathan (Ommera Ahmed); and grandchild Isaac. He is also survived by his sisters Alicia, Mary, and Patricia, along with many loving sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, and friends.
The family is grateful to all the home caregivers who helped look after him during his long sickness and the staff at Stonebridge who cared for him in the last months of his life.
Memorial contributions in Jorge’s name may be directed to The Parkinson’s Foundation (parkinson.org).
———
Mitali Jones Routh
Art historian, fragrance aficionado, and animal lover Mitali Jones Routh died at home on the morning of June 8, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina. She was 47 years old.
Mitali was born in Prince-ton, New Jersey, on February 14, 1979 to Shakti and Freda Routh. Raised in Ringoes, New Jersey, Mitali attended the Princeton Day School as a child where she steeped herself in the arts, which served as the foundation for her life. In addition to studying poetry, photography, music, and theatre, Mitali also attended the Princeton Ballet school from ages 4 to 17. During this time, she performed as a member of the school’s pre-professional company.
After studying fashion photography at the Fashion Institute of Technology, she attended Oberlin College, where she earned a B.A. with Honors in Art History and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies in 2003. A lifelong scholar, Mitali went on to complete her doctorate in Art History from Duke University in 2015, specializing in contemporary art and critical theory in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with a focus on sculpture, performance, and film.
In July of 2023, Mitali suffered a major stroke, and several months later she was diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative condition, hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD), caused by her initial stroke. Her body and abilities were severely impacted by the stroke, yet in the face of such devastating adversity, her determination never wavered, and her curiosity for life was never dampened. Despite her condition continuing to deteriorate as time went on, her essence and fortitude remained steady. Mitali navigated the challenges placed in front of her with both steadfast resilience and an unfailing sense of humor.
Mitali was an independent, loving, creative, and strong-willed person; one who cared deeply for others and found beauty in all things. Endlessly curious, she never hesitated to dive deep into research on any topic that sparked her interest. Even in her final days, Mitali expressed that there was so much in this world that she wished to learn, music yet to be heard, films to be seen, and books to be read.
Mitali’s life was complex and layered, and she never allowed herself to be reduced to a single narrative. She could hold grief and joy in the same breath, and she showed others it was possible to live truthfully in the midst of both. Nothing she did was ever without intention, and it is especially poignant that she passed away on National Best Friend’s Day. Mitali, a name that means “a good friend,” is a reflection of who she was throughout her life.
Mitali is predeceased by her father Shakti Routh of Ringoes, New Jersey, and Tucson, Arizona, and her cat Marcel of Durham, North Carolina, who died one month before Mitali.
She is survived by her mother Freda Jones Routh and her sister Sumona Routh; Uncle Dr. Bishnu J. Rauth (wife Nila); Aunt Ruth Kidd (Burton); Uncle Nolan Jones (Cindy); Uncle Gaylord Jones (Mellany); her beloved Cousin Ashish Ghosh; and numerous other cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please considering donating to Triangle Mutual Aid and the Hypertrophic Olivary Degeneration Association, organizations that provided support and resources for Mitali after her stroke.
Lastly, as Mitali expressed in her final message to her community, “Don’t put things off — live your life now.”
———
Joanne Donnelly Seglem
Joanne Donnelly Seglem, an accomplished artist, devoted mom and grandmom, and kind-hearted lover of animals, died Sunday, June 21, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 73.
A native New Yorker, Ms. Donnelly Seglem resided in Montgomery, NJ, and was known in regional art circles as a talented painter and photographer of landscapes, still lifes, abstracts, and — her favorite subject — flowers. Her award-winning work was displayed over the years in prominent venues, including Phillips’ Mill in New Hope, Pa., Ellarslie in Trenton, N.J., and Artists of Yardley in Lower Makefield, Pa., where she served as vice president and taught mixed-media collage for
a time.
Ms. Donnelly Seglem held a fine arts degree from Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y., where she met her future husband, Lee. They were to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in September.
The breadth of her interests and skills was exemplified by a mid-career break in the 1990s when she went back to school to obtain a paralegal certificate from Manor College near Philadelphia. After working for two years at the law firm of Drinker Biddle in Princeton, Ms. Donnelly Seglem returned to the art world as director of the former Gallery 125 in Trenton.
An avid gardener, the only things more precious to her than flowers were animals, particularly her succession of dogs. She is remembered for her quiet sense of humor, warm laughter, and caring concern for friends and family.
