Gale Colby Mirzayanov

Gale Colby Mirzayanov was born on September 2, 1951 to Paul Newton Colby, a plastics industry pioneer, and Josephine H. Hall, the former mayor of Princeton Township, in Pasadena California at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Gale attended Princeton Day School where she met many wonderful friends who miss and remember her fondly. From there, she graduated from Connecticut College in 1974, and later went on to study science education at Rutgers.

Volunteering and activism were large parts of Gale’s colorful and vibrant life. She worked for several organizations to promote world peace and weapon disarmament, as well as advocate for environmental causes. She also spent time working for the Friends Of Princeton Open Space, and the Women’s Investment Group in Princeton.

Gale had a diverse set of interests and a love of travel. She trained in piloting small aircraft, learned how to SCUBA dive, and enjoyed skiing. She also always adored animals, leading her to volunteer at a local wildlife rehabilitation center. Throughout her life she cared for many cats and dogs, but most people who came to her house would remember Ricky, her loquacious and spirited parrot.

On July 8, 2026, Gale Colby Mirzayanov passed away at the age of 74. She is survived by her stepmother Illene Colby, her brother Paul T. Colby, her son Ted H. Colby, her son-in-law Sultan Mirzayanov, and her granddaughter Camilla H. Colby. Gale will be always remembered for her unfaltering generosity, compassion, and sense of humor by the many people whose lives she has been a part of.

Although Gale is no longer with us in this world, the light of her influence and memory will continue to shine warmly on us all. For those who knew her and wish to attend, there will be a viewing on July 25 at 11:30 a.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton, followed by a service.

———

Irwin Rosenblum

“Having lived most of his adult life in the Princeton community, Irwin was never the smartest guy in the room. However, he was often the cleverest.” (Anon.)

Irwin Rosenblum was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 16, 1935, the only child of Evelyn and Robert Rosenblum. He graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School in 1952 and went on to Brooklyn College, where he earned a B.S. in Accounting. He later received an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University.

Irwin spent his professional career in finance and administrative management, primarily in the commodities field. In 1971, he joined Commodities Corporation as Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration. After the firm was acquired by Goldman Sachs, Irwin retired at the age of 47.

Retirement marked not an ending, but a beginning. After several years, Irwin wrote the history of Commodities Corporation, drawing on extensive files and the recollections of key figures in the firm. His book, Up Down–Up Down: My Career at Commodities Corporation, was self-published.

Committed to lifelong learning, Irwin returned to academia, earning a B.A. in Music from Trenton State College in 1993 and a B.A. in History from The College of New Jersey in 1997. He pursued wide-ranging interests that included Israel, tennis, opera, and the role that randomness plays in shaping our lives.

Irwin lived in Israel for a total of three years. During that time, he studied Hebrew at a kibbutz ulpan, advised a major Israeli bank on stock analysis, and worked as a consultant to the managing director of a growing Israeli electronics company that was later listed on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. After returning to the United States, he became active in two organizations advocating for a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

His love of opera led him to teach eight opera courses at the Evergreen Forum, the adult education program of the Princeton Senior Resource Center. His courses focused on introducing lesser-known works, particularly in the French bel canto and Russian traditions. Over 64 sessions, he deliberately avoided operas by Mozart, Verdi, Rossini, Wagner, and Puccini.

In addition to opera, Irwin developed and taught a course titled Recognizing Randomness, reflecting his belief that the role of randomness in life is often underestimated, leading to poor decision-making.

An avid tennis player, Irwin played well into his later years, continuing until the age of 88, when mobility issues began to demand more from his partners.

Irwin is survived by his wife of 60 years, Cecilia; his three daughters, Ariela, Milena, and Katya; and his eight grandchildren, Dimitri, Teo, Isabella, Rachel, Claire, Luke, Jake, and Scott.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Star of David Memorial Chapel of Princeton.

———

James Brayton Bronzan

James Brayton Bronzan, of Hamilton, NJ, died on July 15, 2026, from an accidental drug overdose. He was 52. Having long struggled with depression and addiction, James also enjoyed years of sobriety through the sustained support of his recovery fellowship. James had requested, should he die by overdose, that we share the cause of death in his obituary to convey both the challenges of addiction and the rewards of recovery.

James was so many things in his time on earth: a joyful scientist, a natural musician, a voracious reader, and lover of the outdoors. Born and raised in Princeton, NJ, James attended Princeton High School and was a forest ranger before he could get a driver’s license. He then attended Harvard University, where he graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy, and Columbia University, where he received an M.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

His professional roles included graphics editor at both the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, data visualization consultant at the NYC Department of Education, senior tutor at Ivy Educational Services, and research analyst at Climate Central. Most recently, he worked at the CDC Foundation and the New Jersey Department of Health as a data visualization specialist and research scientist, analyzing data and developing presentations to illustrate the scope and impact of the overdose crisis in New Jersey to inform response and intervention.

James was a strong believer in the power of empathy and connection in the face of life on life’s terms. He was a steadfast friend whose actions reflected his deep capacity for love: home-baked bread delivered warm, a leaky pipe fixed, a ride to a recovery meeting, where he himself found fellowship and support for recovery. He made the people in his life feel seen and cared for, and he made them laugh.

He was most at peace at his favorite place in the world, his family’s cottage on Newboro Lake in Ontario, Canada. His passion for the outdoors took him on road trips all over the country, backpacking and hiking, but it was through the tranquility of the cottage that he connected most deeply with the family and friends he loved.

James is survived by two sons, Evan, 14, and Leo, 11, who provided the most joy in his life; his mother, Ruth Bronzan; father, John Bronzan; and sister Rachel Bronzan; as well as his fiancée, Nickie Zenes; former wife, Nicole Collins Bronzan; and many relatives and friends.

A memorial for James will be held Sunday, July 26, at 2 p.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made in James’s name to Alina Lodge, a New Jersey addiction treatment center: alinalodge.org.