In addition to her husband, Ms. Donnelly Seglem is survived by a brother, Brian Donnelly of Edenton, N.C.; a son, Jeremy Seglem and three grandchildren, Rowan, Carys, and Stellan, all of Bozeman, Montana, and five nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by a son, Bret.
Funeral arrangements are private. A memorial event will be held at a date to be determined. The family requests that donations be made in her name to friends’ favorite charities.
———
Karin Bergesen
Karin Maria Bergesen died on June 1, 2026 at the Princeton Medical Center. She was born in Örebro, Sweden, on November 7, 1938, the daughter of Josef and Margareta (Lundèn) Hnatnicky. She graduated with a degree in Physical Therapy from The Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm in 1960. In 1965 she worked for six months as a physical therapist in New York City, where she met her future husband, Richard Bergesen. They were married in Sweden in 1965 and lived in Sweden for the next seven years, where their three children were born: Eric, Annika (Prisco), and Barbara (Lau). The family moved to Wilmington, DE, in 1972, when Richard was transferred there by DuPont.
Karin was a homemaker in the early years of her family, but returned to working in physical therapy when the children were older; first in Cherry Hill, NJ, then in Rockford, IL, and later in West Chester, PA. She became active in her church, first in the altar guild and then in social ministry. She was an avid sewer and quilter, and made clothes for her children and blankets for family, friends and church.
She was a warm and friendly person, with a kind or encouraging word for all. She will be remembered for her faith and her love of family, especially her nine grandchildren; she would carry on the Swedish traditions with them of baking gingerbread cookies and celebrating St. Lucia at Christmas. The highlight of her year was the week she would spend with her family at Stone Harbor at the Jersey Shore, with eight adults and nine children in one house!
Karin is survived by her husband, Richard, with whom she shared over 60 years of marriage; their son Eric (Amy) of Nashville, TN, and children Pelham and Wright; daughter Annika (Mike) of Pelham, NY, and children Juliana, Katherine, Alexandra, and Matthew; and daughter Barbara (Chris) of Centerport, NY, and children Elisabet, Keira, and Torin. She was predeceased by her brother Sven in 2015.
A memorial service will be held for Karin at The Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 407 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ, on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Mercy Ships, P.O. Box 1930, Garden Valley, TX 75771-1930, or online at MercyShips.org.
———
William Paul Agee
1960–2026
William Paul Agee, 65, of Princeton, New Jersey, passed away on June 19, 2026, surrounded by the love of family who will forever cherish his memory.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Kirsten Burgess-Agee; his family members Audrey, Craig, Alec, Jordan, and Eloise Dickmann; and Vashti, Ty, and Shauna Saint Germain. He was also deeply influenced by his father, David Agee, whose remarkable work as an orangutan field researcher shaped William’s early life and enduring curiosity about the world.
As a child, Bill spent time living deep in the jungles of Borneo while his father conducted pioneering field research on orangutans. These extraordinary experiences nurtured a lifelong sense of adventure, intellectual curiosity, and appreciation for both nature and humanity.
Bill was an accomplished scholar, earning both a master’s degree in public policy and a law degree. Throughout his distinguished career in public service and law, he served as an LBJ Intern to Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, Law Clerk to Federal Judge Clarence Newcomer, Special Counsel to Governor James Florio, and Special Counsel to Jean Fox at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. His professional life was marked by a steadfast commitment to public service and the betterment of society.
Beyond his many professional accomplishments, Bill was known for his extraordinary breadth of knowledge, keen intellect, and endless curiosity. He was a gifted storyteller whose conversations could span history, politics, science, law, photography, and countless other subjects. Friends and family treasured his wisdom, humor, and ability to make every interaction engaging and memorable.
Among Bill’s greatest passions was photography. He possessed an exceptional eye for capturing the beauty of people and the natural world. Through his photographs, he shared his sense of wonder and appreciation for life’s most meaningful moments, leaving behind a collection of images that will continue to inspire those who knew him.
Bill will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving family member, respected public servant, accomplished attorney, talented photographer, and truly unique individual. His rich life experiences, generous spirit, and remarkable stories enriched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all whose lives he touched.
A memorial service celebrating William’s life will be held in Florida at a future date. Details will be shared with family and friends once arrangements have been finalized.
May his memory be a blessing.
All donations, instead of flowers, should go to the Orangutan Project: theorangutanproject.org/donate.